One of the biggest ice hockey sensations ever made the otherwise cool Danes freak out.
“It was the wildest game I’ve ever participated,” cheered NHL star Nicolaj Ehlers. Due to the completely surprising 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals against record world champion Canada with superstar Sidney Crosby, ice hockey dwarf and Germany-Schreck Denmark for the first time in a World Cup semi-final and meets Switzerland in Stockholm on Saturday.
“I lack the words. This is incredible,” cheered the scorer Nick Olesen. The 29-year-old put the 10,500 fans 49 seconds before the end in Herning’s HERNING exhibition hall so unadorned and less atmospheric at the World Cup. The striker skilfully pushed the puck over the line, after that only party was announced.
“Surreal, a dream, goosebumps, the greatest at all,” wrote the Danish tabloid “Ekstra Bladet”.
NHL-professional Ehlers: “We know how crazy it is”
Only in 2010 and 2016 the Danes had previously reached the KO round, each failed in the quarter-finals. “Of course I want to win the Stanley Cup at some point. But to stand with Denmark in a World Cup semi-final. We know how crazy it is. I hope the rest of Denmark also understands how crazy that is,” said Ehlers.
The attacker of the Winnipeg Jets only traveled from North America to Denmark after the NHL playoffs at the beginning of the week. Against Germany he already met 1-1 compensation and initiated the preliminary round of the national team of national coach Harold Kreis.
Also against the star ensemble of Canada, peppered with NHL stars like Crosby or striker Nathan Mackinnon, he made it 1-1 two and a half minutes before the end.
In the semi -finals against Switzerland
The big appearance of his team colleague Olesen followed. “I didn’t see much from the second goal,” said Ehlers. “People on the bench got up and I was tired. Suddenly the whole bank turned and I just thought: What the hell is going on here?”
| pairing | Result |
|---|---|
Canada – Denmark | 1: 2 |
USA – Finland | 5: 2 |
Switzerland – Austria | 6: 0 |
Sweden – Czech Republic | 5: 2 |
After the success of Germany and Canada, a victory against Switzerland is not impossible in Stockholm on Saturday. “We play a completely insane and great ice hockey,” emphasized Ehlers. “I’m so incredibly proud of the boys.”