Sold-out LANXESS arena is set to become a madhouse / Reimer: “We’re not the favorites, but we want to surprise.”
Four weeks of preparation, eight games, a lot of sweat and countless training sessions are history: today the German national ice hockey team starts the IIHF 2017 Home World Championship. National coach Marco Sturm's team gets a tough start at the start of the tournament: with Team USA (today, 20.15:20.15 p.m.), Sweden (Saturday, 16.15:XNUMX p.m.) and Russia (Monday, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.), there are three large-caliber teams on the schedule. “We are not the favorites in any of these games, but of course we want to surprise,” said national striker Patrick Reimer.
That the German selection today and in the coming encounters in front of their own audience in the 18.500 Fans It should be clear that everyone will make the most of the sold-out LANXESS arena. “At a home World Cup you don’t have to motivate anyone, everyone is hot,” said Sturm. The only danger is that his players might act too cocky in front of the deafening noise. “We talked about that. We have to find a good mix of motivation and emotion and not be too nervous,” the national coach told his players.
The backdrop is still crucial, as captain Christian Ehrhoff put it. “The opponent has to get ahead of us Fans tremble," said the defender: "On the other hand, there are seasoned professionals everywhere, but they can also differentiate themselves from ours Fans Like his teammates, Ehrhoff relies on the support from the stands: “The supporters are our 7th man.”
After a morning session on the ice in the LANXESS arena, the team went straight back to the hotel to relax for a few more hours. The team will arrive at the hall around two hours before the match, while Russia and Sweden meet. From 19.45:XNUMX p.m. “they can Fans “Prepare for a great show” like it DEB-Franz Reindl put it.
Let the games begin …