National coach Marco Sturm expects strong opponents / focus on the special teams
In phase 2 of preparation for the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in St. Petersburg (May 6th - 22nd, 2016), national coach Marco Sturm would like to work primarily on the game system. Sturm emphasized this at the press conference on Tuesday in Landshut before the two games against Sweden, third in the world rankings (Saturday, April 16th, 15.30:17 p.m. in Rosenheim/Sunday, April 16.45th, 1:XNUMX p.m. in Landshut, both live on SPORTXNUMX). “There are some areas that we want and need to improve,” said Sturm.
In addition to the tactical orientation, Sturm will also focus on the “special teams” in the second week of preparation. “It is important that we rehearse the outnumbered and undernumbered situations. Especially in the international arena, the special teams are very important and can be decisive in the game.”
Compared to the two games at the Euro Hockey Challenge with the Czech Republic last week, the squad has grown: from Kölner HaieThe two defenders Torsten Ankert and Moritz Müller were called into the squad, as were the strikers Philip Gogulla and Patrick Hager. However, the quartet is not expected at training camp until Saturday morning.
Of the Eisbären Berlin Defender Constantin Braun and attacker Marcel Noebels strengthen the German selection. NHL star and local hero Tobias Rieder from the Arizona Coyotes is scheduled to train with the national team for the first time on Friday at the latest after his return from North America and play in the second game against Sweden on Sunday. In addition to Rieder, Nicolas Krämmer (Hamburg Freezers) another Landshuter is on the ice.
“Of course this is something very special for me. I spent my entire youth in Landshut and at EVL. If you as a player have the opportunity to represent your country against a top nation like Sweden in your place of birth, then that's an extra motivation," said Krämmer, who expects two difficult games against "Tre Kronor": "It doesn't matter, Whatever squad the Swedes start with will be a tough challenge for us.”
Marco Sturm sees it the same way: “Sweden has always been one of the absolute top nations in the world. They are excellently trained tactically, technically and in running skills. This applies not only to the NHL players, but also to the players in Europe. In the Champions Hockey League, Swedish teams are always among the favorites. This shows the quality of this nation.”
The national coach continued: “There are two good tests coming up for the boys. We can learn from that.” Of course you want to leave the ice as winners, although Sturm is paying less attention to the results and more to the performance of his team during the Euro Hockey Challenge. “We want to take the next step and develop further.”
You can find tickets for both games here