Ice Hockey World Cup: “Keep going”: Germany ready for co-favorite USA

The start of the World Cup was a great success, and now the German national ice hockey team is waiting for one of the favorites of the tournament.

With three points to their name, the vice world champions face the USA this Saturday (May 11, 2024). “We are preparing for a tough fight,” national coach Harold Greiss said.

While the highly ambitious Americans are under pressure after a 2:4 opening game against Sweden, the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) was able to pick up the slack in a 6:4 win over Slovakia in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Friday. .

“carry on”

“We have to keep going,” said strong goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer from the Seattle Kraken. “However, against top international stars like Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Trevor Zekras (Anaheim Ducks), Seth Jones (Chicago Blackhawks) and Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) Goalie sees his team with no chance. “We have to get the little details right and not take any penalties,” demanded the keeper.

It worked well against the Slovaks. Six different goal scorers, goals on the power play and, above all, always at the right moment. A defensive side that is shaky in preparation is also not as vulnerable without star defender Moritz Seider. “But we can still do some things better,” Gries said. But his team was able to put “many exclamation marks” straight.

Debutant Coleplay was surprised

One of the tournament winners was a World Cup debutant: defender Lucas Galblai. He halted the Slovakian's momentum with his goal to make it 3-2 just before the end of the second period. 2002 World Champions Germany's 2-0 lead came within a short period of time. The defender, who later moved from Bremerhaven to Adler Mannheim, hit the net powerfully. “It's a good time,” the 26-year-old said after his first goal.

Captain Moritz Müller said it was the “first step” against the Olympic bronze medalist for the DEB test. The minimum goal for the quarter-finals is already close after the first matchday. For Yassin Ehlis, who set up three goals, the result was not the only thing that mattered. “The way we approached the game was important,” said the EHC Munich striker.