The national ice hockey team lost the prestigious duel against Austria at the Germany Cup and now has a final to win the tournament.
National coach Harold Kreis’ selection lost 2:5 (0:1, 1:1, 1:3) and now has to win against Slovakia after regular playing time on Sunday (2.45 p.m., live ticker on sportschau.de) in order to still be able to win the traditional home tournament in Landshut.
Unlike the 4-1 win in the first game against Latvia on Thursday, this time hardly any players could recommend themselves for a place in the Olympic squad. The Germany Cup is the last test opportunity for Kreis before the players are nominated for the Winter Games in Milan in February.
Meet Müller and Preto
Goals from Moritz Müller (30th minute) from the Kölner Haien and Philipp Preto (58th) from ERC Ingolstadt were not enough in front of 4,200 spectators in the sold-out hall. Vinzenz Rohrer (15th/52nd), Paul Huber (32nd), Leon Wallner (41st) and Dominic Zwerger (55th) shot the outsider to victory.
“We didn’t play well today,” said Kreis of the sports show. “We weren’t running as fast as the Austrians. Our decision-making was too slow.” Kreis and captain Müller praised their opponents Austria. “I think the way they play is very effective internationally: mercilessly forward and with a lot of passion. We didn’t have enough of that today,” said Captain Müller.
Burkhard Hupe, Sportschau, November 8th, 2025 10:59 p.m
Too many mistakes without Kahun and Kälble
Without the injured Dominik Kahun and Lukas Kälble, Germany found their way into the game poorly this time and was repeatedly put under a lot of pressure by Austria. Both players were injured against Latvia and can no longer play in the Germany Cup. Since Colin Ugbekile from the Iserlohn Roosters was also out in defense alongside Kälble, national coach Kreis nominated goalscorer Preto.
Burkhard Hupe, Sportschau, November 8th, 2025 10:59 p.m
With the changed lineup, the coordination obviously didn’t work this time. The DEB selection even fell behind due to a mistake by the young Munich player Philipp Sinn. Rohrer, who is active in Zurich, single-handedly overcame Dustin Strahlmeier from the Grizzlys Wolfsburg, who this time was preferred to Mathias Niederberger (Red Bull Munich).
Weaker Final section
Germany only temporarily improved and equalized thanks to a pawn trick from Captain Müller. But Austria remained happier in the end and took the lead again just 140 seconds later with a successful counterattack.
In the final section the German mistakes increased again. Instead of the hoped-for German comeback, the Austrians consistently took advantage of their opportunities.