“We will have to change a lot,” says national coach Marco Sturm
Good mood! As always when the German national ice hockey team meets, there is a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere between the players. It's no different these days in Augsburg, where starting tomorrow Deutschland Cup for the DEB-Selection is on the program. Then the national team is extremely challenged, because every three days they face none other than record world champions Russia, Slovakia and Team USA.
“We are looking forward to the days in Augsburg. It's always fun to come here and in front of your own Fans to play,” said Patrick Hager at the press conference on Wednesday. The Munich striker answered the question of whether the games with the national team would represent an additional burden on the players' already busy schedule with a clear no. “It’s only November and we’re all professionals. You should still have some fuel in your bones.”
Whether it's a strain or not is not an issue for debutants Stefan Loibl and Andreas Eder. The two strikers are just as much young as defender Jonas Müller or Düsseldorf's Maxi Kammerer. Loibl, Eder and Kammerer also formed a joint attack line in the first few sessions. National coach Marco Sturm has not yet decided whether it will stay that way. He will not announce the squad for the evening until Friday morning.
“It's in the nature of things that we have to change a lot, but the boys know that. Some will play all three games, some only two or one.” The national coach also leaves the question open as to who his number one will be. In the past he had always decided on a regular goalkeeper. Not this time. “Everything is open,” said Sturm, who would like to have “three of the four or five candidates” play with Timo Pielmeier, Dennis Endras and Danny aus den Birken.