The ice hockey vice world champion’s first appearance at the Germany Cup was a success. The national team of national coach Harold Kreis won the opening game at the home tournament in Landshut against Denmark 4-1 (0-0, 1-1, 3-0) on Thursday (November 9th, 2023).
In the first game after losing the World Cup final against Canada, it was mainly goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee who saved the DEB team from conceding goals with numerous saves. “He was really good today”former NHL professional Yasin Ehliz raved about the goalie.
Leonhard Pföderl (26th minute), Colin Ugbekile (54th), Alexander Ehl (58th) and Maximilian Eisenmenger (60th) scored for the hosts. The DEB team’s next opponent on Saturday will be the Austrians, who suffered a clear 7-1 defeat in their debut match against Slovakia. At the end of the Germany Cup there will be a duel with the previously convincing Slovaks on Sunday.
“One promising Mixture”
“We have a promising mix” Coach Kreis had announced before the start of the tournament. With Manuel Wiederer (Eisbären Berlin) and Alexander Ehl (Düsseldorfer EG), there were only two players on the ice who wrote German ice hockey history with World Cup silver on May 28th in Tampere, Finland.
The district spared established top performers such as captain Moritz Müller (Kölner Haie) and Marcel Noebels (Eisbären Berlin). The NHL professionals around world-class striker Leon Draisaitl are in action in North America this season. In addition to a few newcomers, the main focus was on national team returnees Ehliz (EHC Red Bull Munich), Pföderl (Eisbären Berlin), Tobias Rieder (Växjö Lakers/Sweden) and Marc Michaelis (EV Zug/Switzerland). The quartet canceled the World Cup due to injuries and should recommit themselves.
Only tournament before the World Cup preparations
The national coach hardly has many more testing opportunities available. The Germany Cup is the only tournament before the start of preparation for the World Cup from May 10th to 26th, 2024 in the Czech Republic. The district team could rely on the strong goalkeeper Tiefensee. It was not without reason that the 21-year-old from Adler Mannheim was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the NHL talent draft at the end of June.
Tiefensee also saved the DEB selection from conceding a goal in the first five minutes of the second third against powerful Danes. “Overall, the boys did a good job defensively”said goalkeeper Tiefensee. With the first opportunity in the middle section, Pföderl gave the defending champions the lead. The Eisbären Berlin professional pushed the puck over the line from close range (26th minute).
“Goals scored at the right time”
The district team still failed to gain control of the game. Guest captain Patrick Russell deservedly equalized to make it 1-1 (40th). It was Ugbekile who made it 2-1 (54′). Shortly before the end, Ehl (58th) and Eisenmenger (60th) increased the score. “We scored the goals at the right time”said former NHL professional Rieder.