ISA Internationale Service Agentur
German Development Bridge
Germany
Key Facts
Also known as: ISA; Internationale Service Agentur; ISA Internationale Service Agentur für Eishockey Spielerberatung
Founded: 1988; Michael Bühler later founded the current ISA structure with Sana Hassan in 2000.
Headquarters: Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
Other offices: No separate owned offices publicly listed; North American pathway via Maloney & Thompson, plus listed affiliate links with Alterno Management.
Agency type: Mid-size hockey agency
Ownership: Michael Bühler & Yannik Würthner GbR; owners listed as Michael Bühler and Yannik Würthner.
Primary markets: DEL, DEL2, DNL/U20, U17, German junior/pro hockey, Europe, and North America through Maloney & Thompson.
Players: 116 total clients; NHL clients: 6, from the current public agency listing accessed May 6, 2026. European salaries are generally not public; no current agency-level NHL contract aggregate was publicly verified.
Key agents: Michael Bühler, Yannik Würthner; Sana Hassan is the founding figure referenced by the agency.
Languages: German, English; North American and European partner coverage.
Contact email: michael.buehler@isaserviceagentur.com; yannik.wuerthner@isaserviceagentur.com.
Phone / WhatsApp: Michael Bühler: +49 160 364 2259; Yannik Würthner: +49 176 71205863.
Website: https://www.isa-eishockey-beratung.de/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internationaleserviceagentur/
About ISA Internationale Service Agentur
ISA is one of Germany’s longest-running hockey advisory groups, tracing its player-consulting roots to Sana Hassan’s 1988 founding of what the agency describes as Germany’s first hockey player agency. Michael Bühler, a former player who later worked in youth coaching and sports management at Schwenninger ERC, founded ISA with Hassan in 2000 and is now one of the main public faces of the agency. Yannik Würthner is listed as a junior partner focused on scouting, recruiting, placement, and client support. ISA’s model is built around German player development, early scouting, contract placement, and daily-life support rather than only late-stage contract negotiation. The agency says it works with players in German youth leagues, DEL2, DEL, Europe, and North America through its long-running cooperation with Maloney & Thompson Sports Management. Its current public roster is German-heavy but international, with active clients in DEL, DEL2, ICEHL, AlpsHL, ECHL, and other European markets. ISA’s current client list includes Tom Kühnhackl, Kai Wissmann, Felix Maegaard Scheel, Alex Trivellato, Danny aus den Birken, Yannik Valenti, Josh Teves, Niklas Treutle, and Tyler Cuma. The agency emphasizes development before contracts, saying player progression comes before classic contract-package negotiation. Its service model also includes tax, legal, insurance, sports development, training camps in Romanshorn and Toronto, and a free insurance broker, Marc Reimer. Recent recognition includes three ISA clients selected in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Max Penkin/Max Calce signing a first DEL contract at age 16 with Adler Mannheim, and Julius Sumpf being drafted 98th overall by Chicago in 2025. ISA is best understood as a German development-and-placement specialist with an unusually durable North American bridge.
Client Roster
Top players / NHL players
Tom Kühnhackl (Adler Mannheim) – F – Germany – Jan. 21, 1992 – European salary not public; last NHL contract was 1 year, $850K with the New York Islanders, signed by Roland Thompson.
Kai Wissmann (Eisbären Berlin) – D – Germany – Oct. 22, 1996 – European salary not public; previous NHL contract was 1 year, $825K with Boston, signed by Andrew & Dave Maloney.
Felix Maegaard Scheel (Schwenninger Wild Wings) – F – Denmark – Sept. 1, 1992 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2025-26 Schwenninger Wild Wings.
C.J. Stretch (Starbulls Rosenheim) – F – United States – Aug. 3, 1989 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2025-26 Starbulls Rosenheim.
Alex Trivellato (Schwenninger Wild Wings) – D – Italy – Jan. 5, 1993 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2025-26 Schwenninger Wild Wings.
