“I don't regret this decision”: Ice hockey talent Valentin Kopp ended his career early

Studying instead of ice hockey: Valentin Kopp (23) from Wang drew a line at a young age and ended his career.

He has never regretted taking the step.

Wang / Mannheim

- Valentin Kopp is a young man who, despite his only 23 years of age, has had a remarkable sporting path: on the one hand because of his early ice hockey successes with the young eagles Mannheim - and on the other hand because of the consistency with which he is his professional -Career followed and finally ended in 2018.

The former ice hockey talent is currently completing a dual course of study at ABB in Mannheim.

Kopp makes full use of the business administration industry course.

Because compared to a “normal” Bachelor's degree, the dual variant is even more time-consuming, says the 23-year-old.

Three months of theoretical lectures and exams are followed by three months of practical experience in the company, where he has to go through different areas.

The lecture-free times are therefore spent in the company, the annual leave is 30 days even as a student.

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Valentin Kopp won the DNL title three times with Mannheim.

© Stephan Kopp

No problem for Valentin Kopp.

He has a lot of fun with his job and his studies - and just as he used to do with ice hockey, he works hard here to be successful.

He has not even regretted the fact that he hung up the skates and the stick for it since 2018.

At that time, the 20-year-old was faced with the decision of which club he would like to play for the next season.

In the two years before that, he had gained a lot of experience in this class at EV Landshut, Red Bull Hockey Juniors Salzburg and EC Peiting.

And he wanted more.

Career comes to a standstill

"Another third year in the league, new young players come up every year, I train like a madman every day, but I can't get any further," says Kopp, describing his emotional world back then.

“In the long run, I felt frustrated.

Because one wonders why am I even doing this if there is no progress?

That's why I took my time after the season and reflected on it for myself, thought: What is it currently like, where do I want to go?

Because a career like this only lasts until the middle / end of 30. And what do I do with my life afterwards? ”Then he said to himself:“ The way things are going now, things are not going as I would like for the future would have.

I've made up my mind, I'll stop now.

It wasn't an easy decision because I still enjoyed it a lot.

I still love ice hockey.

But I don't regret this decision. "

From EV Landshut to the young eagles

Before Valentin Kopp played in the senior league, he had had a steep career in the youth sector: he won the German Junior League (DNL) three times in a row with the young eagles Mannheim (2014 to 2016).

It all started as a toddler in the running school of EV Landshut.

There he went through all student teams up to U 16. In late autumn 2012, the Adler Mannheim invited the talent from Wang to a trial training session.

Coach Helmut de Raaf was very impressed with Valentin's performance and said that he would like to have him on the team.

It was immediately clear to the then 15-year-old right winger that he wanted to accept the offer.

According to his own statement, he wasn't even homesick at the time and thought the three and a half years as a young eagle with host parents and in the boarding school were great.

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Today, Kopp (23) puts his dual studies first.

© private

At that time Mannheim was known for a very high level of performance and training in the youth field.

In addition, Valentin found the change of school from Moosburg to Mannheim positive: While in the Dreirosenstadt, in the opinion of the school management, competitive sports and high school graduation were difficult to combine, in the young eagle boarding school - despite attending a normal, public high school - it was a matter of course.

“I found the time with the young eagles outstanding.

Just this community in the boarding school and the sporting successes.

So I neither regret that I went to Mannheim, nor that I invested so much time in sport in my youth, ”explains the business administration student.

“Because these are all experiences that were extremely awesome.

I've experienced things that normal young people don't experience. "

The dream of North America is bursting

After his time with the Young Eagles, Valentin Kopp wanted to realize his big dream in 2016 and play like his ice hockey idol Claude Giroux from the Philadelphia Flyers in North America.

The plan at that time was to start there for the Aberdeen Wings (South Dakota) in the junior league NAHL and subsequently to get hold of an ice hockey scholarship at a college.

But while everything went according to plan during the first trial training in March, the German talent from Wang failed in the summer tryout and was allowed to return home after seven weeks.

“You could also say that it was because of this or that.

In retrospect, however, I don't worry my head, ”says Valentin Kopp today.

“Sure, it was a shame that it didn't work out.

But the bottom line I have to say is that it wasn't enough for over there.

It's not a shame either.

After that I wanted to try in Germany to become a professional. "

The time was ripe for a new chapter in life

Two years later, however, the three-time DNL champion also ended this endeavor and instead drew a line under the chapter on professional ice hockey.

He would rather do it when he was in his early 20s than not realize until he was 30 that his big dream hadn't worked out.

Because then it is much more difficult to get a decent training and a decent job outside of the ice rink, emphasizes Valentin Kopp.

Even today he still has many friends and acquaintances in ice hockey, “who are now in their early twenties who are getting a taste of the DEL and also have an ice age.

I'm very happy for them, and I also write with them more often - but my fingers still don't itch.

I've finished with that.

It was an extremely nice and fun time that I definitely don't want to miss.

A new chapter in my life began a long time ago. "

The 23-year-old from Wang does not want to rule out the possibility that he will return to the ice as a hobby after his studies.

But then probably not for EV Moosburg or EV Landshut.

Because in the medium term, Valentin Kopp sees his private and professional future in Mannheim.

Career data:

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2017/18: EC Peiting.

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2017/18: Red Bull Hockey Juniors Salzburg.

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2016/17: EV Landshut.

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2013/14 to 2015/16: Jungadler Mannheim (three times German champion).

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2012/13: Jungadler Mannheim U 16.

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2011/12 to 2012/13: EV Landshut U 16.

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2010/11: EV Landshut U 14.

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2013 to 2017: numerous appearances in the German U17 to U20 national teams.

Josef Fuchs

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