After silver comes gold – that is the expectation for the World Cup in the Czech Republic. With participation as runner-up world champion, the sport continues to gain popularity.
Source: dpa
Harold Kreis has done it again: He has left the top scorer in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) out of the squad for the World Cup that begins today. Which earned him angry reactions, especially from fans of the Kölner Haie, for whom Justin Schütz scored 30 goals this season.
However, this is not new: last year, national coach Kreis even left the top three DEL scorers at home. And the result was impressive. The German team made it to the final and won their first World Cup medal in 70 years.
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After silver comes gold?
Now there’s another World Cup coming up. The opening opponent on Friday (4:20 p.m.) in Ostrava is Slovakia, the first of seven group games. But for some observers these seem to be just preliminary banter. They are already looking forward to the final on May 26th in Prague. The expectation is that after silver there will now come gold.
Preliminary round: game plan of the German team
Germany – Slovakia (May 10, 2024, 4:20 p.m.)
Germany – USA (May 11, 2024, 8:20 p.m.)
Germany – Sweden (May 13, 2024, 8:20 p.m.)
Germany – Latvia (May 15, 2024, 4:20 p.m.)
Germany – Kazakhstan (May 17, 2024, 4:20 p.m.)
Germany – Poland (May 18, 2024, 4:20 p.m.)
Germany – France (May 21, 2024, 12:20 p.m.)
World Cup placements of the DEB team since 2013
2013: Preliminary round exit (9th place)
2014: Preliminary round exit (14th place)
2015: Preliminary round exit (10th place)
2016: Quarterfinals (7th place)
2017: Quarterfinals (place (8)
2018: Preliminary round exit (11th place)
2019: Quarterfinals (6th place)
2021: Semifinals (4th place)
2022: Quarterfinals (7th place)
2023: Vice World Champion (2nd place)
This is not an easy situation for the German Ice Hockey Association (DEB). On the one hand, he is happy about the increased attention. Similar to handball and basketball, the ice hockey team is rarely the focus. A little extra euphoria can’t hurt.
National coach warns
On the other hand, you don’t want to raise hopes that will only be disappointed. Kreis warned weeks ago: “Past successes are no guarantee for future successes.” Striker Nico Sturm also wishes for humility: “Basically, it’s a new tournament. We shouldn’t try to copy the last World Cup.”
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Because, as with every tournament, the squad only partially resembles the one from the previous year. There are just 14 silver medalists from 2023. This is the case for all nations – depending on which players are still in demand in the North American NHL. And whoever is fit and wants to.
Nico Sturm – a man for all occasions
Nico Sturm is fit and he has the desire and time. The 29-year-old missed the NHL play-offs with the San José Sharks. So the national coach can rely on one of his most important players again. Someone who scores and prepares goals, who wins face-offs and stops opposing strikers cold, especially when they are outnumbered.
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However, the DEB team has to do without its biggest NHL stars: Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle. Likewise to Marcel Noebels, the thinker and leader of the German champions from Berlin. Mannheim’s top defender Leon Gawanke is also missing due to injury. Failures that hurt.
Five NHL professionals in the squad
At least Lukas Reichel followed. After goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer, defender Maksymilian Szuber and the strikers JJ Peterka and Nico Sturm, he is the fifth German NHL professional. There is also a lot of quality in the squad from the European leagues: Mathias Niederberger, Kai Wissmann, Jonas Müller, Leo Pföderl, Marc Michaelis, Dominik Kahun, Yasin Ehliz, Frederik Tiffels.
Top earners from the NHL at the 2024 Ice Hockey World Cup
Erik Karlsson (Sweden) $11.5 million
Johnny Gaudreau (USA) $9.8 million
Zach Werenski (USA) $9.6 million
Seth Jones (USA) $9.5 million
Roman Josi (Switzerland) $9.1 million
Pierre-Luc Dubois (Canada) $8.5 million
Brady Tkachuk (USA) $8.2 million
Victor Hedman (Sweden) $7.9 million
Cole Caufield (USA) $7.9 million
Nico Hischier (Switzerland) $7.3 million
Harold Kreis can look forward to a breadth like hardly any national coach before him. Despite the cancellations and the tough preparation (three wins from eight games), he has a team together that should reach the quarter-finals. To do this, they have to finish at least fourth in the group of eight.
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Celebrity like it hasn’t been for a long time
But even that won’t be a sure-fire success. This year there are more NHL stars at the World Cup again, especially the group opponents from the USA and Sweden traveled to Ostrava with a lot of celebrities. Opening opponents Slovakia also have well-known personnel in Martin Fehérváry, Tomas Tatar and the two young stars Simon Nemec and Juraj Slafkovský.
In 2023, too, it was initially against the toughest opponents. After three defeats, the German team was under pressure. But then it started a run to the final.
Mode, favorites, DEB chances
:Everything important about the Ice Hockey World Cup
The most important thing about the Ice Hockey World Cup: What mode does it have? Who are the favorites? Can the German team make it to the final like last year? Here is the information.
by Bernd Schwickerath
FAQ