Thursday, 11. September 2025 | EHC Red Bull München signs Ville Pokka from Oulun Kärpät
Red Bull München signs world champion and Olympic gold medalist Ville Pokka// PERSONNELEHC Red Bull München has signed Ville Pokka, an internationally decorated defenseman. The 31-year-old Finn is transferring from Finnish first division club Kärpät to the Bavarian capital, bringing with him titles won at the highest level.Pokka became world champion and Olympic champion with Finland in 2022, celebrated winning the Gagarin Cup in the KHL with Avangard Omsk, and also won the championship title in his native Finland.
Winkler: “He has shown that he can win titles.”
“Ville not only brings a wealth of experience, but has also shown throughout his career that he is a player who can win titles,” explains Christian Winkler, Managing Director Sports Red Bull Ice Hockey. “He impresses with his game intelligence, leadership qualities, and strong defensive play. With him, we are closing the gap left by Will Butcher's long-term absence. Ville will play an important role in our defense and bring even more stability to the entire team with his style.”
With the 1.83-meter-tall, 90-kilogram right-handed shooter, the Red Bulls have strengthened their team with an internationally experienced defenseman. In the future, he will play for the four-time German champions with the jersey number 22.
Pokka: “I want to integrate quickly and help the team.”
"I was very happy when Red Bull München contacted me. It is one of the most successful organizations in Germany and has a brand new, incredible arena. I'm looking forward to the fans and can't wait to play for the club. I want to integrate as quickly as possible, get on the ice and help the team. The fact that I already know Chris DeSousa from our time together in Rockford will certainly help me," says Pokka about his move to Munich.
The defenseman was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round, 34th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft. After several years in the American Hockey League, including with the Rockford IceHogs, he moved to the KHL in 2018 to play for Avangard Omsk. He won the Gagarin Cup with this team in 2021. Further stops took him to the Swedish SHL (Färjestad BK), the Swiss National League (EHC Biel-Bienne, SC Bern) and most recently back to the Finnish Liiga with Kärpät.
Current EHC Red Bull München roster for the 2025/26 season:
Goaltenders (3): Matthias Bittner, Mathias Niederberger, Simon Wolf
Defensemen (10): Konrad Abeltshauser, Will Butcher (AL), Maximilian Daubner, Dillon Heatherington (AL), Rio Kaiser, Les Lancaster (AL), Ryan Murphy (AL), Ville Pokka (AL), Phillip Sinn, Fabio Wagner
Forwards (15): Adam Brooks (AL), Chris DeSousa (AL), Yasin Ehliz, Markus Eisenschmid, Brady Ferguson (AL), Gabriel Fontaine (AL), Patrick Hager, Nikolaus Heigl, Taro Hirose (AL), Maximilian Kastner, Philipp Krening, Veit Oswald, Jeremy McKenna (AL), Tobias Rieder, Luis Schinko
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