Eisbären Berlin Bolster U23 Sector with Tobias Krestan Signing
Berlin, August 5, 2026 – The Eisbären Berlin have announced a significant addition to their U23 roster, securing the services of promising German U23 national player Tobias Krestan. The young forward, who spent last season with HV71 in Sweden, has signed a two-year contract with the Berlin-based club and will don jersey number 91.
Eisbären Sports Director Stéphane Richer expressed his enthusiasm regarding the new acquisition: “We are delighted to welcome another highly talented German junior player, Tobias Krestan, to our team. We have been closely monitoring his development for a long time; for example, he participated in our last two Development Camps. Tobias possesses immense potential, which he aims to further unlock with us. In close coordination with the LA Kings, we collectively decided that Tobias should continue to mature with us and take the next steps in his professional career.”
Krestan Eager for New Challenge in Berlin
Tobias Krestan shared his excitement about joining the Eisbären: “I am incredibly excited about this new challenge with Eisbären Berlin. It is a great honor to play for such a traditional and successful club. I can’t wait to meet the team, work hard, and celebrate successes together with the fans.”
The 1.88-meter tall, 88-kilogram forward is the only German player selected in the 2026 NHL Draft last June. The Los Angeles Kings secured his rights in the seventh round at position 209. Krestan, a native of Hanau, began his youth career at EC Bad Nauheim. At the age of 15, he moved to Jönköping, Sweden, joining HV71 via the RB Hockey Academy.
Impressive Performance in Sweden and International Stage
Last season, Krestan played a total of 27 games for HV71’s U20 team, tallying 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists). He also represented the German national team at the U18 World Championship in the Top Division, where he recorded three goals and one assist in five games, earning recognition as one of the DEB team’s top three players.
Eisbären Berlin Roster for the 2026/27 Season
The current Eisbären squad for the upcoming 2026/27 season includes:
- Goaltenders: Jack LaFontaine, Lennart Neiße, Jonas Neffin
- Defensemen: Adam Smith, Mitch Reinke, Kai Wissmann, Eric Mik, Jonas Müller, Korbinian Geibel, Markus Niemeläinen, Moritz Kretzschmar
- Forwards: Noel Saffran, Ty Ronning, Lean Bergmann, Patrick Khodorenko, Manuel Wiederer, Rihards Griva, Markus Vikingstad, Yannick Veilleux, Andy Eder, Eric Hördler, Tobias Krestan, Leo Pföderl, Liam Kirk, Frederik Tiffels, Gabriel Fontaine
The addition of Tobias Krestan is expected to further strengthen the Eisbären Berlin’s offensive capabilities and provide a significant boost to their U23 program as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Source: https://www.eisbaeren.de/news/detail/tobias-krestan-wechselt-zu-den-eisbaeren
