The test is tough, the pressure is enormous, but the fighting spirit cannot be driven away by the long quarantine: For the German U20 national team, the preparation for the U20 World Cup in Canada was marked by setbacks, but the motivation for what will surely be a unique tournament experience in the Edmonton Oilers’ NHL arena is not lost. DEB-Do not take selection. “The boys are hungry,” says U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter with conviction despite the adverse circumstances, but also knows: “We have to be and stay realistic.”
There was even support during this difficult phase from local hero and Oilers professional Leon Draisaitl, the best German ice hockey player of the moment. The newly crowned German Athlete of the Year 2020 spoke DEBtalents during a virtual team meeting. "We were of course really happy to see him and it was a really cool gesture from him," said Tim Stützle, whom Abstreiter appointed captain of the U20 team. In any case, the anticipation is still "huge" - after all, a World Cup in Canada is "something special for everyone," added Stützle.
German time on the night of December 26th (midnight CET/live on MagentaSport) the German Ice Hockey Federation eV team will start the tournament against Finland. The day before, the team was on the ice for the first time with 0 players and two goalkeepers trained - not ideal conditions after the nine positive corona tests in the team. “We take it as it is, we can’t change it,” said interim sports director Christian Künast and at the same time referred to the good team chemistry: “What we are already benefiting from is the good character and cohesion.”
John Peterka, who is one of the six players who have been on the ice since December 18th, could only agree: “We have already shown in Füssen that we are a great team and I also believe that, If we come out of this situation well, it confirms what a good team we are.” Stützle explained that the team is simply trying to “think positively. I'm looking forward to the first game and can't wait to get back on the ice with the boys." Head coach Abstreiter promises that "we'll do everything we can to get into the tournament as well as possible and to make our mark. “
The approach is changing, of course. A surprise against the Finns and against the hosts Canada the following day (midnight CET/live on MagentaSport) has become less likely, so the focus is now on the duels against Slovakia (0 a.m. CET on the night of December 3.30th/live on MagentaSport) and Switzerland (midnight CET on the night of December 29st). "We will see the two games against Finland and Canada as good competitive training," emphasized Abstreiter, "we also want to use these games to prepare ourselves as best as possible for the games against Slovakia and Switzerland."
It is impossible to predict when and whether the squad will be complete again during the tournament. What is clear is that the health of the players is the priority. “This has the highest priority, we will not risk anything at the expense of the health of one of our players,” explains Abstreiter, while Künast points to the clear regulations for a player’s return. “If anyone,” explained the athletic director DEB, “If you are symptom-free for seven days – and we already have a few of them, then they have to go through a return-to-play protocol. This takes two days here and they are put through their paces. And if all the organizers’ doctors give the okay, then the next step is for our medical department and also the coaching team to decide whether it makes sense or not.”
It would of course be nice if the majority of the affected players got the medical okay and could present themselves on the World Cup stage. Then the German U20 team would at least have the chance to show what would have been conceivable under normal circumstances. “We have very good players in our ranks, as the NHL draft showed,” said Abstreiter, “and there are good ones coming along.”
