Late three-pack lets the DEB team cheer
Only one duo remains from the team that sensationally won silver at the World Championships - yet the German national ice hockey team is starting the Germany Cup with a win. National coach Harold Kreis sees a "promising mix" against Denmark.
The German national ice hockey team has made a successful start to the new season almost six months after its silver medal at the World Championships in Finland. In their first appearance in front of a home crowd since their historic success in Tampere, the revamped team of national coach Harold Kreis defeated Denmark 4:1 (0:0, 1:1, 3:0) at the start of the German Cup in Landshut.
In the first test on the way to the World Championships in the Czech Republic (May 10 to 26, 2024), Leo Pföderl (26) put the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) team ahead at the start of the second period. Patrick Russell (40') scored a well-deserved equalizer in the same period before Colin Ugbekile (53'), Alexander Ehl (58') and Maximilian Eisenmenger (60') secured the German victory in the final period.
"I was very happy to score a goal here in my home country and in front of my parents. That's what I'm most pleased about," said Landshut-born Ehl on MagentaSport: "We were very strong defensively and didn't concede much. That was a good game."
On Saturday (6 p.m./MagentaSport), the DEB team will face Austria, who suffered a 7-1 defeat against Slovakia on Thursday. The Olympic bronze medalists will be the German team's third and final opponent on Sunday (2.30 pm).
Goalkeeper Tiefensee can shine
In Landshut, where the women's national team is also celebrating its home tournament premiere this year, Germany will line up as defending champions - and with a few changes compared to the World Cup. Only the two strikers Ehl (Düsseldorf) and Manuel Wiederer (Berlin) will be there as reigning runners-up. Especially in view of the knockout games of Munich, Mannheim and Ingolstadt in the Champions League over the next two weeks, Kreis has left out numerous regular players. The NHL pros around world-class forward Leon Draisaitl are on duty in North America this season.
In addition to some newcomers, the focus was therefore primarily on the prominent returnees. Olympic silver medallists Yasin Ehliz and Pföderl, for example, who were also absent in Finland, as well as foreign pros Tobias Rieder (Sweden) and Marc Michaelis (Switzerland), were part of a "promising mix" according to Kreis.
Ehliz, Rieder and Michaelis immediately formed the first line of attack. In a fast-paced first period, however, the DEB team failed to score despite numerous chances - Pföderl changed that with the first opportunity of the second period, the Eisbären Berlin pro scoring from close range.
However, the Danes were now also making repeated offensive appearances and Germany's goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee was able to distinguish himself several times. It was not without reason that the 21-year-old from Adler Mannheim was picked by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the NHL talent draft at the end of June. Shortly before the end of the second period, however, Tiefensee had to reach behind him for the first time when Russell scored. In a now more even game, Ugbekile took advantage of an overtime situation seven minutes before the end to retake the lead before Ehl and Eisenmenger made everything clear with a shot into the empty net.
The German national ice hockey team will face Austria in their next International match during the German Cup, after their successful start against Denmark. Their goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars, showcased his skills during the match against Denmark.
Source: www.ntv.de
