Sturm lets the young talent take over: Debutants Loibl and Eder against record world champions in the squad
Now it counts: On Friday evening (19.30 p.m., live on SPORT1) the German national ice hockey team starts its 28th season. Deutschland Cup. The Curt Frenzel Stadium will then be very full. Because in addition to the numerous German ones Fans, who want to roar their team to victory, will also be a host of Russians Fans expected on the tournament weekend in Augsburg. So there is a spectacle in the stands.
That's exactly what national coach Marco Sturm's protégés want to bring to the ice. What will be anything but easy against the “Sbornaja”. The fact is that the German selection is not the favorite this time - despite the home advantage. Nevertheless, you want to at least act on an equal footing with your opponent. This is what Marco Sturm expects above all today and in the coming days. “All players can offer themselves and show that they are an option for the 2018 Olympic Games,” the coach officially announced the “exhibition.”
This also applies to the debutants: Straubing's Stefan Loibl and Munich's Andreas Eder will play their first international match for the men's team this evening. As already announced in training, the duo will be joined by Maximilian Kammerer, who is the same age (both 21 years old). The Düsseldorf native is also one of the "young wild ones", but played his first two international matches in the previous season.
Since Sturm wants to rotate as announced, five players and a goalkeeper will remain out today. Bernhard Ebner, Daryl Boyle, Leo Pföderl, Yasin Ehilz and Patrick Hager watch the action from the stands. They will probably be used tomorrow, Saturday. Whoever takes a break will decide tomorrow.