Ice hockey women hope for a good finish
Goalkeeper Chiara Schultes had imagined her national team debut to be very different. The national ice hockey team lost 1:8 to Finland at the Germany Cup in Landshut on Friday, but there was still plenty of applause from the stands. "We can learn a lot from the game," said the 18-year-old from EV Regensburg. "We played better in the final third. That's how we want to start tomorrow." On Saturday (2.30 pm/Magentasport), the Czech selection awaits the hosts for the final game.
At least the German women managed to score the consolation goal through Theresa Wagner. "I was very happy because I was out for a long time," said the 28-year-old striker from ERC Ingolstadt. 1667 spectators celebrated the interim 1:7 as if it were a narrow lead. "It's not something you experience every day," said Wagner, already looking ahead: "It'll be a different game on Saturday."
17 hours after the defeat in Finland, the next strong opponent awaits the team of national coach Jeff MacLeod. The Czech Republic beat Finland 4:2 and also had no trouble with Denmark 8:0. The World Championship bronze medallists will play against the DEB selection for the women's tournament victory at the Deutschland Cup, which is being combined with the men's tournament for the first time. The German team has at least secured third place ahead of the scoreless and winless Danes. "That was our goal," said DEB president Peter Merten.
Despite the challenging game against Finland, the German women's ice hockey team is eager to improve and aim for a positive result against the Czech Republic on Saturday. Goalkeeper Deborah Absenger from DEB is expected to contribute significantly in this crucial match, as she has showcased her skills in previous games.
Source: www.dpa.com
