The German national ice hockey team's preparation program for the 2021 IIHF World Championships in Riga/Latvia (May 21 to June 6) has largely been determined. National coach Toni Söderholm's team will spend the majority of the weeks before the title fights in Nuremberg and will also play the planned home international games before the World Cup in the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung. A total of six test matches are planned before the start of the World Cup against Italy on May 21st, four of them in Germany and two in Slovakia. All international test matches will be shown live on MagentaSport, and SPORT1 will also broadcast at least three of them live and in full length on free TV. SPORT1 summarizes the remaining games in highlights.
For the first time DEB-Coach Söderholm will gather the selection of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund in Middle Franconia from April 21st, this phase will then be completed by the tests in Slovakia (April 24th and 25th). The following week ends with two duels in Nuremberg against the Czech Republic (April 29th and May 1st). The third phase of preparation begins on May 4th and culminates in two games against Belarus (May 7th and 8th). The course of the last ten days before the World Cup opener on May 21st in Riga against Italy has not yet been fully confirmed.
DEB-Interim sports director Christian Künast: “We spend the entire preparation in one place because we generally have to plan without spectators and therefore want to keep the risk of infection smaller. The opponents for the World Cup test matches remained identical to the original planning. All preparatory measures will take place under strict hygiene regulations and with close testing, because the current situation is alarming for everyone. We will have to remain flexible until the end.”
National coach Toni Söderholm: “We are looking forward to the upcoming and intensive World Cup preparations in Nuremberg, where we will find optimal conditions. We have a lot ahead of us and strive to improve our game every day. The test matches are very important for everyone so that we can prepare ourselves for the World Cup in the best possible way. It will be an interesting preparation in which we have to keep an eye on a lot of things, but the players and our playful plans are the most important. A lot can happen and we have to be as prepared for everything as possible. Personally, I’m really looking forward to the coming time; it will be incredibly good to finally be able to work with the team again.”
Jürgen Fottner, Managing Director of ARENA NÜRNBERGER Insurance: “We are particularly pleased that the German national team is coming to the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung for four international matches. Even if we are planning without spectators, this is something very extraordinary for us. We will all do our best together to offer the teams a pleasant and, above all, safe stay with us in Nuremberg due to the pandemic.”
World Cup test matches:
Slovakia – Germany (Saturday, April 24th/Piestany)
Slovakia – Germany (Sunday, April 25th/Piestany)
Germany – Czech Republic (Thursday, April 29th at 18.00 p.m. in Nuremberg/live MagentaSport and Sport1)
Germany – Czech Republic (Saturday, May 1st at 13.30:1 p.m. in Nuremberg/live on MagentaSport/Highlights on SportXNUMX)
Germany – Belarus (Friday, May 7th at 17.00 p.m. in Nuremberg/live MagentaSport and Sport1)
Germany – Belarus (Saturday, May 8th at 15.45:1 p.m. in Nuremberg/live MagentaSport and SportXNUMX)
World Cup preparation phases:
Phase 1: April 21st to 25th in Nuremberg
Phase 2: April 27th to May 1st in Nuremberg
Phase 3: May 4th to 8th in Nuremberg
Phase 4: Travel to Riga/Latvia still open, tournament starts on May 21st
