Start of the 2017 IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship Div.I in Bremerhaven / kick-off against Kazakhstan
It's finally starting: The U20 World Cup in Bremerhaven starts today at 13.30 p.m. with the game between France and Belarus. The German U20 has its first game against Kazakhstan at 16.00 p.m. Norway and Austria meet in the evening.
Last year we had a lot of plans but were quickly disabused of it by a strong field of participants. “We are not the favorites this time either,” warns BundesYoung talent coach Christian Künast about expecting miracles this year. He attaches particular importance to the opening match: “Kazakhstan is a team that plays and runs well and is always unpleasant to play. As always, you want to start a tournament like this well, so that you can quickly feel good and perhaps develop a certain euphoria." This development could be reinforced from the outside: "In principle, a home World Cup can swing in both directions, since the Guys are also nervous with so many spectators in the stands. But when in doubt, the audience helps.”
Christoph Körner, who has been with the team since the beginning of this season Fischtown Pinguins storms, is also hoping for a lot of spectators: “The crowd is really strong at our home games, something like that can really push you!” After a long and intensive preparation, Künast isn't the only one who is happy that it's finally starting. “We have a good feeling because we have improved day by day. We are ready for the games, we will give everything and then we will see,” says Körner.