In addition to the three professional players Sandra Abstreiter, Laura Kluge and Nina Jobst-Smith from the North American PWHL as well as captain Daria Gleißner, the 16-year-old Mathilda Heine is also in national coach Jeff MacLeod’s squad. The official nomination will be made by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) on January 20th.
Gleißner is the only player who was already in the squad for the Winter Olympics. After a training injury, the then 20-year-old defender had to leave before the first game in Sochi in 2014. The 24 other players are about to take part in the Olympics for the first time.
Germany will also face hosts Italy at the Olympics
“Many of our players have worked consistently for years and given a lot to be at the Olympics.”said MacLeod, who only extended his contract until 2027 on Monday: “For the Olympics in Milan we have a group of athletes who have already competed in many tournaments together and some young players who have been able to prove themselves in previous events.”
Under former DEL professional MacLeod, Germany reached the quarter-finals of the last two World Cup tournaments and secured their ticket to Milan (February 5th to 19th) at the Olympic qualifying tournament. The DEB selection will meet Sweden at the start on February 5th, other opponents in the preliminary round are Japan, France and hosts Italy. Before that, the team will test against the Japanese in Peiting on January 30th.
Seven players are active in North America
MacLeod also nominated a total of seven players from North America. In addition to goalkeeper Abstreiter (Victoire de Montréal), these are the currently injured defender Jobst-Smith (Vancouver Goldeneyes) and Kluge (Boston Fleet), who play under professional conditions in the PWHL.
The twin sisters Luisa and Lille Welcke (Boston University), Svenja Voigt (St. Cloud State University) and Nina Christof (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) play for their universities.
The squad at a glance
Goal: Sandra Abstreiter (Victoire de Montréal/Canada), Lisa Hemmerle (ERC Ingolstadt), Chiara Schultes (ECDC Memmingen Indians)
Defense: Daria Gleißner, Ronja Hark, Charlott Schaffrath, Carina Strobel, Hanna Weichenhain (all ECDC Memmingen), Hanna Hoppe (ESC Dresden), Nina Jobst-Smith (Vancouver Goldeneye), Tara Schmitz (Mad Dogs Mannheim)
Storm: Anne Bartsch, Nicola Hadraschek-Eisenschmid, Jule Schiefer (all ECDC Memmingen), Nina Christof (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/USA), Franziska Feldmeier, Celina Haider, Mathilda Heine (all Eisbären Juniors Berlin), Laura Kluge (Boston Fleet/USA), Emily Nix (Frölunda HC/Sweden), Svenja Voigt (St. Cloud State University), Lille Welcke, Luisa Welcke (Boston University)