The German para ice hockey national team at the World Cup in the United States for the first time after 20 years, qualified for the Paralympics. Germany beat Slovakia 5-2
Most recently, the German team had just failed. This time the World Cup duel for fifth place was synonymous with a final around the Paralympics ticket. Had Slovakia to keep the upper hand at the qualification tournament in Berlin in Berlin, the revenge followed.
Big emotions
The cheers at the German Para Hockey National team was correspondingly great – for the team of the Norwegian coach Ole Sundstøl, a long -term dream comes true. Captain Malte Brelage said: “There are moments that cannot be described. We went through such heights and depths, but worked incredibly well as a team and each of us gave 110 percent. We come from the B pool, now reach fifth place in the A group and have qualified directly for the Paralympics. The team has such great potential and so a big will, that is simply indescribable-and that is exactly what we showed on the ice.”added: “We are simply incredibly happy, are now celebrating properly and are really looking forward to the Paralympics.”
The goal scorer Ingo Kuhli-Lauenstein, who twice successful against Slovakia, said: “I can’t sort my feelings yet and I’m completely flat”,, “It is just fantastic that we have now done this and can enter this stage. That will connect and weld us together for the rest of our lives. It is really a lifelong dream that comes up, just incredible and grand. The cabin is raging, today we really let the sow out”said Kuhli-Lauenstein.
Best placement in years
Fifth place at the World Cup has been the best placement in many years. Germany has also secured Germany. But the Paralympics participation in 2026 in Milan outshines everything. In addition, the early qualification now has greater planning security. The remaining two tickets will be awarded at a qualification tournament in autumn – and the German team can look at this in a relaxed manner.
The contingent
The German contingent at the World Cup in Buffalo (age / club): Simon Kunst (38 / ERC Hannover Ice Lions), Veit Mühlhans (28 / ESV Dachau), Malte Brelage (26 / ERC Hannover Ice Lions), Sven Stumpe (49 / Barbarians Karmen), Hugo Rädler (47 / ESV Dachau), Ingo Kuhli-Lauenstein (33 / TUS Wiehl Penguins), Bernhard Hering (33 / Eissportclub Dresden), Felix Schrader (28 / ERC Hannover Ice Lions), Frank Rennhack (35 / ice sports club Dresden), Jano Bussmann (18 / TuS Wiehl Penguins), Jörg Wedde (58 / ERC Hannover Ice Lions), Leopold Reimann (28 / PEC Berlin), Christian Pilz (42 / Ice Sports Club Dresden), Marcel Malchin (27 / TuS Wiehl Penguins), Bas Disveld (49 / Bremer ice hockey club)