The Grizzlys Wolfsburg from the German Ice Hockey League have criticized the non-nomination of their goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier for the German Olympic team on several channels.
“All of us, especially Dustin himself, are very disappointed with this decision, but we have to accept and respect it,” the club said on its own Twitter account. “Contrary to speculation, Strahlie would have loved to have been at the Olympic tournament and gave everything for it.”
Grizzlys manager Karl-Heinz Fliegauf told the “Sportbuzzer” about the decision of national coach Toni Söderholm: “It hurts, with a view to the player and the work of our organization, especially the goalkeeping coach Ilari Näckel last year and Jonas Forsberg this year. Strahlie has been playing very well for a year and was a guarantee for winning the Germany Cup.”
Fliegauf is one of the most influential managers in German ice hockey, when addressing the national coach he said: “I appreciate Toni Söderholm, but I would have liked more sensitivity in this matter.” Fliegauf accuses the Finn of not having spoken to Strahlmeier since the Germany Cup in November. If you weren’t planning with him for the Olympics, “you could have told him earlier,” said the 61-year-old.
The day before, Söderholm had called up the three goalkeepers Mathias Niederberger (Eisbären Berlin), Felix Brückmann (Adler Mannheim) and Danny aus den Birken (Red Bull Munich) in the German squad for the Winter Olympics in Beijing. From the Birken in particular, this season has already been criticized several times for sport.