Starbulls sign Niklas Sundblad as new head coach
The Starbulls Rosenheim have filled their vacant head coach position. Niklas Sundblad, a highly experienced coach who is very well known in Germany, takes over sporting responsibility for the DEL2 squad. The 53-year-old Swede brings years of experience from various top European leagues to Rosenheim, along with two championship titles as a coach.
Experienced coach with two championship titles
Born on January 3, 1973 in Stockholm, the Swede looks back on a long career as both a player and a coach, with an in-depth knowledge of both the DEL and the DEL2. Sundblad began his coaching career in 2008 at Herner EV before moving to the Kölner Haie in 2009. There he initially served as an assistant coach, also taking on head coaching responsibilities on an interim basis.
Sundblad celebrated his first major success as a coach in the 2013/14 season, when he led ERC Ingolstadt to the German championship in the DEL. He then returned to the Kölner Haie as head coach. Further stops took him to, among others, Örebro HK in Sweden, the Schwenninger Wild Wings, and HC Bozen in the international ICE Hockey League.
Most recently, Sundblad was behind the bench with the Dresdner Eislöwen. He took charge there in January 2024, inheriting a team in a difficult sporting situation, and first guided them to DEL2 survival. In the following 2024/25 season, he delivered a remarkable achievement with the Saxons: by clinching the DEL2 championship, Sundblad led the Dresdner Eislöwen to promotion to the PENNY DEL. That made the Swede a champion in Germany's second-highest division to go alongside his earlier title with Ingolstadt in the DEL.
Internationally successful as a player too
Sundblad also accumulated extensive experience at the international level during his playing days. The former forward played in Sweden, Finland, North America, and Germany, among other places. He was selected as a first-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 1991 NHL Draft and went on to appear in two NHL games over the course of his career.
In Germany he took to the ice for, among others, Düsseldorfer EG, the Kölner Haie, and Füchse Duisburg. He won the German championship as a player with the Kölner Haie in 2002. He also represented the Swedish national team, winning the silver medal with them at the 1997 World Championship.
Fresh impetus for Starbulls Rosenheim
With the signing of Niklas Sundblad, Starbulls Rosenheim have concluded their search for a new head coach. Following the separation from Jari Pasanen, Jamie Bartman had most recently taken on primary responsibility behind the bench, supported by Mika Tarvainen and Klemen Pretnar.
Sundblad will take to the ice with the team for the first time as early as tomorrow, Thursday, stepping in to lead preparations for the challenges ahead. The immediate focus will be on getting to know the team, developing shared structures, and setting the sporting direction for the remainder of the season.
Sandner and Sundblad on the new partnership
„Mit Niklas Sundblad konnten wir einen äußerst erfahrenen Trainer für die Starbulls Rosenheim gewinnen, der den deutschen Eishockeysport und insbesondere auch die DEL2 bestens kennt. Seine bisherigen Erfolge, gerade auch die Meisterschaft und der Aufstieg mit Dresden, sprechen für sich. Da die Position des Cheftrainers eine zentrale Rolle für die Zukunft unserer Mannschaft spielt, wollten wir uns bei der Suche bewusst die nötige Zeit nehmen. Wir sind überzeugt, dass Niklas mit seiner Erfahrung und seinen Vorstellungen wichtige Impulse setzen kann, und freuen uns sehr auf die Zusammenarbeit
„Ich freue mich sehr auf meine neue Aufgabe bei den Starbulls Rosenheim. Rosenheim ist ein traditionsreicher Eishockeystandort und ich sehe großes Potenzial im Verein. Besonders freue ich mich auf die Fans und die einzigartige Stimmung im Stadion. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, die Mannschaft kennenzulernen und gemeinsam mit ihr loszulegen
Starbulls Rosenheim extend a warm welcome to Niklas Sundblad and wish him a successful start behind the bench of the Green and Whites.
Press release SBR Spielbetriebs GmbH & Co. KG