Release from 09.05.2025

League referee Christian Ofner celebrates World Championship debut

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Christian Ofner is one of a total of 32 referees nominated for the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in the top division. For the professional referee from the win2day ICE Hockey League, it is his first time at the highest international level. Before his first assignment in Herning, Denmark, the 31-year-old spoke about his preparations for the World Championship.

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38 players from the win2day ICE Hockey League will be in action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Stockholm/Sweden and Herning/Denmark starting on Friday (all information). With Slovakian linesman Oto Durmis and head referee Christian Ofner, two league officials have also been selected. Ofner has been a professional referee since 2023 and has already been regularly nominated for top national and international events in the past (including the U18 and U20 World Championships). Now the Carinthian is celebrating his premiere at the senior world championship in the top division.

After the championship final in the win2day ICE Hockey League, in which Ofner was one of five main referees, the 31-year-old spent a lot of time in the fitness center to stay at the best physical level. He also officiated the World Cup test match between Austria and Germany in Zell am See.

Many meetings to prepare
Ofner was immediately put to the test after his arrival in Stockholm. “The first few days were by far the most exhausting. We had meetings from 8 o'clock in the morning until the evening, with only short breaks in between. Among other things, we dealt with the rules and their interpretation, but there were also team-building activities on the agenda. I know some of my colleagues from other world championships or from assignments in the Champions Hockey League,” says the referee, who also exchanged ideas with his league colleagues: ”I gathered some information in advance and spoke to Christoph Sternat and Manuel Nikolic in particular - they have already been head referees at A World Championships. A World Cup is not comparable to everyday life in the league. In the win2day ICE Hockey League, you know every player and how they behave on the ice. At a World Cup, you have to deal more intensively with the teams in the run-up to a match - we always exchange information with our colleagues from the respective nations. I'm prepared for the game to be very fast and 'cleaner'.

At the international hockey highlight of the year, the “third team” also has a highly professional environment, as the Carinthian reports: “We have physiotherapists, equipment managers and a mental coach - we are set up like a hockey team. We can concentrate fully on our performance.”

“It's an honor”
On Thursday, Ofner moved to Herning, where he will be in action. With the exception of the NHL referees, the best referees in the world are spread across the two World Championship venues. “It's definitely an honor. I will do my best and enjoy the whole tournament as well. We all can't wait for it to start. The meetings are part of it, of course, but the anticipation of the work on the ice is already huge.”