The DEB team recovers from two painful losses.
The future of the German national ice hockey team rests on the shoulders of Nico Sturm, a seasoned NHL pro. He played in the team's opening victory against Slovakia but was absent in their crushing losses to the USA and Sweden. But as captain Moritz Müller knows, it will take more than just one player to improve their performance.
After two losses against the title favorites USA and Sweden, the German team that finished second at the World Championships in the Czech Republic is facing a mental struggle. "We've had our fair share of setbacks, but we bounced back, that's what sets this team apart," said Müller in an interview with MagentaSport after their disheartening 6-1 loss to the eleven-time champions Sweden.
When looking at the table, Müller pointed out that their performance seems more promising than the previous year, but their confidence is lower. Thanks to their 6-4 victory over Slovakia, the team has a total of three points from their opening three matches against the top contenders. They had finished their 2021 tournament with three defeats in the silver medal match in Tampere, but had put up a difficult fight against the top nations and played much stronger. In their current tournament, they have already conceded 16 goals after their 1-6 defeat to the USA and the loss against Sweden.
The upcoming games against the smaller teams in Group B, such as Latvia, Kazakhstan, Poland, and France, are critical in their quest for the World Cup quarter-finals. They face the third-placed team from the previous year, Latvia, on Wednesday (16:20/Pro7, MagentaSport and live ticker at ntv.de), then play against Kazakhstan, Poland, and France. Unlike last year, the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) does not need to win all their games this time around. "You have to be honest with yourself," said Müller."We have games like last year ahead of us. It will be a challenge to get that into our heads."
The DEB team is pinning its hopes on the NHL professional, Nico Sturm. He is expected to lead the team into the last eight. His return to the ice against Latvia could be imminent. "He's already doing us good," said Müller. "We'll be happy when he's back." The 29-year-old from the San Jose Sharks was only present on the ice for the opening win against Slovakia and has been out ever since. "I hope he's back now," said defenseman Jonas Müller of the Eisbären Berlin.
Sturm's contributions to the team are invaluable. As a player at face-offs, a leader on and off the ice, and a fighter, he is a source of motivation for his teammates who have experienced two clear defeats. "He's on an incredible path," said DEB sports director Christian Künast on MagentaSport. "I'm confident that he'll be back in action soon." The top-performing player is currently being given extra rest "for one or two more days".
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The German ice hockey team, who previously finished second at the World Championships, is aiming to regain their form after two challenging losses to title contenders USA and Sweden. With the World Championships once again on the horizon, the team is looking forward to Nico Sturm's potential return, a key player who was absent due to injury following their opening victory against Slovakia.
As they prepare for upcoming matches against smaller teams in Group B, such as Latvia, Kazakhstan, Poland, and France, the DEB team believes Sturm's return could significantly boost their chances in their quest for the World Cup quarter-finals.
Source: www.ntv.de
