The German national ice hockey team defeated Austria 3:1 on Sunday evening in the last test match before the Ice Hockey World Championship. In front of over 5000 spectators in the Schwenningen Helios Arena, Alexander Karachun, Stefan Loibl and Dominik Bittner scored the goals for the DEB-Selection.
One of, if not the, most atmospheric moment of the game in the Helios Arena occurred in the final minute of the second period. With the score 0-1 from the German national team's point of view, the hosts were unable to convert a power play into a goal, but remained in possession of the target as well as in the attacking third. Striker Alexander Karachun then had a shot opportunity. The 27-year-old was blocked, followed up, spotted the puck again next to Austria's goalie Bernhard Starkbaum, was able to spy on it and ultimately get it over the line. The Fans freaked out. “KARACHUN, KARACHUN, KARACHUN,” thundered from the stands. Just like it happens in a sold-out arena when the local hero scores an important goal. “That really got under my skin today,” said the goalscorer, who wore the PENNY DEL jersey Schwenninger Wild Wings carries behind. “The hall shook, I’ve never experienced it like that before, that was really cool.”
This scene was preceded by a first third with few chances to score and a slightly more exciting second third. And on another, with lots of applause from the locals Fans considered scene, the first goal of the game followed. NHL goalie Philipp Grubauer didn't allow a goal in the German goal for 28 minutes and 7 seconds. He was then substituted in favor of former Wild Wing Dustin Strahlmeier. He was just 18 seconds into the game when he had no chance against a deflection from Austria's Lebler.
In the final third, the match went back and forth until Stefan Loibl had a similarly strong performance as in the third friendly match in Rosenheim against Switzerland. This time he came from the right side, shot without hesitation at the right face-off point and surprised the Austrian goalie with his goal to make it 2-1 in the 56th minute. A good two minutes later, the final decision was made. Austria had a man advantage and a sixth field player in favor of the keeper, Munich's Maxi Kastner won the face-off in his own zone and another ex-Schwenninger, Dominik Bittner, shot over the glass from his own zone into the empty opponent's goal. 3-1, decision, end, celebrations in Schwenningen.
It was the German team's third victory in their seventh World Cup friendly. But as we all know, results don’t really count for anything in preparation. Things will only get serious from next Friday...
Best player of the German team: Alexander Karachun (Schwenninger Wild Wings)
Detailed statistics: A national team men (gamepitch.de)
Voices about the game
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: “We come out of this overall positive preparation with a win and a good feeling and are now looking forward to the World Cup. The mood today in Schwenningen was great Fans gave us great support.”
National coach Toni Söderholm: “It was a bit bumpy today. We didn't play with the best rhythm. We shouldn't lose so many targets, we have to be more consistent in the duels, better in the shooting lanes and play more efficiently. But you can tell that the team is growing. We will have an honest dressing room and we can build on that.”
Moritz Seider about today's game: “It was definitely nice to end the preparation with a win. We had a lot of positive things, but there are definitely some things that can be improved. Despite the fact that the team was quite mixed up, it was quite solid in the end.”
After today's game in Schwenningen, the team has a day off from training tomorrow before traveling to Helsinki via Stuttgart on Tuesday afternoon (May 10, 2022). This starts on May 13, 2022 (Friday). DEBteam will start the World Cup with a match against Canada. The match starts at 19:20 p.m. (CEST), SPORT1 and MagentaSport will broadcast live.