The 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship is in Landshut and Kaufbeuren, Germany. For Landshut native Veit Oswald – who after the group stage leads his team with three assists – that’s a very good thing. And not just because it’s nice to play at home.
“If this tournament had been anywhere else, I wouldn’t have been able to go with my team,” said Oswald. “I had my practicum in physical education this week and I wasn’t able to get it changed, so I’m very lucky that it’s here in Landshut.”
After games on Saturday and Sunday, Monday was a rest day for most players in the tournament. But for Oswald, it was anything but.
“I had to do some running and other exercises,” he explained. “This exam was very hard for me because I’ve played two hockey games the past two days. Then I had to run 1000 metres and the 100 metre sprint was very tough. So I really had to spend the rest of the day regenerating to be ready for the next game (against the USA).”
Over the next couple of months, Oswald has more exams in German, mathematics and English and if all goes well, he will graduate this summer.
“I’m really good in math, it’s my favourite subject,” said Oswald. “Also things like geography, history, and physics. For some people, these subjects are difficult but for me, they’re way easier than German or something like that.”
“I think the school curriculum here in Bavaria is one of the hardest in Europe,” he continued. “I think I’ve done a good job up till now. I would say I’m a good student but my effort isn’t always what it should be, but overall it’s okay.”
As for when he first heard that Landshut would be hosting the tournament: “I think, at first, my parents told me, so I was very happy because that was the only possibility to play in this championship and also manage the stuff with my school.”
But just because the tournament was awarded to his hometown didn’t automatically mean that Oswald would be playing. His spot on the German team was not a given.
“It was a hard training camp before the World Championship,” he said. “We had two stages and played two games against Switzerland and Sweden. After these games, our team was published and there was my name, so I was happy.”
Not only did Oswald make the team, but he has been playing on the top forward line and power-play unit with NHL draft prospect Julian Lutz and team captain Roman Kechter. In Sunday’s game against Canada, with Germany trailing 4-0, the trio struck for three straight goals, including twice on the power play. Oswald assisted on all three goals, including a primary assist on a one-timer by Lutz for the team’s first goal.
“I think Julian is one of the best players in this tournament, so I’m very thankful that I can play with him on the same line,” said Oswald. “My position on the half-wall is difficult to play but when you keep your cool try to find the right passes, it can go well. I think Lutzi’s a good shooter so if you can put the pass in the right place, he scores.”
Lutz, who plays for Red Bull Munich in the German DEL, is used to playing with professional-calibre linemates. He said of Oswald: “He’s a good passer, he does a lot of dirty work and he’s fit in great with our line. It’s really fun to play with him.”
“He fits in well on the line with Kechter and Lutz,” said German head coach Alexander Duck. “I think if they find the right chemistry, it’s gonna be a good line for us.”
As for finding that chemistry, Oswald said: “Some parts can be hard, especially at the beginning of the tournament and just getting used to each other. We always talk with each other so that everyone knows the system and where the other guys will be. Now we’re trying to take a big step in the right direction to play a very good tournament.
“I also play on the power play (for EV Landshut’s U20 team) but at another position,” said Oswald. “Here on the national team, it’s way harder to be on the power play but I think against Canada we did a really good job, with Roman and Juli.”
Oswald is one of three players on the German U18 national team who play for the local Landshut club, along with goaltender Philipp Dietl and defenceman Michael Reich. However, Oswald is the only one who was born in Landshut and has played here all his life.
“I think I was six years old when I started to play,” he said. “This is the rink where I started to play and have played ever since. It’s a very special feeling to play here in this World Championship.”
A town of about 70 000 people in Bavaria, about 70 km northeast of Munich, Landshut is a German hockey hotbed. Erich Kuhnhackl, who was voted the best German hockey player of the 20th Century and an IIHF Hall-of-Famer, starred here in the 1970s and ‘80s. And there have been others.
“Tobi Rieder and Tom Kuhnhackl, these are two players that I know personally,” said Oswald. “They are great people and also great hockey players. I hope I can do the same but we’ll see.”
He said of the close-knit hockey community: “I think it’s a small tradition when you play here in Landshut, that after you’re done playing, most of the players come back here and you see them around town. Also, my father played hockey here and stayed here, and it’s great to see the friendship between the players that remains.”
At one time, EV Landshut was one of the top teams in Germany, winning the national championship in 1982/83 and reaching the finals in 1983/84 and 1994/95. In addition to locally grown players, it attracted other German starts such as Uwe Krupp and Marco Sturm and internationally renowned players such as former NHLer Mike Bullard and Czech goalie Petr Briza, who is now the IIHF’s Senior Vice President. Now, the team toils in the second-tier DEL2 but still attracts a loyal following.
Like many local youngsters, Oswald is a fan and used to attend most home games, but these days he’s pretty busy with school and his own hockey career. He considers both of these things when thinking of his future path.
“Now I’m focusing on the U18s and my school exams, so I haven’t made a decision what I’m doing next year,” he said. “One option is to play here in Germany, another is to go to America and play college hockey. That’s a good option but also a difficult path for German players, but some have done it.
“I’ve thought about it but I’m not really sure.”
After playing the group stage in Landshut, the Germans travels to co-host city Kaufbeuren on Thursday to face Group B winner Sweden in the quarter-finals. If they win, they will return to Landshut for the semi-finals on Saturday.