"The day will come": ice hockey team focuses on the future

Created: 05/27/2022, 04:48 am

For national coach Toni Söderholm (r) and the German team it was over in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

© Martin Meissner/AP/dpa

The German ice hockey team's frustration at missing out on the World Cup semi-finals quickly gives way to hope for good times.

National coach Toni Söderholm can rely on "brutal talent".

Helsinki - The sobering quarter-finals at the World Cup is no reason for Germany's ice hockey team to doubt a successful future.

"We are completely on the right track," said Andreas Niederberger, Vice President of the German Ice Hockey Federation, after the premature end of the World Cup mission due to the 4-1 loss to the Czech Republic in Helsinki.

"We're getting closer.

The day will come when the next step can also be taken," assured the ex-national player, with a view to the medal ambitions of the DEB selection, which have recently been increasingly open.

In all three World Cup tournaments under national coach Toni Söderholm, the German team made it into the knockout phase.

After the sensational semi-finals last year, the team played the best preliminary round in its history this time.

"It was a tournament in which many players fought very, very well after a long year," praised the Finn despite the disappointment against the efficient Czechs.

Three shorthanded goals robbed the Germans of another World Cup coup and attack on precious metal.

Gawanke: "I think there's not much missing"

"If we take our chances, it could well be that we're in the semi-finals here.

I don't think there's much missing," said defender Leon Gawanke.

The 22-year-old North American professional, like young NHL star Moritz Seider (21), striker Lukas Reichel (20) or the injured striker Tim Stützle (20), who was also missing in the quarter-finals, is one of the young hopefuls of a team that for some like a big promise works.

"We have brutal talent, very young players," said NHL goalie Philipp Grubauer.

"There was still a bit of a lack of experience," explained the Seattle Kraken goalkeeper.

"But I think we're doing very well and are very well positioned for the next few years," added Grubauer.

Beijing Winter Games ticked off

The emotional low point of the completely screwed up Winter Games in Beijing has finally been ticked off.

The German team had arrived in February with plans for gold loudly voiced, but had already failed before the quarter-finals.

"We continued on our way and didn't let ourselves be deterred," said defense veteran Korbinian Holzer.

That's how the vice president of the association, Niederberger, sees it.

"We learned from the Olympic Games and took another step forward," said the 59-year-old.

The association has repositioned itself with the new President Peter Merten at the helm.

Long before the World Cup, the contract with the internationally sought-after Söderholm as national coach had been extended until 2026.

"Let's continue on this path and I'm sure German ice hockey will make further steps forward," said Niederberger.

dpa