SPORT1 reported on the opening game between Germany and Japan from 14.30:XNUMX p.m
The time for training, preparation and analysis is over: after around ten days of preparation, today we start against Japan (14.30 p.m., live on SPORT1). Finally! The goal is crystal clear: the German national team wants to qualify for the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and be part of the big leagues again.
The way there leads via Japan (today), neighboring Austria (Friday, 14.30 p.m.) and Latvia (Sunday, 17 p.m., all games live on SPORT1). Only the tournament winner gets a ticket to the Olympic Games. In short: it is the most important tournament of 2016.
Today's task is solvable: Opening opponent Japan is currently 21st in the world rankings and was relegated after finishing last with no points at the Division IA World Cup in the spring. The Asians are the big underdogs, even though DEB-President Franz Reindl says: “You have to be careful, especially in the first game.” In preparation, the Japanese played two tournaments in Straubing and Cologne, where they remained winless against DEL competition.
The coach is Greg Thomson, who is well known in Germany, and there are also two ex-Germany legionnaires: Go Tanaka (Kaufbeuren) and Shuhei Kuji (Berlin) in the squad. In goal is the first and so far only Japanese player in the NHL, Yutaka Fukufuji, who played four games for Los Angeles in 2006/07.
“It will be hard work, we have three good and balanced opponents in Japan, Austria and Latvia. In the end, it also depends on your form on the day and a little bit of luck in order to emerge as the winner at the end. I think the guys are ready for it. We will do everything to ensure that there is a happy ending like at the World Cup,” says national coach Marco Sturm, who himself has one of the best squads in years.
Seven NHL professionals are at the start. One of them is Christian Ehrhoff, one of the most experienced players in the German team. Nevertheless, the defender remains a realist and says: “The task is of course not easy. We have to play against the Latvians in Latvia, plus we have to play against Austria and Japan – none of that will be a sure-fire success.”
Today against Japan, goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer (Washington Capitals) will be in goal and Marcel Goc will lead the national team onto the ice as captain. As at the World Cup in Russia, his deputies are Christian Ehrhoff and Marcus Kink. Defender Stephan Daschner (Düsseldorfer EG) and striker Marcel Noebels (Eisbären Berlin), however, had to start the journey home.
“I didn't make the decision easy for myself. Both put themselves at the service of the team at all times,” said Sturm. The national coach is allowed to nominate 23 players (three goalkeepers, 20 field players) for the four-nation tournament.
Source: Ice HockeyNEWS/Sport1