Andre Marais

Andre Marais
Date of birth	August 13, 1981
size	184 cm
Weight	90 kg
position	defender
Shot hand	Right
Career stations
2009-2011	Pretoria Warriors
since 2011	Pretoria Capitals

Andre Marais (born August 13, 1981 ) is a South African ice hockey player and coach who has played for the Pretoria Capitals in the Gauteng Province Ice Hockey League since 2011 . He is also the head coach of his country's women's national team .

Career

Andre Marais began his career with the Pretoria Warriors in the Gauteng Province Ice Hockey League , one of the regional leagues whose winners play for the South African championship. In 2011 he moved to local rivals Pretoria Capitals , for whom he has also played in the GPIHL since then. In the 2012 season he was the player-coach of his team.

International

Marais was in the junior division at the U-20 D World Cup 2000 and Division III of the U-20 World Cup 2001 for South Africa on the ice.

With the men's national team , he initially took part in the D World Championships in 1999 and 2000 . After the conversion of the World Cup performance groups to the current system, he played in the World Championships of Division II in 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2009 , when he was named the best player of his team, in 2012 , 2014 and 2015 and Division III in 2008 , In 2010 , when he had the best plus / minus balance of the tournament and - although a defender - was the top scorer together with the North Korean Ju Sung-hyok , in 2011 , 2013 , 2016 , when he became the best defender of the tournament and best player on his team was elected in 2017 and 2018 . In 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 he was team captain of the South African selection.

Coaching career

In addition to his active career, he was the head coach of the South African selection in Division III at the World Championships for the U18 juniors in 2010 and 2011 and the U20 juniors in 2014 , 2015 and 2018 . At the U18 World Cup in 2017 and the U20 World Cup in 2017 , he was the assistant coach of the South African youngsters. He was also the head coach of the South African team at the qualifying tournaments for the 2015 , 2016 , 2017 and 2018 women's world championships .

Achievements and Awards

• 2000 Promotion to Division II at the D World Championship
• 2008 Promotion to Division II at the Division III World Championship
• 2010 Best plus / minus balance and top scorer at the World Cup in Division III, Group B
• 2011 promotion to Division II, Group B, at the World Championship of Division III
• 2013 promotion to Division II, Group B, at the World Championship of Division III
• 2016 Best Defender in Division III World Cup

Web links

• Andre Marais at eliteprospects.com (English)