Vice World Champion Germany can count on reinforcements from the best ice hockey league in the world for the World Championships in the Czech Republic from May 10 to 26.
Things are looking “very good” for the attackers Nico Sturm (San Jose Sharks) and JJ Peterka (Buffalo Sabres) as well as goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), said sports director Christian Künast on the sidelines of the 4-2 friendly win against Garmisch-Partenkirchen Austria at Magentasport.
“We’re still hoping,” said national coach Harold Kreis about the NHL replenishment after the second win in the fifth World Cup preparation game. He could not yet confirm the personal details. “But the squad will still change.” Especially since personnel are still expected who are currently needed in the playoff final between the Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven and the Eisbären Berlin. These would primarily be the Berliners Marcel Noebels, Jonas Müller or Frederik Tiffels.
“Every player from the NHL is a reinforcement”
Captain Moritz Müller primarily wants to work with the professionals present at the training camp. “The players who are here are important, everything else is speculation,” said the Kölner Haie defender. “But every player from the NHL is a reinforcement for us. It would be great if they joined and if not, then we’ll do it with the guys who are here.”
In the first of two tests against Austria, the Germans once again showed a lot of potential on offense, but they need to improve further on defense. “It wasn’t our best game, we still have room for improvement,” said Müller. “We have to play more straight, that was the lesson we learned today.”
