Moritz Seider's facial expressions had a symbolic character. Great atmosphere, lots of smiling faces, but also serious and intensive work. The national team's perspective course in Füssen provided all players with a welcome change in difficult times. “The players came here with a very, very positive mood. “They laugh a lot and they train hard,” said national coach Toni Söderholm, describing his impressions – and summed it up: “I see how it went very positively.”
The Finn had assembled a squad with 20 field players and three goalkeepers at the federal base - with established DEL players, top talents with NHL prospects and a number of players with the potential for the international stage. “We know from the national players who are in the front row, what we get, how they travel, what they have trained,” explained DEB-Sports director Stefan Schaidnagel. As with such U23 measures, "even more investment in the future" is therefore necessary. Courses like this send a signal "that the young talent, that the series of national players who will be in focus in the coming years, (...), are in good hands with us."
In this respect, the first national team course since February also had a larger context. Not just the preparation for the Deutschland Cup from November 5th to 8th in Krefeld already played a role, the view goes much further than that. There is the next World Cup tournament next spring and, last but not least, there is the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022. “Every contact with the ice, every action taken by the players with regard to the World Cup and the upcoming Olympic tournament is very, very important.” said Schaidnagel and added with regard to the corona-related difficulties: “We are almost five to six months behind in the world status analysis because the other nations have trained well or are now starting to play. And that’s why we always have to readjust and see what’s possible.”
Especially if further delays in the start of the DEL season are unavoidable. Then Söderholm wants to use every opportunity that comes his way to bring the players together - a circumstance that the 42-year-old would like to avoid. “We hope, everyone hopes, that a decision will come soon. I can't imagine the DEL not playing," said Söderholm, who also showed understanding for the complicated situation of the players: "As a player you have to have a goal, you have to have a direction in everything you do. That's a bit missing from the outside now. It’s not easy to motivate yourself from week to week.”
It was all the more pleasant to see how they developed DEB-Cracks got involved. “It’s always fun to train with such a motley bunch and just see the guys again because we all get along really well,” said Tim Stützle. Whether it was spikeball on the ice, various tactical exercises or internal forms of play, the combination of joy and commitment could not be overlooked.
“I can only praise the players for their commitment,” emphasized Söderholm, who was supported in Füssen by U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter, U18 national coach Steffen Ziesche and goalie coach Ilpo Kauhanen and was already looking forward to the match Deutschland Cup stoked: “The plan is that we will play with the best possible team, that is clear. And no matter where the players come from, we want them Deutschland Cup win."
Photos: DEB