Portrait of Dominik Bittner from EHC Red Bull München

Tuesday, 09. May 2023 | Portrait of Dominik Bittner from EHC Red Bull München

Dominik Bittner and the inevitable love storyPortrait of our new number 3// PORTRAIT"Calm, level-headed, deliberate" - that's how our new signing Dominik Bittner describes himself. We talked to the defender about the significance of his move home, his new family addition and his goals with the Red Bulls.

On the ice, the national defender with the distinctive beard is known as a real chain dog. The 30-year-old is fast, biting and fights for every inch. An unpleasant opponent who is hardly recognizable off the ice. With a somewhat shy smile, he greets in a friendly manner, introduces himself and lets the others talk first. "What I'm known for on the ice, what my own fans think is good and the opponents demonize, is exactly the opposite of what I'm like off the ice," is how Bittner describes himself.

Neuzugang Dominik Bittner im Interview

// INTERVIEW

New daddy Bittner is looking forward to home

The likeable Bavarian spends most of his free time with his family. A few weeks ago, the family grew for the first time. On April 20th, 2023, Marlie Helena Bittner was born. One more reason for the Weilheim-born new dad to move closer to his family again.

"It means quite a lot to me to return home and I'm looking forward to making new memories and sharing them with my family and child," Bittner explains, beaming. As a professional ice hockey player in Mannheim, Schwenningen or most recently Wolfsburg, days in the Bavarian homeland were scarce. Birthdays, holidays and family celebrations often came up short. Until now: "I'm just happy to be able to spend a lot of time with my family again."

Dominik Bittner zu Wechsel, Familie und seiner Nummer

// INTERVIEW

Action, action, action - and books

Sophie understands the time-consuming nature of the job. The 25-year-old plays competitive sports herself and is an excellent tennis player and coach. On the court, where the two like to challenge each other, our new number 3 has no chance, according to her. Things are better on the golf course. When Bittner is not playing sports, he likes to read thrillers, biographies or self-optimization guides. Parallel to his professional career, the newcomer began studying psychology, but switched to sports and event management after one semester and received his bachelor's degree there after seven semesters. The image of the well-read family dad fits the 30-year-old's sensitive nature.

In the summer, the young family is going on a trip. They will set off in a camper van without a clear destination. Spontaneous stops and excursions - Bittner has no desire for luxury vacations: "My wife and I love camping. I definitely prefer action to relaxation."

Bittner wants to be Munich's "Swiss Army Knife"

First to clear his head, then full focus on the new task in Munich. With the Red Bulls, the national player wants to get involved right away and take on the role that head coach Toni Söderholm is planning him for. "I believe that I have the skills like a Swiss Army knife to be able to function for everything. I can play overtime and shorthanded. It's important for me to be ready for any situation and to be able to fill the role in which I'm needed. So that the team can be successful," Bittner offers.

In Munich, the Bavarian returnee will not only meet his former DEB coach Söderholm, and numerous national team colleagues, but also with Konrad Abeltshauser and Yasin Ehliz, two childhood friends with whom he played together as a teenager in Bad Tölz. That's where Bittner went at the age of 13 - after already nine seasons with TSV Peißenberg. At the age of three, the defensive specialist was already on the ice, followed by tennis, athletics and handball, and the specialization in his passion of ice hockey later proved to be a stroke of luck.

Closing the circle with a small drop of bitterness

Bittner is also no stranger to Christian Winkler (Managing Director Sports Red Bull Ice Hockey). "As a child, I took part in a radio competition. Christian Winkler was working there at the time, also promoting it. My father answered a question correctly for me and I was allowed to be there as a warm-up kid for the München Barons at the time. For me, it's a homecoming in many ways," Bittner rounds off his personal connection to EHC Red Bull München with an anecdote.

Bittner and Munich seem to be an unavoidable love story. After many years, a circle closes for our newcomer. A tiny drop of bitterness remains. At the Red Bulls, the 30-year-old changes from the back number 7, which he has worn for some time in honor of his youth idol Marian Bazany, to his national team number 3. "The 7 belongs to our mascot Mike. The boss didn't let me negotiate with him," explains Bittner with a laugh.

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