Marco Sturm makes NHL history. © Social Media / Boston Bruins

Marco Sturm writes NHL history

Whenever German ice hockey history was written over the past 30 years, the name Marco Sturm was never far away. This season, the now 47-year-old also became the first German-born NHL head coach.

13 October 2025

From: dpa/sn

"Of course I have butterflies in my stomach, I have to be honest," said Sturm, head coach of the Boston Bruins since the summer. The start of the season couldn't have been better: The team, which missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, recorded three wins in its first three games. "I'm not really surprised. They've worked very hard from the beginning. Fortunately, they're now getting the reward they deserve," Sturm said of his players.

Boston isn't just any team. Not in the NHL, but not for Sturm either. Between 2005 and 2010, the Dingolfinger native enjoyed his prime as a professional in Boston. The people of the city love the Bavarian, who scored the game-winning goal in an outdoor game at Fenway Park against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010. "People haven't forgotten that to this day," Sturm said, beaming. "That's why I have a little more credit."

Sturm is expected to shape the change in the traditional team

The Bruins are considered the most traditional ice hockey team in the USA and are a founding member of the NHL. After a disastrous preseason, the six-time Stanley Cup champions needed a shake-up. They wanted a new coach, and they chose Sturm, who had been preparing for this opportunity for years after winning the 2018 Olympic silver medal. "That was the turning point in my coaching career," Sturm said.

The Boston Bruins are riding a wave of success. © APA / RICH GAGNON

The unexpected success also brought the NHL veteran back into the spotlight as a coach in the world's best league. He warmed up for the NHL, first as assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings and later as coach of the Kings' farm team, the Ontario Reign, in the second-tier professional hockey league AHL. The fact that Sturm is now the first German to reach such a position is, according to NHL superstar Leon Draisaitl, "outstanding for German ice hockey."

Only the fourth non-North American to become NHL head coach

To understand the magnitude of this: The head coaching jobs of the 32 NHL teams are traditionally only given to Americans or Canadians. In the league's entire 100-year history, there were exactly three head coaches before Sturm who weren't originally from North America. "To be honest, I don't even think about it, but when I get questions about it or read about it, it obviously makes me very, very proud," Sturm told sportschau.de.

Sturm is now practically half-American. With only a brief interruption during his time as national coach between 2015 and 2018, he has lived in the USA for 28 years. People know and respect him, and over almost 30 years, he has built an important network.

Storm works immediately

And Sturm is making waves. "It hasn't been this competitive and physical in camp for a long time," praised Boston superstar David Pastrnak. "Marco explained well how he envisions our style of play, which makes it quite easy for us." Even as national coach, the sunny young man was considered a people-pleaser.

Superstar David Pastrnak (l.) has a lot of praise for the coach. © APA / MADDIE MEYER

Whether Sturm can lead the Bruins back into the playoffs remains to be seen, despite their strong start. Boston is once again considered an underdog, and the Buffalo Sabres, the Bruins' third opponent this weekend, were particularly weak in their 3-1 loss to Boston. Nevertheless, Sturm has already given the team a new face.

"We've strayed somewhat from what defines the Bruins. The standard of effort we strive for every day has been lost. That was my main theme," Sturm said in analyzing the preseason. "We want to get back to that. I explained what I will demand from the players every day. That was my message."