A good five weeks before the U20 World Cup in Edmonton, U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter has named his squad for the prestigious tournament around the turn of the year. Abstreiter plans to start the first part of preparation for the highlight of the season (December 6, 27 to January 25, 2020) on December 5th with 2021 players in Füssen. The three top talents Tim Stützle (Adler Mannheim), Lukas Reichel (Eisbären Berlin) and John Peterka (EHC Red Bull München), who were among the first 35 young talent players selected at this year's NHL draft. Defender Moritz Seider, who currently plays for Rögle BK in Sweden and whose NHL team Detroit Red Wings did not give clearance for the U20 World Cup, cannot be there.
Ten players of the DEBsquads last had at Deutschland Cup the chance to gain valuable competition practice at an international level in the Top Team Beijing. A further ten players (one goalkeeper, three defenders and six strikers) are nominated on call in order to be able to react quickly to eventualities. The youngest player in the squad is Cologne defender Luca Münzenberger, who will be celebrating his 18th birthday in a few days. A good half of the squad was born in 2002 and has the opportunity to take part in the U20 World Cup again next year. Due to the cancellation of all other U20 World Cup tournaments, there will be no relegation from the top division this year.
The DEBThe German national team will complete the first part of its preparations in isolation until December 13th and will undergo a prescribed testing procedure at the federal base in Füssen. The team will then travel to Canada on a charter flight from Zurich. Each player and staff member will initially have to spend a few days in isolation there, and training at the competition venue will probably not begin until December 18th. Further tests will also be carried out in Canada. There are two test matches scheduled in Edmonton on December 21st against Austria and December 23rd against the Czech Republic, before the World Cup tournament for the German team begins on December 25th with a duel against Finland. Spectators will not be allowed; the ten teams in Edmonton will live, train and play in similar isolation to the NHL clubs in the summer.
U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter on the squad: “The nominees have become more of a focus, and certain things have also become apparent through the start of the DEL2. At the Deutschland Cup We had players who we knew had a good chance of making the squad. We also saw there how important it is that we play quickly and precisely from our own zone. In general, the players noticed the intensity and duel strength required internationally. The players will take this very important experience with them to the World Cup because it won't be significantly different there. If Tim Stützle's healing process continues as well as it has so far, then there is a good chance that he can be there. There are still five weeks until the World Cup, so we are optimistic.”
Photos: City-Press