"We want to improve from game to game as the tournament progresses," was the goal of national coach Marco Sturm before the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Denmark. And that is exactly what his team did in the "Jyske Bank Boxen" in Herning during the preliminary round. Led by NHL stars Leon Draisaitl, Korbinian Holzer, Dennis Seidenberg - but also significantly rejuvenated by ten World Championship debutants in the squad.
After narrow defeats against the euphoric hosts from Denmark (2:3 after extra time) and the second group stage opponent from Norway (4:5 after extra time), the team came together, beat South Korea (6:1) later in the tournament and upset the highly favoured Finland with a 3:2 victory after extra time. It was the first World Cup success for the DEB-Selection against the Finns for 25 years.
Ultimately, the German national ice hockey team secured seven points in preliminary group B - which ultimately meant sixth place.
“It is important for Germany to establish itself directly behind the top nations in the coming years and perhaps to set a pinprick or two,” said NHL star Leon Draisaitl after the tournament. He secured the highest point total of all with two goals and seven assists DEB-actors and was chosen alongside Patrick Hager and Yannic Seidenberg as the best German players of the tournament.
But some debutants also attracted attention at the World Cup: Marc Michaelis, for example, who surprisingly recommended himself for the World Cup squad through his games in the Euro Hockey Challenge. Or Niklas Treutle, who drove the American star ensemble to despair with his saves and became a crowd favorite. And of course Markus Eisenschmid, the winning goal scorer in the historic 3:2 victory against Finland.
They left a special impression Fans the German national ice hockey team: You're there Fansinging and choreographies in the “Jyske Bank Boxen”, on the Fanmile and created a very special atmosphere throughout Herning.
The results of the German national ice hockey team at a glance:
May 04.05.2018, 20 | 15:2 p.m. | Germany – Denmark 3:0 nP (0:1, 2:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:XNUMX)
May 06.05.2018, 16 | 15:4 p.m. | Germany – Norway 5:2 nP (2:1; 1:1; 1:0; 0:0; 1:XNUMX)
May 07.05.2018, 16 | 15:3 p.m. | USA – Germany 0:0 (0:2, 0:1, 0:XNUMX)
May 09.05.2018, 16 | 15:6 p.m. | Germany – South Korea 1:1 (0:3, 0:2, 1:XNUMX)
May 12.05.2018, 12 | 15:3 p.m. | Latvia – Germany 1:0 (0:1, 0:2, 1:XNUMX)
May 13.05.2018, 20 | 15:3 p.m. | Germany – Finland 2:0 aet (1:2, 0:0, 1:1, 0:XNUMX)
15.05.2018 | 16:15 | Canada – Germany 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)