24.09.2026 | Presse-Mitteilung

Team spirit, dynamism and fostering talent: the HGK Group supports the Cologne Junghaie

Cologne. The HGK Group is now sponsoring the youth section of the Cologne ice hockey club ‘Die Haie’ e.V., thereby demonstrating its commitment to promoting young talent in Cologne and the surrounding region. The new partnership was officially unveiled during a closed-door meeting of the HGK.

The partnership, which has initially been agreed for two years, is based on shared values: team spirit, dynamism, a commitment to excellence and the promotion of young talent are key factors for success in both ice hockey and logistics.

“Anyone who wants to succeed in a dynamic environment needs motivated people who take responsibility and develop solutions together. This applies just as much in sport as it does in business. The Junghaie’s youth development programme instils precisely these values whilst also making an important contribution to our region. We are very happy to support this commitment. After all, sustainable success does not happen overnight. It is based on the consistent nurturing of talent, reliable teamwork and the determination to continuously improve. This conviction is what unites the HGK Group and the Junghaie,” says Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group.

The new partnership was officially unveiled at the HGK retreat: HGK CFO Susanne Pietsch (from left), KEC Managing Director Holger Rathke, HGK Head of HR Katharina Jehle, former professional Torsten Ankert, U20 player Lennox Werle and HGK CEO Steffen Bauer. The personalised jerseys were presented by U11 Junghaie players Mykyta Filin (red jersey) and Dominik Buncek. © HGK AG

Supporting young talent as a key factor in shared success

For years, the Junghaie have been among the most successful youth organisations in German ice hockey. Here, young people are not only trained in sport, but are also supported in their personal development. Values such as responsibility, discipline, reliability and team spirit shape the day-to-day work both on and off the ice. In line with this, the HGK Group also attaches great importance to promoting young talent. As a training organisation, it invests specifically in the training and development of young professionals.

“Successful youth development requires long-term commitment and reliable partners. We are therefore all the more delighted to have the support of the HGK Group. We are united by the conviction that young people can best realise their potential in an environment characterised by team spirit, a willingness to perform and personal development. In HGK, we have gained a partner who shares our belief in the importance of sustainable youth development and is, at the same time, firmly rooted in Cologne and the region. The fact that both ice hockey and the logistics sector thrive on dynamism and teamwork makes this partnership particularly well-suited,” said Holger Rathke, Commercial Director of the Cologne ice hockey club “Die Haie” e.V.

During the presentation of the partnership at the HGK retreat, former Haie professional Torsten Ankert highlighted the similarities between sport and business. “A shared goal and a clear division of roles are crucial for a good team – both on the ice and in professional life,” said the former defender, who himself came through the Junghaie youth ranks and played a total of 817 DEL matches. Together with Holger Rathke and the two Under-11 players Mykyta Filin and Dominik Buncek, he presented personalised jerseys to HGK CEO Steffen Bauer, HGK CFO Susanne Pietsch and Katharina Jehle, Head of Human Resources at HGK.

The partnership encompasses various initiatives to support the Junghaie’s youth development programme. For example, U20 player Lennox Werle will undertake a business internship at HGK as part of his vocational A-levels. In this way, the partnership combines the promotion of young talent in sport and in the workplace in a tangible manner. The HGK Group aims to open up opportunities for young talent both on and off the ice.