Monday, 01. June 2026 |
Red Bulls CheckerBande
Following in the Footsteps of the Pros: A Look Behind the Scenes at Europe’s Most Modern Talent Development Center
What a day! While the pros are getting ready for their well-deserved summer break, things were just getting started for the CheckerBande at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy. Together with the kids from the EHC Red Bull Munich CheckerBande, our young stars got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Europe’s most modern talent factory on May 30, 2026—and our club mascot Rob was, of course, right there with them for every adventure!
The eyes of hockey fans young and old grew wider and wider as the guides led us through the hallowed halls. Here, absolutely nothing is left to chance. Divided into seven exciting stops, the kids experienced technology and training conditions at an absolutely world-class level.
From the Field to the Ice: The Academy’s Seven Stops
Divided into seven spectacular stops, the kids got to experience firsthand just how varied, professional, and intense everyday life is at a real professional academy:
Stop 1: The High-Tech Soccer Arena
The conditions here are exactly the same as outdoors—but with one ingenious extra feature. The artificial turf can be completely submerged to simulate heavy rainfall. Perfect for training ball control under extreme conditions!
Stop 2: The ice rinks
Whether it’s summer or winter outside—in this ice rink, the ice is perfectly maintained 365 days a year and ready for use at any time. An absolute dream for any speed skater.
Stop 3: The Shooting and Skating Area
Here, some real highlights awaited our Checkers: the famous Skatemill (a treadmill for ice skates) and a professional shooting station to hone their technique and shooting power.
Stop 4: The Analysis Gym
In the strength and fitness area, the coaches leave nothing to chance. Cameras precisely record every single movement, no matter how small, during the exercises. This allows the coaches to show directly on the screen where improvements can be made.
Stop 5: The SoccerBot
An absolute visual experience! Real game scenes are projected in this immersive cinema so that young soccer talents can reenact game situations in real time, analyze them, and practice making tactically smart decisions.
Stop 6: The Common Rooms
What are the academy students’ living quarters actually like? We got to take a look inside the bedrooms, the large dining hall, and the common rooms. What’s especially cool: Here, two hockey players and two soccer players always share a room to foster team spirit.
Stop 7: The State-of-the-Art Rehab & Recovery Area
After a tough workout, it’s time to recharge! In the recovery area, the kids were amazed by the ice-cold plunge pool (exactly 6 degrees!) and the bubbling whirlpool, which ensure lightning-fast recovery. Right next door, we headed through the huge gym for endurance training.
After the theory comes the fun: endless energy!
Once the tour was over, it was time for the kids to burn off some energy! Exclusively for the CheckerBande, there was a giant bouncy castle, their very own shooting station, and the interactive activity stations set up by EHC Red Bull Munich. There was laughter, sprinting, and shooting.
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