Danny aus den Birken (Krefeld Pinguine) – G – Germany – Feb. 15, 1985 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2025-26 Krefeld Pinguine.
Josh Teves (EC-KAC) – D – Canada – Feb. 18, 1995 – European salary not public; past NHL contracts include a 1-year $925K ELC and 2-year $1.4M Vancouver contract.
Yannik Valenti (EC Kassel Huskies) – F – Germany – Sept. 24, 2000 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2026-27 EC Kassel Huskies.
Tyler Cuma (EK Zell am See) – D – Canada – Jan. 19, 1990 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2025-26 EK Zell am See.
Niklas Treutle (Nürnberg Ice Tigers) – G – Germany – Apr. 29, 1991 – European salary not public; current public agency listing shows 2026-27 Nürnberg Ice Tigers.
Brady Austin (Kölner Haie) – D – Canada – June 16, 1993 – listed in ISA’s affiliated current public agency network through Maloney & Thompson; European salary not public.
Prospects & young talents
Julius Sumpf (Chicago Blackhawks prospect / Moncton Wildcats) – F – Germany – Jan. 11, 2005 – drafted 98th overall by Chicago in 2025; no NHL contract publicly verified.
Max Penkin / Max Calce (Adler Mannheim, DEL/DNL) – F – Germany – June 11, 2009 – extended with Adler Mannheim for 2026-27 and changed his surname to Calce.
Elias Schneider (Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL rights) – F – Germany – selected 45th overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
Manuel Schams (Regina Pats, WHL rights) – D – Germany – selected 129th overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
Mateu Späth (Niagara IceDogs, OHL rights) – F – Germany – selected 148th overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.
Goalies
Danny aus den Birken (Krefeld Pinguine) – G – Germany – Feb. 15, 1985.
Niklas Treutle (Nürnberg Ice Tigers) – G – Germany – Apr. 29, 1991.
Timo Pielmeier – former/longtime ISA-listed goalie client.
Coaches/Staff represented
No current coach/staff representation list is publicly verified.
Notable former clients
Jochen Hecht – advised by Sana Hassan and Roly Thompson from age 16, according to ISA’s testimonial section.
Yannic Seidenberg – listed by ISA among notable represented players.
Gerrit Fauser – listed by ISA among notable represented players.
Kris Foucault – current public agency listing shows latest season 2022-23, so treated as inactive under the user’s active-player rule.
Mark Olver – current public agency listing shows latest season 2024-25, so treated as inactive under the user’s active-player rule.
Highlights
German development lane: ISA’s public model emphasizes scouting, youth follow-up, development camps, and steady contact with families and clubs.
North American bridge: ISA has worked with Maloney & Thompson since 1988 to give players international options.
Contract approach: ISA says its goal is maximizing each contract package while staying in contact with all relevant market participants.
Development pipeline: training-camp access in Romanshorn and Toronto is listed as part of the support model.
Support depth: ISA lists legal, tax, insurance, development, and family-care support around the player.
Agency Snapshot
Origin story
Sana Hassan founded the first German hockey player agency in 1988 after playing and working in sports management.
Michael Bühler joined the agency story after his own playing, coaching, and front-office background, founding the current ISA structure with Hassan in 2000.
ISA’s first clear foothold was German player advising with international placement through Maloney & Thompson.
Milestones
1988 – Sana Hassan founded Germany’s first hockey player advisory agency, according to ISA.
1988 – ISA says it began working closely with Maloney & Thompson Sports Management.
2000 – Michael Bühler founded ISA with Sana Hassan.
2025 – Julius Sumpf was drafted 98th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
2025 – Elias Schneider, Manuel Schams, and Mateu Späth were selected in the CHL Import Draft.
2026 – Max Penkin/Max Calce extended with Adler Mannheim for 2026-27.
Network strengths
Germany: DEL, DEL2, DNL/U20, U17, Adler Mannheim, Eisbären Berlin, Schwenninger Wild Wings, Krefeld, Nürnberg, Kassel, Rosenheim.
