The German national ice hockey team started the Germany Cup with a victory. The DEB team won against Latvia 4:1 (2:1, 0:0, 2:0) thanks to goals from Dominik Kahun (7th minute), Ehliz (12th), Sinn (44th) and Michaelis (58th). Deniss Smirnov gave Latvia the early lead (6th). This year’s tournament in Landshut is all about preparations for the Olympic Games in Milan in February 2026.
It is the last opportunity to convince national coach Harold Kreis: At the Germany Cup, the national players are fighting not only for the title, but also for the last places in the Olympic squad. “Everyone wants to be at the Olympics and prove today that they belong“, Dominik Kahun said in an interview with Magenta-TV before the game. The ex-NHL player and silver medalist from 2018 also wanted to take the opportunity to recommend himself. The dream of the Olympics played a role in the opener against Latvia.
Quick response to early backlog
Kahun quickly demonstrated what he could achieve. Latvia took the lead after just six minutes thanks to a goal from Deniss Smirnovs, but Kahun had an immediate answer. Free in front of the goal, the HC Lausanne center put the puck past Latvia’s keeper and lifted it high into the right of the goal.
Five minutes later, teammate Yasin Ehliz increased the lead to 2-1. From a tight angle, he was initially denied by goalie Punnenovs, but the follow-up shot ended up in the far corner. Germany deservedly led and defended their lead confidently.
Bitter setback for Kahun
Even in the goalless second third, the DEB team withstood the pressure from the Latvians. Nevertheless, a bitter setback for the German team and Dominik Kahun: During a check by Sejejs, his hand was unfortunately caught and he had to leave the ice injured.
In the 44th minute, Philipp Sinn let his team celebrate again. Ehliz with the pass on the back boards, Sinn skated past behind the goal and passed the disc inside, which bounced off Tumanov’s skate into the Latvian goal. The goal to make it 3-1 was the first international goal for 21-year-old Sinn. “Philipp is a player who plays courageously. He has his head up and makes good decisions with the disc“Kreis praised the youngster after the game on MagentaTV.
Shortly before the end, when the Latvians played in a six-on-five attack and thus with an empty goal, the German team was in trouble again. Fabio Wagner intercepted the puck and Marc Michaelig lifted it from the neutral zone into the empty goal to make the final score 4-1. A strong performance and successful start for the DEB selection. “The consistency was very good. It was an intense game in which everyone gave a top performance“, summarized the national coach.
Olympic squad will be different
The game against Latvia, like the entire Germany Cup, is a “very important test” for national coach Harold Kreis. Even if the squad for Milan will look different, as Kreis unsurprisingly revealed. In addition to the injury-related absences of players like Alex Ehl, Tom Kühnhackl and Tobias Rieder, NHL legionnaires like Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Tim Stützle and Lukas Reichel are missing in Landshut.
It is clear that you will see the German NHL and AHL professionals in Milan. National coach Kreis has already planned many positions for them. “There are probably seven or eight positions still to be filled” said DEB board member Christian Künast on the magenta microphone.
Double game day on Saturday
On Saturday (November 7th) both the DEB men and the DEB women will compete. The women take on Hungary at 2:45 p.m., the men play against Austria at 6:45 p.m. In the third and final game of the Germany Cup, the German hockey men will meet Slovakia on Sunday (November 8th) (2:45 p.m.).
The DEB selection will then meet next at the end of January. A final preparatory course is planned before the Winter Olympics, from which they will travel to Milan in February.