Patrick Reimer announces the end of his career - "most difficult decision of my life"

Created: 12/19/2022, 5:27 p.m

By: Marco Tobisch

Patrick Reimer (middle) could hardly believe it back then: In South Korea, the man from Mindelheim had won the silver medal with the German ice hockey team – a big sensation to this day.

© DEB

Mindelheim – No professional has scored more goals and assists in the German ice hockey league (DEL) than Patrick Reimer from Mindelheim.

On Sunday, Reimer's current employers, the Nuremberg Ice Tigers, announced that the 40-year-old would retire after this season.

"It's the terribly sad day that had to come at some point, but at the same time it should just make us proud," the Ice Tigers explain at the beginning of their press release.

Because with Reimer, none other than the most successful DEL player leaves the big stage - at least when it comes to points, because Reimer replaced the previous record holder Daniel Kreutzer a year ago.

In 1,050 games so far, Reimer has scored 390 goals and prepared 453 more goals.

The man from Lower Allgäu made his debut on December 23, 2003, when he was still in the jersey of the Düsseldorfer EG.

The 40-year-old striker is one of just eight players to have played 1,000 games or more in Germany's top flight and the only player to have been voted Player of the Year three times.

Reimer won the silver medal with the German national ice hockey team in Pyeongchang in 2018.

Patrick Reimer himself describes the fact that he is now hanging up his skates as “probably the most difficult decision of my life”.

Reimer: “I already know that I will miss every second with my boys in the dressing room, on the ice and even on the bus.

This sport has shaped my life and allowed me to experience things that I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams.” However, the Nuremberg captain (Reimer has worn the bandage since 2012) also emphasizes: “It is not yet time to remember to revel.

Playing the playoffs again and living the dream is the big goal, for which we will give everything until the last game.”

The Nuremberg Ice Tigers have already announced that they will no longer give the shirt number 17 to any other player in honor of Reimer.

This will now find an eternal souvenir of the great achievements of the Mindelheimer under the Hallenplatz.

Voices on Reimer's career end

• Stefan Ustorf,

Sports Director of the Nuremberg Ice Tigers: “Patrick will leave a huge gap, not only in Nuremberg, but also in the DEL and in all of German ice hockey.

He made his mark on the DEL as the only treble player of the year, silver medalist, top scorer and top scorer in league history.

He has always been a role model, not only in terms of sport, but above all as a person.

The Nuremberg Ice Tigers will always be grateful to Patrick for everything he has done for the organization and Nuremberg ice hockey.

We wish him and his family all the best for the next chapter of his life.

For the rest of this season we will do everything we can to ensure Patrick gets a proper send-off.”

•

Managing Director of the Nuremberg Ice Tigers: “With Patrick we are losing the biggest star in Ice Tigers history.

I was able to welcome Patrick when he arrived in Nuremberg in July 2012, so I have known and supported him for over ten years.

Since then, we have had many experiences together, both sportingly and privately, which I would not want to miss.

Patrick Reimer is not only statistically, but also for me personally the best and most complete player in the history of the PENNY DEL.

Patrick was and is a model athlete who you could and can always rely on.

I wish him, his wife Anja and their two children all the best for the future.”

•

Mayor of Mindelheim: “Patrick Reimer is one of Mindelheim's most outstanding athletes.

The highlight of his career was probably the Olympic medal in Pyeongchang - I was very happy at the time, how excited the whole city was.

A delegation from Mindelheim even traveled with them and cheered on Patrick with a large Mindelheim banner.

This also showed that Patrick Reimer is an outstanding ambassador for Mindelheim in the sports world.

Patrick Reimer managed to bring people together through sport in a very special and very successful way.

Even during his time in Kaufbeuren, he made a significant contribution to the fact that entire caravans made the pilgrimage from Mindelheim to Kaufbeuren!"

•

, PENNY DEL Managing Director: “Patrick Reimer is without question a face of German ice hockey in recent decades.

Above all, his leadership qualities on and off the ice make him so unique and popular.

The successes he has achieved speak for themselves.

I hope Reimi enjoys the rest of the season and stays connected to German ice hockey afterwards."