Innsbruck celebrates: ice hockey hero Jan Lattner extends until 2026!
Innsbruck celebrates: ice hockey hero Jan Lattner extends until 2026!
The HC Innsbruck has announced today that he with his experienced captain Jan Lattner until the 2025/26 season in the Win2day Ice Hockey League . Lattner, who has been playing for Innsbruck since the 2019/20 season and has played almost 300 games during this time, is highly valued as a leading player. Head Coach Jordan Smotherman praises Lattner's reliability and operational readiness.
The 33-year-old Czech previously worked at Orli Znojmo in the Ebel, where he acted as captain and vice captain. Lattner himself emphasizes that he sees Tyrol as his second home and hopes to return to the playoffs with this team. This is particularly important because the last season did not meet expectations.
positive reviews and new goals
In retrospect of the past season, it turns out that the fans of HC Innsbruck were extremely positive and supportive. The basic round was almost perfect, the team made it to the top of the table at times and reached the playoffs again after five years. Nevertheless, the early departure is considered a shame because the team has shown a strong performance.For the coming season, Lattner and the team have clear goals: to put a competitive team onto the ice, strive for continuous improvements and to return the fans something by reaching the playoffs again. Headcoach Mitch O’Keefe emphasizes how important Lattner was for the recent success of the club, which is described as the best season in club history. Sports manager Max Steinacher also underlines Lattner's influence as a leader.
ice hockey and its importance in Germany
ice hockey is also very popular in Germany, ranked behind handball and football. According to ice hockey100.de , the German ice hockey league (DEL) recorded an average of 5,965 spectators per game in the 2022/23 season. The sales of the 14 clubs in the 2023/24 season also rose to a record of 173.6 million euros.
The German ice hockey sport has a long tradition that started with the first official game in 1897 in Berlin. Germany is currently taking 8th place in the men's IIHF world rankings (2024) and can look back on a proud track record in international competitions, including three silver and two bronze medals at World Championships.
The decision of HC Innsbruck to bind Lattner in the long term sends a strong signal for the future of the association and its ambitions in the coming season, while the enthusiasm for ice hockey in Germany continues to grow.
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