Four defeats in six friendlies: The German team will look very different at the World Cup.
Toni Söderholm quickly checked off the fourth defeat in the sixth World Cup test in Dresden, his eyes immediately turned to Munich and Berlin. Because what the national team in Finland will look like will be decided in the final of the German Ice Hockey League.
“We’ll take a day or two before we know who’s still fit,” said the national coach after the 3-2 draw against Slovakia in the penultimate preparatory game at “MagentaSport”.
The Finn hasn’t had time to warm up for the World Cup yet, so far there have mainly been “new faces” on the ice for the future, for the World Cup the games were more of a model with no value.
Because at the end of the season, which has been extended due to Corona, the players of the present are still fighting for the German championship title in some cases every day at an exhausting rhythm. “It’s clear that the game plan isn’t the best for us,” said Söderholm.
Söderholm is looking for operational World Cup drivers
Should the series of finals between Eisbären Berlin and Red Bull Munich go the full distance, numerous national players would not be available even for the World Cup dress rehearsal next Sunday (5:00 p.m.) in Schwenningen against Austria. And the anxious question is: Who will survive the stress of a possible five finals in seven days unscathed?
First, Söderholm wants to clarify who is physically and mentally fresh enough for the World Cup from the eliminated DEL semi-finalist Adler Mannheim. In addition, according to DEB sports director Christian Künast, “the official commitment” from the clubs of NHL professionals Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) and Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators) is pending.
John Peterka (Buffalo Sabers) and Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks) have to compete in the AHL playoffs first. With the battered Sweden legionnaires Tom Kühnhackl and Tobias Rieder, “the chances are rather small”.
Squad change ahead of the World Cup in Finland
Captain Moritz Müller’s participation in the World Cup, who has not yet confirmed after the birth of his third child, is also still open. Despite all the problems, Söderholm is “confident that we can put together a good team in this short time”.
Not many of those who were on the ice in the six friendlies in the Czech Republic, against Switzerland and against Slovakia will be at the World Cup.
“I hope that they take a lot with them from this experience and improve from year to year,” said the national coach, who helped a total of seven debutants to their first international matches. He was “quite happy” with his performances after just two wins and four losses.
But “now”, he emphasized, “there are decisions to be made”.