Walter Leinweber (1899 – 20 February 1957) was a German ice hockey player who primarily played as a goaltender. He is best known for his participation in the 1932 Winter Olympics, where he helped the German national team win a bronze medal.
Early Life and Club Career Born in 1899, Leinweber played his club hockey for SC Riessersee, one of Germany's most prominent ice hockey clubs based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He was a foundational player for his club, contributing to its domestic success through his reliable goaltending.
International Career Leinweber was a regular fixture in the German national ice hockey team during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
- 1930 World Championship: He represented Germany at the 1930 Ice Hockey World Championship held in Chamonix, France, and Davos, Switzerland. Germany achieved a significant success by winning the silver medal, marking one of their earliest international triumphs.
- 1932 Winter Olympics: Leinweber was the starting goaltender for Germany at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, United States. In a tournament played as a round-robin among four nations (Canada, USA, Germany, Poland), Germany secured the bronze medal, finishing behind Canada (gold) and the United States (silver). This was a landmark achievement for German ice hockey.
- 1934 World Championship: He also participated in the 1934 Ice Hockey World Championship held in Milan, Italy, where Germany finished in 9th place.
Legacy Leinweber is remembered as one of the key figures in the early development and international recognition of German ice hockey. His contributions, particularly the Olympic bronze medal and World Championship silver, established a foundation for future generations of German players.
Honors and Awards
- Olympic Bronze Medal: 1932 (Ice Hockey)
- World Championship Silver Medal: 1930 (Ice Hockey)