NHL pros, goalkeeper duo, captain: World Cup players in focus
Created: 05/12/2022, 05:01
Because his Seattle Kraken didn't have a chance of making the playoffs in the NHL main round, Philipp Grubauer has time.
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
NHL top star Leon Draisaitl is not part of the current German World Cup squad.
Nevertheless, an NHL trio is the focus of Germany's national ice hockey team.
Helsinki - Philipp Grubauer, Moritz Seider, Tim Stützle: A goalkeeper, a defender and a striker from the North American professional league NHL have high hopes for Germany's national team for the Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland.
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A long-time leading player from the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) is the captain in the team of national coach Toni Söderholm.
An overview of the players who are in focus before the start of the World Cup on Friday (7.20 p.m. / Sport1 / MagentaSport) against Canada.
Philipp Grubauer (30 years, goalkeeper):
Has world class level.
Because his Seattle Kraken were one of the worst teams in the NHL main round and had no chance of making the playoffs, Rosenheimer has time.
In all probability, he is number one in the German World Cup team - and conveys self-confidence.
"Of course our goal is to win gold," Grubauer said in "Kicker".
Mathias Niederberger (29, goalkeeper):
With outstanding performances, he led Berlin to the championship and is now switching to Vice-Champion Munich.
Söderholm does not see it as a problem that the best DEL keeper at the World Cup should often sit on the bench because of Grubauer's participation: "Of course we clarified that in advance." In view of tightly scheduled games, it would be normal in ice hockey if he too would play in the course of the tournament.
Moritz Seider (21, defender):
The defender star in the German team.
The former Mannheimer played an outstanding debut season in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings.
"Mo is a phenomenon for me," said national team captain Moritz Müller about his young namesake.
At the 2021 World Cup, Seider was voted into the all-star team and the tournament's best defender.
Tim Stützle (20, striker):
Was selected third in the NHL draft, the talent selection, in 2020 and was thus selected earlier than only top star Leon Draisaitl by the German players six years earlier.
Right away he prevailed with the Ottawa Senators.
"It is important for us to have the mentality in the team that someone can score goals," said Söderholm about the young NHL striker.
Moritz Müller (35, defender):
Captain and leading player, a constant for years.
The man from Cologne is also there this time, although he has only just become a father for the third time.
With nine World Cup appearances, the most experienced in the German squad and the oldest.
“The big audience doesn't know what a very good leader he is.
He takes incredible responsibility," praised Söderholm.
dpa
