The German national ice hockey team missed out on the bronze medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and was unable to reward the efforts and hardships of the past few weeks with the desired victory. In the final showdown they lost DEB-Selection defeated the USA 1:6 (0:1, 0:4, 1:1) and ended the World Cup tournament in Riga in an outstanding fourth place overall. The only hit for them DEB-Selection was achieved by Dominik Bittner.
Im DEBThis time Felix Brückmann started the goal for Mathias Niederberger, who had played the semi-final against Finland a good 20 hours earlier. Toni Söderholm changed the formation again to eight defenders and twelve strikers. Dominik Bittner joined the team for the bronze duel instead of Frederik Tiffels.
It was important for both teams to leave the semi-finals behind them as quickly as possible and to mobilize all their strength again. The US boys put the first pinprick through Chris Wolanin (6th), who completed a solo effort shortly after his team had overcome a four-minute outnumbered situation. But the German team didn't let this deter them and subsequently put more pressure on the opponent's goal. On the other side, Felix Brückmann was alert to the Americans' dangerous advances and ensured that the deficit remained at one goal at the first break.
In the second section, it was Conor Garland (27th) and Jack Drury (29th) who hit the mark for the USA within a very short time. A hit for them DEB-Selection, which a little later even had to accept goals four and five from Jason Robertson (32nd) and Trevor Moore (33rd). Symbolic for the course of the game: Before Moore's goal, captain Moritz Müller had blocked two shot attempts by the US boys and remained lying on the ice in pain - and yet the puck ended up in the goal for the sobering result after two thirds.
In the final section the showed DEB-Selection once again showed their great character and stood up to the USA again despite the significant deficit. Defender Dominik Bittner (50th) scored his first World Cup goal in his second World Cup game. On the other side, Ryan Donato (50th) immediately scored the final score. Moritz Müller was named the best player of the game on the German side. Goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger, defender Korbinian Holzer and striker Marcel Noebels were recognized as the three best German players of the tournament on Saturday.
On Monday morning the DEB- Delegation begins the journey home, the German airports Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich flown from Riga.
Voices about the game:
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: “Today, the early 0-1 loss hurt us a lot. The team tried everything, but today it just wasn't to be. It was a very good World Cup, the team impressed with a lot of passion, team spirit and play. My big thanks go to the whole team and everyone around the team who gave everything every day. It is now important to further promote young talent and bring German young players even closer to the international level.”
National coach Toni Söderholm: “I am simply proud of this tournament with a team made up of very fine people. It was an incredible time and overall we just played good hockey, even if today wasn't our day. Yesterday was our day, but unfortunately we didn't win. It was an honor to work with these players. We can take a lot from this World Cup. In terms of play, we saw where the top nations stood and realized that we played very well against these teams. But also what will and passion we need to be successful.”
Defender Korbinian Holzer: “It's hard right now. The team has worked so hard and sacrificed so much over the past few weeks. We were so close to making it to the final and today it just wasn't enough. We did a lot of things right at this tournament, maybe it's just the little details and the cold-bloodedness that we lack to be at the top of the world. But when has a German national team ever played the game itself against a reigning world champion like Finland and not just taken a backseat? Toni and the coaching staff played a big part in this. Everyone has been working their ass off in the last few weeks, from the supervisors to the entire team behind it and everyone who was involved. You have to build on that, even across German ice hockey. It will certainly take some time before we realize what we have achieved. We wanted more. “
Striker Marcel Noebels: “Unfortunately it wasn’t a good day for us today. It's hard to cope with being so close to the medal after the game. Overall, everyone can be proud of what we achieved here during this World Cup. I am very proud and happy to have been there. Overall, we have grown together as a family, everyone has achieved an incredible amount here and it was a big step for the future of German ice hockey.”
Voices about the World Cup:
DEB-President Franz Reindl: “I am completely thrilled with our team's performance and appearance at this World Cup tournament. The passion, commitment, cohesion and great playing quality with which our team presented itself is something everyone can do DEB just make you proud. It's not just ice hockey Germany that has taken this team to its heart, the national team has also gained great sympathy and represented our sport outstandingly. The team used this World Cup to put ice hockey in Germany and internationally in the showcase and, especially in these difficult times, this is a signal that cannot be overestimated. This team and the coaching team, the entire delegation around sports director Christian Künast are role models, have touched people and also the reactions of our partners DEB are overwhelming. To have been there until the end is outstanding, the German sports world congratulates us and in this way we have expanded the circle of people interested in our sport. This will help us a lot with the future projects for German ice hockey and ultimately also in inspiring the children and hopefully being able to see them in large numbers on the ice rinks in Germany again soon.”
DEB-General Secretary Claus Gröbner: “Our national team presented itself in an excellent manner at this World Cup and, above all, was more than convincing as a team. The entire German sports world is enthusiastic about our performance and has ours DEBteam deservedly recognized. This World Cup appearance has a role model effect and supports our #backtohockey campaign. Hopefully it will also be an incentive for children to turn to our sport and strive for the great moments that can only be experienced in team sports. We as an association are proud and full of gratitude for the achievements of everyone involved, whether in Riga or at home in Germany.”
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: “It was an incredible tournament, a group came together that really stands for the words passion and team spirit. There are often clichés like that and people say things like that quickly, but I've been on many teams, whether as a coach or a player, and I've rarely experienced such sacrifice for one another as I did here. The team also showed this to the outside world and this signal was received 100 percent. And in addition to all of these virtues, it has also become clear that we can play ice hockey very well, we have proven that. This is also an important sign. Afterwards, I would also like to see that when it comes to many other sports, not just ours, it is important that there is more than just one sport in Germany. And last but not least, Toni Söderholm shaped this team with his style. He played a very, very large part in his coaching team.”