The intensity has been increased, four training sessions have been completed, and now the first test matches of the World Cup preparations for the German national ice hockey team can begin. "We can hardly wait," said Tobias Eder from Düsseldorf, looking ahead to the duels in Slovakia on Saturday (20.15:16.00 p.m.) and Sunday (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m./both live on MagentaSport): "We want to play hard, play our ice hockey, so that German ice hockey can shine." Eder is one of seven international debutants in the German Ice Hockey Federation's selection - a number that increased from six to seven on Friday after defender Tobias Fohrler was ruled out due to injury and was replaced in the squad by Julius Karrer.
“Julius was already on call and now the situation has arisen for him to come to us,” reported national coach Toni Söderholm, who praised the defender’s performance Nürnberg Ice Tigers in the PENNY DEL praised: “He has developed very well this season and deserves the chance. It's a shame that Tobias Fohrler can no longer recommend himself at the moment. We will assess his situation depending on how the rehab goes now.” The 23-year-old from HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland left on Friday after saying goodbye to the entire team. Karrer joined the team after a negative PCR test and a negative rapid test.
After a final ice session it worked itself out DEBteam set off for the Piestany venue on Friday afternoon, where they are scheduled to arrive in the evening. For DEB-Coach Söderholm, the encounters with the world number nine will provide the first important competitive insights before phase two of preparation for the tournament in Riga (May 21st to June 6th) begins next Tuesday. “We are gradually building up our game system and our game philosophy. But the identity of the team must be immediately recognizable when we play against Slovakia,” said the Finn.
In any case, the players are very motivated. “There is a good pace, the boys are hot,” said Alexander Ehl, another Düsseldorfer DEB-Newbie. “The training sessions are hard, that's how it has to be. “It’s a lot of fun,” added club colleague Eder. The days in Middle Franconia are special, not least for the Nuremberg trio Niklas Treutle, Oliver Mebus and Daniel Schmölz, which has grown into a quartet with Karrer since Friday.
Treutle, Mebus and Schmölz are very happy about the possibility of probation DEB-Team in their usual surroundings. “It's obviously a nice thing in Nuremberg, we want to fight our way in and show our best side every day. Everyone is hungry and wants to be in the team,” said Treutle in an interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk. “We have a good team, the focus is on giving everything on the ice. It's a huge deal, especially for many young players, to gain international experience here," emphasized Mebus, and Schmölz added: "Everyone wants to prove themselves and be there for as long as possible." The duels in Slovakia will provide information about this in combination with the training impressions .
