Today, Tuesday, January 25, 2022, national coach Toni Söderholm announced the final squad of the German national ice hockey team for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games (February 04 to 20, 2022) in China. A total of 25 players (three goalkeepers, eight defensemen, 14 strikers) made it into the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund's Olympic selection. V (DEB) and were nominated for Beijing by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
When making his selection, Söderholm relies on a well-rehearsed team of experienced players. 21 athletes were part of the successful one DEBteam from the last 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga, which finished the tournament in fourth place. Eleven Olympic nominees were already part of the silver medal winners at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. When it comes to coaching staff, the national coach also relies on a tried and tested unit: U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter, Ilpo Kauhanen and Cory Murphy complete the team behind the board for Beijing.
Olympic preparation for men's ice hockey starts in Mannheim
The will start next Monday, January 31, 2022 DEB-Selection in Mannheim in preparation for the Olympic Games. On Wednesday, February 02nd, 2022, the team led by captain Moritz Müller will fly to Beijing. If all PCR tests are negative, the team in China will continue to prepare for the men's ice hockey tournament, which starts on February 9, 2022.
Group stage of the Olympic ice hockey tournament: opponents of the German team
The first match of the German national ice hockey team at the 2022 Winter Olympics will take place on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 14:10 p.m. (CET). The team will start off against the Canadian selection. Other group opponents are Olympic host China (February 12, 09:40 a.m. CET) and the team from the USA (February 13, 14:10 p.m. CET).
National coach Toni Söderholm: “Ever since we knew that we would be at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, I have imagined a squad for the tournament that is defined by cohesion and identity and functions that way. We are now at a point where we as a team have gained as much experience as we need and at the same time we have the right guys in the dressing room. This is a good starting point for our journey at the Beijing Olympics.”
DEB-President Franz Reindl: “The Olympic Games are the biggest event for all athletes, made massively difficult by the current situation. Toni Söderholm has put together a strong team, everyone who is nominated deserves to be there. The quality and character within the team is great, together the team can master the challenge of the Olympics. I keep my fingers crossed for the entire Olympic team for further preparation, travel and a successful time in Beijing.”
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: “We are traveling to Beijing with a well-rehearsed team. If we show off our values on the ice like we did recently, there is definitely a chance that we can build on our recent international successes in Beijing. The anticipation for the Olympic ice hockey tournament is great among everyone involved, and we felt that again in the discussions with our athletes and the staff.”
Olympia 2022: Schedule of the German national team
10.02.2022/21/10 | 14:10 (German XNUMX:XNUMX) | Canada – Germany
12.02.2022/16/40 | 09:40 (German XNUMX:XNUMX) | Germany - China
13.02.2022/21/10 | 14:10 (German XNUMX:XNUMX) | UNITED STATES - Germany