On April 22nd and 23rd (in Mannheim) against the Czech Republic / Fans hot for tickets / Reimer: “Big caliber”
Still without Thomas Greiss and Dennis Seidenberg, but with Tobias Rieder and Patrick Reimer, the German national ice hockey team is starting its third week of training in preparation for the home World Championships (5th - 21st May 2017) in Cologne. While Rieder is the first NHL player to join the team in Nuremberg, Greiss and Seidenberg (both New York Islanders) will reinforce the German team next week. "Both have given the green light and are really looking forward to the home World Championships," said national coach Marco Sturm on Tuesday.
The 26-man squad will face the Czech team during the second half of the Euro Hockey Challenge at its home premiere on Saturday, April 22.4nd in Nuremberg and April 23.4rd in Mannheim (both live on SPORT1). "We're facing a really good team. It's no secret that the Czechs always have technically skilled and strong ice hockey players in their ranks. They're always among the favorites at world championships," said Patrick Reimer, one of the local heroes from the THOMAS SABO Ice Tigers alongside Yasin Ehliz, referring to the last home world championship in 2010. Reimer: "They became world champions there. But otherwise, this is a team that is aiming for at least the semi-finals."
In addition to “Triple Gold Club” member Mikael Samuelsson, who will be on the bench alongside Sturm for the third preparation phase, New Jersey Devils assistant coach Geoff Ward is also expected in Nuremberg this weekend to support national coach Marco Sturm at the home World Cup, as he did last year.
Jürgen Fottner, Managing Director of ARENA Nürnberg Betriebs GmbH, is looking forward to the comparison with the Czech Republic: “With an opponent like that, we can Fans present another real ice hockey treat shortly before the start of the World Cup. The response is correspondingly great and we are looking forward to a full ARENA NÜRNBERGER INSURANCE. Over 5.600 tickets have already been sold.”