Today the German selection starts preparing for the Olympic qualification
It's time to get down to business for the German national ice hockey team: As of today, national coach Marco Sturm's team is preparing in Mannheim for the qualifying tournament for the 2018 Olympic Games. The goal is clear: in Riga on the weekend after next (September 1st - 4th, 2016) the goal is to win the tournament and at the same time get the ticket for the 2018 Olympic Games. “The challenge is enormous, but we will be well prepared,” says national team captain and local hero Marcel Goc.
For this goal, Sturm in the square city has probably put together the most well-known squad in many years. With the exception of keeper Thomas Greiss, the current best German players were on the ice at the first training session in the SAP Arena on Monday. With Dennis Seidenberg (2011) and Tom Kühnhackl (2016), the German squad even includes two Stanley Cup winners.
While Kühnhackl will play his first two international matches in the next two preparatory games in Belarus against France and a day later against the hosts, Seidenberg was last in the squad in Vancouver in 2010. Keeper Philipp Grubauer (Washington Capitals) was last in action at the 2014 World Cup in Minsk. Also David Wolf (Adler Mannheim) and veteran defender Frank Hördler (Eisbären Berlin) also return to the 26-man squad.
The national coach is therefore spoiled for choice when it comes to personnel. What is certain is that in Riga only 23 players (three goalkeepers and 20 field players) are allowed to appear on the score sheet. Accordingly, Sturm still has to cut three men. Not an easy task for a coach. There is currently only a rough date for any personnel decisions. “I will decide either at the end of this week in Mannheim or at the latest in Minsk,” says Sturm.
Sturm is asking his boys to play five ice sessions before the first test against France on August 27th in Minsk. Next Wednesday there will be a public training session followed by an autograph session in the SAP Arena for the Fans instead.