Successful debut for Thomas Holzmann
The German national ice hockey team has preserved all chances of defending its title. In the second game at Deutschland Cup National coach Marco Sturm's team won against Switzerland 3:2 (0:1, 1:1, 2:1) on Saturday.
As announced, Sturm had changed his squad in several positions. Mathias Niederberger (Düsseldorfer EG) was in goal, birthday boy Sinan Akdag and Denis Reul (both Adler Mannheim) back into the squad. In attack, all eyes were on debutant Thomas Holzmann. The Augsburg local hero was Fans celebrated frenetically and joined Brent Raedeke (Adler Mannheim) and Thomas Greilinger (ERC Ingolstadt).
In contrast to the first day of the tournament, the German selection had a difficult first third against the Swiss, who also started with a 0:3 defeat against Canada on Friday. The guests were more aggressive, allowed few chances and took the lead themselves through Robin Grossmann. Niederberger had no chance when the striker took the rebound.
In the middle section the home team came out of the locker room better. A big penalty against the Swiss Enzo Corvi after a check on Yasin Ehliz means a five-minute advantage for the national team. Nico Krämmer scored the equalizer with his second goal. However, another power play remained unused. Instead, the Swiss used a counterattack by Reto Schäppi to take the lead again.
The final round remained exciting. The German selection, which had to do without Felix Schütz as well as Ehliz, kept the tempo high and was rewarded: Leo Pföderl equalized the encounter again. Things were to get even better for the home team. With a penalty against Brent Raedeke, Denis Reul completed a break to take the lead for the first time. Daniel Pietta brilliantly cleared the defender. This result should remain the same.
Germany: Niederberger (Treutle) – Akdag, Reul; croup, cabbage; Brandt, Krueger; J. Müller – Greilinger, Raedeke, Holzmann; Krämmer, Fauser, Pföderl; Gogulla, Hospelt, Schütz; Ehliz, Pietta, Flaake.
Tore: 0:1 Robin Grossmann (4:19), 1:1 Nicolas Krämmer (25:51/PP1), 1:2 Reto Schäppi (37:20), 2:2 Leo Pföderl (45:08), 3:2 Denis Reul (48:37/SH1)
Penalty minutes: Germany 4 – Switzerland 6 + 5 + SD (Corvi)
spectator: 4.985