Thursday, 22. January 2026 |
EHC Red Bull München: Konrad Abeltshauser celebrates ten-year anniversary
When Abeltshauser moved from the Chicago Wolves (AHL) in Canada to the Bavarian capital, our trophy cabinet in the PENNY DEL was still empty and the SAP Garden was not even a thought. But both of those things were about to change. Just three months after his arrival, the defenseman celebrated his first title win with the Red Bulls away at the Grizzlys Wolfsburg. This was to be the beginning of a success story.
“I was there to see how everything grew and how the SAP Garden grew. A lot has happened in the last ten years; we've won four championships. It's crazy when you look back,” says our veteran defender.
Koni Abeltshauser feiert Jubiläum bei den Red Bulls
// HIGHLIGHTS
Konis Top 3 Highlights
One particular championship remains especially memorable for him. "The third championship was a highlight for me, at home in game seven against Berlin. My family and all my friends were in the stadium. It was amazing, of course," he recalls. And we remember it all too well: in a sold-out Olympic Ice Stadium, the Red Bulls beat the Eisbären 6-3 on April 26, 2018, completing their title hat trick.
“Another highlight was the Champions League final in Gothenburg,” Koni continues. On February 5, 2019, our club became the first and, to date, only German team to reach the final of Europe's premier club competition. However, we lost 3-1 to Swedish representatives Frölunda HC.
And number three? Clearly, September 27, 2024: “The opening game at SAP Garden,” says Abeltshauser. With one small caveat: “Although I have to say that the first DEL home game against Wolfsburg was almost a little more emotional because the arena was full of our fans. You could really feel it, it was also a very special moment,” he enthuses.
On October 2, 2024, we made a successful DEL debut with a 7-4 win against the Grizzlys in the sold-out multifunctional sports arena, and Ben Smith went down in history as the first goal scorer.
His best teammates
Also there at the time: Maxi Kastner, of course, who has been playing for the Red Bulls since 2015 and is therefore the longest-serving Munich pro, even ahead of Abeltshauser. "I don't know EHC Red Bull Munich without Kasti, he's always been there with me. It's nice to have an old companion," says Koni. It's no coincidence that both of them have made the most appearances for our club. Kastner has played 565 games, Abeltshauser 551, followed by Daryl Boyle (514). The trio has been involved in all four championships in our club's history.
“He is still one of my closest friends today. He was also there for a long time and was Mr. Munich until Kasti took over. It was also nice because I grew up with him. Back then, neither of us was married or had children, and then you see how the family grows. It's just something very special,” says Abeltshauser, describing his special relationship with Boyle.
And, of course, a former goal scorer and captain must also be included on the list of his special teammates. “We've had a lot of good players. But you also have to highlight Michael Wolf because he embodied everything the club stands for and everything you want in a player as a coach,” he explains.
A special birthday
Off the ice, too, the ten years in Munich have been a very special period in Abeltshauser's life. The 23-year-old ice hockey player with a girlfriend has now become a 33-year-old married father of two. Koni brought his Canadian wife Erica with him to Germany.
And there is a fifth member of the Abeltshauser family: his dog Luna. And it seemed predestined that it would be this Shiba Inu lady. “Luna was born on the very day we moved back to Munich,” he explains.
“That doesn't happen very often in professional sports.”
Munich is a good keyword to end on. "Unterbuch will always be my home, that's the fixed point. But Munich already feels very much like home,“ emphasizes the native Bavarian. The Bad Tölz native particularly appreciates the short distances to his loved ones. He is grateful: ”It's not often in professional sports that you get to play so close to home for so long." This means that his parents, siblings, and friends can regularly attend our games at SAP Garden.
Der Familienmensch Abeltshauser
“On the other hand, it also helps you to switch off completely. On my day off, I can just go home and visit my grandmother for a coffee,” Koni gives as an example. And these seemingly small things are still the biggest.
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