North America: CHL Import Draft pathway and Maloney & Thompson cooperation for NHL/AHL/CHL opportunities.
Europe: DEL, ICEHL, AlpsHL, Switzerland, Sweden, and broader European club placement.
Specialty lanes: German prospects, DEL veterans, development camps, insurance/tax support, and North American transition planning.
Support Team / Partners
Contract/cap specialist: Michael Bühler and Yannik Würthner; North American NHL contract support via Maloney & Thompson.
Immigration/visa counsel: not publicly named.
Litigation/agent-law counsel: ISA says specifically trained lawyers are available when needed; names are not public.
Marketing/brand partnerships: not clearly disclosed.
PR/media training: not clearly disclosed.
Skills coaches / skating coaches / goalie coaches: Mike Ellis, Ragge Johansson, and Joachim Ahlgren Bloom are listed in ISA’s development section.
Analytics/scouting support: Sebastiano Lo Castro is listed as a talent scout on the English site.
Financial advisors/tax partners: Marc Reimer is listed as insurance broker; ISA also references tax experts.
Notable Deals Led by ISA Internationale Service Ag.
2026 – Max Penkin / Max Calce: Adler Mannheim – DEL extension – through 2026-27 – value not public – young German DEL prospect retained by Mannheim.
2025 – Jonas Müller and Kai Wissmann: Eisbären Berlin – DEL extensions – through 2028 – value not public.
2025 – Julius Sumpf: Chicago Blackhawks – NHL Draft selection – Round 4, No. 98 – no NHL contract publicly verified.
2025 – Elias Schneider: Rosenheim/Germany → Shawinigan Cataractes rights – CHL Import Draft – 1st round, No. 45.
2025 – Manuel Schams: Jungadler Mannheim → Regina Pats rights – CHL Import Draft – 3rd round, No. 129.
2025 – Mateu Späth: Germany → Niagara IceDogs rights – CHL Import Draft – 3rd round, No. 148.
2019 – Tom Kühnhackl: New York Islanders – NHL UFA signing – 1 year – $850K total – $850K AAV – signed by Roland Thompson.
2022 – Kai Wissmann: Boston Bruins – NHL signing – 1 year – $825K total – $825K AAV – signed by Andrew & Dave Maloney.
Track Record (Last 3 Seasons)
NHL contracts signed: 0 publicly verified direct ISA NHL contracts in the last three seasons; NHL-side execution appears tied to Maloney & Thompson where applicable.
Total value signed (USD): Not publicly disclosed; European salaries and DEL/DEL2 contracts are generally not public.
Total AAV represented (USD): Not publicly disclosed.
Extensions/renewals: At least 2 public German-market renewal items: Max Penkin/Max Calce with Adler Mannheim and Jonas Müller/Kai Wissmann with Eisbären Berlin.
ELCs signed: none publicly verified in the last three seasons.
RFA outcomes: none publicly verified.
Arbitration cases: none publicly verified.
Europe transfers: not fully quantifiable from public sources.
Aggregate client market value: not publicly disclosed.
Compliance & Accreditation
NHLPA certification status: no in-house NHLPA-certified ISA agent is publicly verified; North American work is publicly tied to Maloney & Thompson.
National federation registrations: not publicly stated.
Professional liability insurance: not publicly stated.
Ethics/compliance notes: no public disciplinary issues found in the reviewed sources.
Testimonials
Tom Kühnhackl – player: “always by my side.”
Yannik Valenti – player: “100% zuverlässig.”
Julius Sumpf – player: “wertvoll und ehrlich.”
Press, Awards & Recognition
1988 – ISA says Sana Hassan founded Germany’s first hockey player advisory agency.
2025 – Three ISA clients selected in the CHL Import Draft.
2025 – Julius Sumpf drafted 98th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
2026 – Max Penkin/Max Calce extended with Adler Mannheim after becoming a young DEL breakout.
2026 – Current public agency listing shows 116 total clients and 6 NHL clients.
