Draisaitl, Holzer and Kahun now in the squad / A total of seven additions / Söderholm: “The fight for places is getting harder and harder.”
National coach Toni Söderholm has announced the 24-man squad of the German national team for the third phase of preparation for the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Slovakia.
The NHL players Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Korbinian Holzer (Anaheim Ducks) and Dominik Kahun (Chicago Blackhawks) will join the team, which will prepare for the two international matches against Austria in Regensburg (Thursday, April 25, 19.00:27 p.m.) starting on Easter Monday. and Deggendorf (Saturday, April 2019, 20.00, XNUMX p.m.).
Sports director Stefan Schaidnagel: "The commitments of Leon Draisaitl, Korbinian Holzer and Dominik Kahun underline the importance of the national team. During our visit to the USA four weeks ago, the players already expressed their willingness to play for Germany and, through their commitment, show that they are role models for our sport. We are delighted to have three exceptional players and people in our squad. This is not a given after a long NHL season."
Holzer will arrive on Easter Monday, Draisaitl and Kahun will join the German national team next Tuesday.
In addition to the three NHL players, national coach Toni Söderholm has Moritz Müller, Fabio Pfohl and Frederik Tiffels (all Kölner Haie) appointed to the squad. Simon Sezemsky (Augsburger Panther) completes the seven additions. In addition, Tobias Abstreiter and Steven Reinprecht are now part of Söderholm's coaching staff.
National coach Toni Söderholm: "Basically, we gathered a lot of information during the first two phases and were able to build a solid foundation. The mood within the team is very good, and having fun at work is an important part of the overall development. We also know that we need to develop even more speed and strength in duels as the preparation progresses. Therefore, the fight for places will now become harder and harder."
At the same time he thanks you DEB among the national players who are no longer part of the squad for the next phase of World Cup preparation: Dominik Bittner, Mirko Höfflin, Björn Krupp, Marcel Kurth, Parker Tuomie, Kai Wissmann, Markus Weber and Sven Ziegler.
National coach Toni Söderholm: “That is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of my job. We have to make these hard decisions. I got everything from the boys in terms of commitment and character, so I would like to expressly praise them again. I hope they use the last two weeks as motivation to keep pushing and fight for a place in the future. We have to let those who, in our opinion, fit into the roles best, continue to play.”
Note for media representatives:
Next Wednesday, April 24, 2019, a press event will take place in Deggendorf. Here are yours DEBSports director Stefan Schaidnagel, national coach Toni Söderholm and the three NHL players will be available to answer your questions. A separate invitation to the event will be sent out today.
The next international matches at a glance:
As part of the Euro Hockey Challenge, the German national team will play two international matches against Austria:
April 25.04.2019, 19 | 00:XNUMX p.m. | Germany – Austria (Regensburg)
April 27.04.2019, 20 | 00:XNUMX p.m. | Germany – Austria (Deggendorf)
Tickets for the game in Regensburg are available at www.deb-online.de/tickets. The international match in Deggendorf is already sold out.
The squad:
| Pos | No. | Name | First Name | birth. | Team | LS |
| goalkeeper | ||||||
| T | 31 | TREUTLE | Niklas | 29.04.1991 | Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers | 24 |
| T | 32 | STRAHLMEIER | Dustin | 17.05.1992 | Wild Wings Schwenningen | 5 |
| T | 35 | Niederberger | Mathias | 26.11.1992 | Düsseldorfer EG | 28 |
| Verteidiger | ||||||
| V | 5 | HOLZER | Korbinian | 16.02.1988 | Anaheim Ducks | 52 |
| V | 11 | NOWAK | Marco | 23.07.1990 | Düsseldorfer EG | 18 |
| V | 13 | DASCHNER | Stephan | 05.08.1988 | Straubing Tigers | 28 |
| V | 19 | SCHOPPER | Benedict | 18.02.1985 | Straubing Tigers | 15 |
| V | 38 | WAGNER | Fabio | 17.09.1995 | ERC Ingolstadt | 14 |
| V | 41 | MULLER | Jonas | 19.11.1995 | Eisbären Berlin | 33 |
| V | 53 | SEZEMSKY | Simon | 28.06.1993 | Augsburger Panther | 7 |
| V | 91 | MULLER | Moritz | 19.11.1986 | Kölner Haie | 140 |
| striker | ||||||
| S | 15 | LOIBL | Stefan | 24.06.1996 | Straubing Tigers | 19 |
| S | 18 | POLL | Fabio | 18.10.1995 | Kölner Haie | 5 |
| S | 26 | BOKK | Dominik | 03.02.2000 | Vaxjo Lakers | 4 |
| S | 29 | DRAISAITL | Leon | 27.10.1995 | Edmonton Oilers | 45 |
| S | 39 | ELSNER | David | 22.03.1992 | ERC Ingolstadt | 6 |
| S | 43 | FAUSER | Gerrit | 13.07.1989 | Grizzlys Wolfsburg | 42 |
| S | 54 | MINER | Lean | 04.10.1998 | Iserlohn Roosters | 9 |
| S | 59 | WELLNESS | Team | 22.07.1999 | ERC Ingolstadt | 4 |
| S | 65 | MICHAELIS | Marc | 31.07.1995 | Minnesota State University | 19 |
| S | 72 | KAHUN | Dominik | 02.07.1995 | Chicago Blackhawks | 51 |
| S | 83 | PFÖDERL | Leo | 01.09.1993 | Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers | 31 |
| S | 92 | NOEBELS | Marcel | 14.03.1992 | Eisbären Berlin | 67 |
| S | 95 | TIFFELS | Frederik | 20.05.1995 | Kölner Haie | 30 |