DEB team wins the Germany Cup
Ice hockey legend honored – Söder booed
Updated 11/10/2025 – 1:35 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Erich Kühnhackl receives an important award from Bavaria’s Prime Minister. The ex-athlete is celebrated, unlike the politician.
Former German national player Erich Kühnhackl was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit at the Germany Cup in his hometown of Landshut. Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) presented the visibly moved 75-year-old with the award and spoke of a “lifetime achievement that has paid off.”
Kühnhackl was loudly celebrated in his homeland. After today’s NHL star Leon Draisaitl, he is considered the best German ice hockey player ever and was named player of the century in 2000. The reaction to Söder from the 3,333 spectators was less positive. A majority of the fans whistled at the 58-year-old.
At the Germany Cup itself, the German national team made an important statement three months before the Winter Olympics in Milan. National coach Harold Kreis’ selection secured victory in the 36th edition of the competition with a clear 3-0 (2-0, 1-0, 0-0) against Slovakia.
The goal scorers in the last game were Parker Tuomie (11th minute) from the Kölner Haien, Bennet Roßmy (12th) from the Fischtown Pinguins and Fabio Wagner (23rd) from Red Bull Munich. The German team appeared to be much improved compared to the 2:5 defeat against Austria the day before – although hardly anything had changed in terms of personnel.
After the 4-1 opening win against Latvia, the direct comparison with Slovakia, who had won their first two games comfortably, was enough to make the tournament victory perfect.