Erich Kühnhackl

Who is Erich Kühnhackl?

Erich Kühnhackl is a retired German ice hockey player born and raised in Czechoslovakia. He and his parents emigrated from their homeland after the Soviet occupation in 1968.

He won four German Championships and a bronze medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, is widely regarded as the best German hockey player ever and was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1997. Kühnhackl was also named the German ice hockey player of the Century in 2000. His nickname "Kleiderschrank auf Kufen" refers to his mighty appearance.

After his playing career Kühnhackl worked as coach of the EV Landshut, German National Team, EC Bad Nauheim, Erding Jets, Polar Bears Regensburg and the Straubing Tigers . Since 2008 he serves as Vice President of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund and is currently also a sport director for the Frankfurt Lions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .

In 2010, his son Tom was drafted in the 4th round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins