Hockey fans will know this feeling. Now we’re talking about the “almost” feeling. Or to put it another way: an expression of the fact that something didn’t happen at the last moment. Until recently, people still spoke of the “Vicekusen” feeling in this context. But that’s over now.
Maybe that will be the case in ice hockey in the future “55.5 second feeling”because Germany was missing these 55.5 seconds at the time to sensationally become Olympic champion in South Korea in 2018. Leon Draisaitl probably will “One or two shots”– Call it a feeling, because that’s all the best German ice hockey player needed at the end of June to finally get it Stanley Cup to win. Or let’s think of Bremerhaven, a club that had almost touched the summit in the title race, only to slide down the final slope. But first things first.
Leon Draisaitl (r.) in the NHL final series against Florida
World Cup under difficult circumstances
The men’s national ice hockey team did not play the World Cup tournament it wanted to play in the Czech Republic in May. What was missing was the carefree drive and firm belief in the impossible. A few players who had paved the way to the final last year were missing. Berlin’s Marcel Noebels, for example, defender Leon Gawanke and, above all, the outstanding Moritz Seider, who cannot be replaced as a defender with player-making qualities.
Seider’s ability and sporting perspective can also be seen in his new contract in Detroit: for the next seven years, Seider will be with the Red Wings earn around $60 million. And while we’re on the subject of money: Leon Draisaitl has also signed a new contract in Edmonton for eight years with a guaranteed income of more than $110 million. Nobody in the best league in the world deserves more at the moment.
But back to the national team, whose coaching staff around Harry Kreis at least managed to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup without any problems. Again Switzerland waited in the quarter-finals, again Germany was just an outsider, but unlike last year in Riga, this time it was over. The 1:3 in Ostrava was a fair result, because this time the German team not only lacked a few very important players, but also self-confidence, irreverence and determination.
And this by the way: After Switzerland prevailed against Canada in the semi-finals, the first World Cup title for the Swiss actually seemed to be overdue, but in the final the Swiss lost 2-0 to the Czech Republic after a weak performance. Once again it stayed the same “Almost”.
World Cup semi-finals within reach
For the German ice hockey women there is only one in 2024 “Almost” enough. And yet the end of the year was encouraging. At the World Cup in Utica, in the northwest of the USA, the team dominated Jeff MacLeod their preliminary group and then lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic with a single late goal. So it could have been a historic tournament, but it almost was.
After all, this World Cup had an undisputed positive effect for goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter: the 26-year-old from Freising was selected All Star Team chosen for the World Cup. A novelty for German women’s ice hockey. With this tailwind, Abstreiter terminated her contract with the company she had just founded Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and left Ottawa because it had hardly been used here. About the training camp Victory of Montreal She actually secured a new professional contract a few weeks ago. Which of course sounds like more than it is at the moment: a maximum of $80,000 can currently be earned in the PHWL.
Olympic qualification in Bremerhaven
Since Sandra Abstreiter cannot currently be replaced not only as an outstanding goalkeeper, but also as an opinionated leader in the national team, there was great relief in the German team when the PHWL announced that it would suspend its games for the duration of the Olympic qualifications. For deniers, the big dream of the Olympic tournament in Milan can come true at the beginning of February in Bremerhaven against Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. In any case, at the end of this qualification no one should “Almost” stand.
NHL stars and their Olympic dream
The Olympics are of course also the big dream of the German men overseas: Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, Moritz Seider, JJ Peterka, Philipp Grubauer, Nico Sturm and Lukas Reichel. And one of the exciting questions will be: Will Draisaitl win before then? Stanley Cup? Until then he has a chance with his Oilers still, who have now found their way back on track after another rough start to the season and are clearly on course for the playoffs with goal guarantor Draisaitl.
Cologne native Leon Draisaitl in the Edmonton Oilers jersey.
Looking back, Draisaitl will also have to place the year 2024 in the fast category. Because after a brilliant comeback during the Conferencephase they marched Oilers in the spring through the Playoffs and also seemed slightly favored in the final against Florida. But then things got dramatic. First the first three final games were lost, then Edmonton managed it comeback to 3:3, only to ultimately lose the decisive game 1:2. Leon Draisaitl, who had played outstandingly in the previous rounds, did not score another goal in the entire final series.
DEL with record marks
Finally, a look at the German Ice Hockey League, which has had an amazing year. The final series between Berlin and Bremerhaven no longer brought the hoped-for thrill, but rather a pretty confident tenth title win for the Eisbären. But: The league itself continues to take off. On average, almost 7,000 spectators came to each game. A cut that was not even achieved in Switzerland. Despite some miserable performances in front of their own crowd, the Kölner Haie were lured into an early elimination Playoffsalmost 17,000 people in the still impressive hall on the right bank of the Rhine. No other club in Europe could keep up.
The Kölner Haie had the highest average attendance in European ice hockey in 2024.
“But we shouldn’t become megalomaniacs because of this.”warns DEL managing director Gernot Tripcke, who has not forgotten the volatile years in German ice hockey. However, the Kölner Haie are in the process of increasing their incredible average attendance once again and already have better numbers than 15 clubs in the NHL. Almost every game is sold out. The only “Almost”which ensures great satisfaction in connection with the German ice hockey year.