The German ice hockey women started their mission to defend their title at the Germany Cup with a hard-fought victory.
At the start of the tournament in Landshut, national coach Jeff MacLeod’s team beat France 3-2 (1-0, 0-0, 1-2, 0-0, 1-0) after a penalty shootout. The next opponent is Slovakia on Friday (7 p.m.).
Emily Nix (20th) took the lead eleven seconds before the first period break, but then the selection of the German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) gave up the game in front of 1,320 spectators. First goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter missed a long-range shot from Emma Nonnenmacher (43′), then Clara Rozier (48′) turned the game around completely. Laura Kluge (59th) saved Germany into extra time shortly before the end. In the shootout, Franziska Feldmeier, Kluge and Celina Haider kept their nerve, Abstreiter saved three of the French attempts.
Test before the Winter Olympics
The Germany Cup is the penultimate measure of the women’s selection before the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (February 5th to 22nd). MacLeod takes the opportunity to test players, including 16-year-old Mathilda Heine. Top performers such as the Welcke twins Luisa and Lilli from Boston College or the injured Nina Jobst-Smith from the North American professional league PWHL are missing from the squad.
Slovakia won the opening game in the afternoon 3:2 (0:2, 2:0, 1:0) against Hungary. Last year, Germany won the tournament for the first time. The men’s Germany Cup starts on Thursday. National coach Harold Kreis’ selection will face Latvia at the start at 7:45 p.m.