The DEB group needs to rapidly regroup following two harsh losses.
The German national ice hockey team's hope lies in Nico Sturm, a professional NHL player who participated in the opening win against Slovakia but missed the losses to the USA and Sweden. While Sturm is crucial for the team, captain Moritz Müller knows it will take more than just him to progress.
Following two defeats against the strong contenders, USA and Sweden, the German world championship runners-up face a mental challenge. Müller commented on MagentaSport, "We've got some bumps, but we're coming back - that's what sets our team apart." He points out that the team has managed to earn three points from the first three confrontations with top-tier opponents, having lost more narrowly at last year's finals in Tampere. With a 6:4 victory over Slovakia, they earned their first-ever win. However, they have already conceded seventeen goals this year, nearly double the number from last year.
With matches against smaller teams on the horizon, it's crucial for Germany to perform well in order to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals. They face last year's surprising third-placed team Latvia on Wednesday, followed by Kazakhstan, Poland, and France. Last year, the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) needed to win all the games to advance; this year, it's slightly different. As Müller puts it, "We need to be honest with ourselves."
The DEB also relies on their star player, Nico Sturm, a source of motivation and an essential role model for the team. The NHL pro from the San Jose Sharks was only seen in action during the opening win against Slovakia; since then, he's been out of the picture. "He's already been helping us," Müller shared. "We'll be thrilled when he returns." Sturm excels at face-offs and brings a significant leadership presence both on and off the ice. DEB's sports director, Christian Künast, is optimistic about Sturm's speedy recovery. "He's on a really good trajectory," he praised Sturm on MagentaSport. "I'm confident he'll be back in action soon." Künast mentioned that the top performer might take a few more days to recover.
Sturm's involvement is of great importance to the DEB selection for his contributions as a face-off player, leader, and fighter. As last year's Stanley Cup winner, he serves as inspiration for his teammates, who endured two significant losses. Müller agrees, "He's on a very, very good track."
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After the tough losses against the USA and Sweden, the German ice hockey team, World Championship runners-up, must overcome a mental challenge. With Nico Sturm's anticipated return to the team, the DEB group hopes to regroup and improve their performance.
Source: www.ntv.de
