National coach Sturm tests a total of 56 players, 29 of whom are field players in Heidelberg / goalkeepers meet in Füssen / Hospelt ends his national team career
The countdown has begun: Six months before the Winter Olympics (February 9 to 25, 2018) in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang, the German national ice hockey team is starting its Olympic preparation with a performance test in Heidelberg. From July 23rd to 26th, national coach Marco Sturm invites 29 field players to the Olympic base there.
The DEB had given the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) a list of a total of 56 potential Olympic candidates. 29 of them are now in Baden-Württemberg tested thoroughly, the rest will follow later. “We think it makes sense to carry out the tests together with the actors available in the summer,” explained Sturm. This time, however, it is all about units off the ice.
In addition to running and strength units, sports medical examinations are also scheduled. In addition, the sports management has incorporated boxing and swimming sessions into the professionals' daily plans. All other players, including the NHL players, will carry out the tests and sports medical examinations individually.
A goalkeeper camp took place in the Federal Training Center in Füssen the week before (July 16th - 20th). Dennis Endras (Adler Mannheim), Timo Pielmeier (ERC Ingolstadt), Felix Brückmann (Grizzlys Wolfsburg), Danny from the Birches (EHC Red Bull München) and Mathias Niederberger (Düsseldorfer EG) check their fitness.
Kai Hospelt ends impressive national team career
Kai Hospelt will no longer play a role in Marco Sturm's plans. The Cologne striker informed the national coach of his resignation in a personal conversation. "Kai has had a long and impressive career in the national team. He has always behaved in an exemplary manner on and off the ice. We could always count on him. I regret but respect his decision," said Sturm.
Kai Hospelt: “I would like to have more time with my family and use the summer to heal from the injuries of the season, as I want to play for as long as possible. As a young player, I would never have dreamed of making over 100 international appearances and taking part in the World Cup and the Olympic Games. It was a great time."
Hospelt made his debut for the national team in 2006 and played at six World Championships and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver (Canada). In total, he played 115 games for his home country.
The squad:
Verteidiger: Konrad Abeltshauser (EHC Red Bull München), Björn Krupp (Grizzlys Wolfsburg), M. Müller, Pascal Zerressen (both Kölner Haie), Denis Reul (Adler Mannheim), Bernhard Ebner, Stephan Daschner (both Düsseldorfer EG), Jonas Müller (Eisbären Berlin), Justin Krueger (SC Bern/NLA).
striker: Yasin Ehliz, Patrick Reimer, Leo Pföderl (all Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers), Y. Seidenberg, Dominik Kahun, Patrick Hager, Frank Mauer, Jerome Flaake (all EHC Red Bull München), Philip Gogulla, Sebastian Uvira, Felix Schütz (all Kölner Haie), Gerrit Fauser (Grizzlys Wolfsburg), M. Goc, Marcus Kink, David Wolf, Matthias Plachta (all Adler Mannheim), Frederik Tiffels (Pittsburgh Penguins), Daniel Pietta (Krefeld Pinguine), Markus Eisenschmid (St. John's IceCaps/AHL), Thomas Oppenheimer (Eisbären Berlin).