The dream of a world championship could come true for Maximilian Glötzl and Markus Schweiger in December.
But for this they also have to make sacrifices.
Peiting
- For Maximilian Glötzl and Markus Schweiger, the next high point in their young careers is coming up.
The two Peitingers have been nominated by U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter for the provisional squad of the German U20 national ice hockey team, which is to represent the German colors at the A-World Junior Championship.
The World Cup begins on December 25th in Edmonton, Canada.
For Glötzl and Schweiger, the adventure starts today with a corona test.
“Of course I am incredibly happy about the nomination.
It is a huge honor to be able to represent the national team, ”said Schweiger.
The 18-year-old played at EC Peiting until the U16, before moving to ESV Kaufbeuren.
There the striker runs for the U20 in the DNL and for the first team in the DEL2.
Last season he wore the Peitinger jersey again with a license for three major league games.
Maximilian Glötzl does not see his nomination for the provisional squad as a matter of course.
He also played at the ECP up to the U16 and then switched to the Kölner Haien.
The defender is still under contract there today and is active in the DEL2 with a support license for EC Bad Nauheim.
The 18-year-old doesn't want to accept congratulations yet, because four players will be removed from the 27-man squad before the start of the tournament - two defenders and two forwards.
“The final cut will be made in Edmonton.
Before the start of the World Cup, the four players have to go home again, ”reports Glötzl.
"It will be tough for those affected."
Fierce competition for places
But there is still a long way to go before then.
If the corona test turns out negative today, the two Peitingers and their teammates will go to the federal performance center in Füssen on December 6th.
The first part of the preparation takes place there under strict hygiene measures.
“The players and officials only move around in the federal performance center and hotel.
Visiting parents or spectators during training are not allowed, ”explains Glötzl.
It's a shame for him, because it would have been the opportunity to see his parents and grandparents again after a long time.
"Facetime does not replace any personal contact in the long term."
So the focus is even more on the sporty.
"I think it will be a very hard and exhausting preparation," speculates Schweiger.
"Everyone will definitely be eager to present themselves in the best possible way in preparation and to step on the gas in order to fight for a good place." DEB): "The competition is tough and a consistently good performance is required to be part of the team at the end of the day."
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Maximilian Glötzl went from Peiting to Cologne (here at a young shark game last season).
© Private
With all players of the provisional squad and in a plane with the Swiss team, it goes from Zurich to Edmonton on December 13th - assuming three negative corona tests.
"Otherwise, the dream of the World Cup will be over before departure," says the Peitinger.
Once in Canada, the German entourage went into self-isolation for five days - including further corona tests.
“The Canadian organization tries very hard to make our stay as pleasant as possible.
During the five-day isolation phase in single rooms, we receive four meals directly in the room, ”says Glötzl.
“Aids for fitness exercises are provided in the rooms so that you can stay active in the games before the heavy load.” The teams are only allowed to use the entire floor in the hotel after the five days.
But they are further cut off from the other nations.
Live and play in the "bubble"
Team training at the competition site will likely begin on December 18th.
In Edmonton there are two test matches on December 21st against Austria and on December 23rd against the Czech Republic.
In Group A, the German selection meets hosts Canada, Switzerland, Slovakia and Finland.
There will be no relegation due to the corona pandemic (all tournaments in the lower groups have been canceled).
The teams can play freely.
“Let's see if we can surprise this year's team,” says Glötzl.
In Canada, the young ice hockey players will move in a so-called "bubble".
That means, isolated from everything that is not directly related to the tournament.
They are only allowed to stay in the hotel and in the ice rink, "Rogers Place".
“Of course I'm really excited to see how everything will go,” says Schweiger.
He's already got a little foretaste of daily tests and isolation in Kaufbeuren.
"Nevertheless, I am convinced that it will be a great experience in Canada - also in the special form."
In addition, the players cannot spend Christmas and the holidays with their families - for many the first time.
“Of course it's not that tingling, but it's good, that's part of my work now and for a young player the U20 World Cup in Canada is of course a dream that not everyone can achieve,” says Glötzl.
“I am ready to make a sacrifice for this dream.
Who knows if such an opportunity will come again. ”With a successful World Cup, the players also have the chance to give themselves the best present.