Next Monday (June 06, 2022) the German junior ice hockey girls will start the U18 World Championship in the USA. At the start, U18 national coach Franziska Busch's team will meet the Swiss team at Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton (Wisconsin). The first puck will be dropped at 20 p.m. local time (03:00 a.m. CEST on June 07.06.2022, XNUMX).
The German team is made up of players from the DFEL clubs, players from US high school teams and German young talent clubs. The captain’s “C” is worn by Annabella Sterzik (Heilbronn). Eisbären Juniors Berlin. Their representatives are Celine Mayer (Rosenheim) from ESC Planegg-Würmtal and Liliane Gottfried (Soest) from the Bergkamener Bären and the Iserlohner EC. U18 head coach Franziska Busch is supported by women's national coach Tom Schädler as an assistant, goalkeeping coach Viona Harrer and athletic trainer Stephan Klingner.
About the entire squad: U18 women's national team | Deutscher Eishockey-Bund e.V. (deb-online.de)
Franziska Busch, women’s U18 national coach: “We are pleased that we have the opportunity to make up for our World Cup, which was canceled twice. Preparation wasn't easy due to the timing of the World Cup in June and the players' final exams. The players haven't been on the ice for team training in a long time and the last games were weeks ago. Our focus was on continuing to develop as a team. Starting with the tactical basics, we worked on a lot together right up to the special teams. Due to the World Cup cancellations in recent years, most of our players lack World Cup experience, which is why it is all the more important and we are all the more pleased that after two years of waiting it finally starts on Monday against Switzerland.”
Annabella Sterzik, captain of the U18 women's national team: “After a long journey, we arrived safely in Middleton a few days ago. The conditions here are great, the hotel is nice. We are all happy that the preparation is finally over and we can really get started on Monday.”
The World Cup is divided into an A group with the stronger teams and a B group with the weaker ones. Group A with the USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden plays in the LaBahn Ice Arena in Madison (Wisconsin). The best two teams in the group qualify directly for the semi-finals, third and fourth place from Group A and the two best teams from Group B meet in the quarter-finals. The third and fourth placed junior national teams from Group B play in home and away matches for seventh place.
The German team last took part in the U2018 World Cup in 18, came in 7th place after the preliminary round, but was then relegated due to two relegation defeats against the Swiss. At the Division I tournament in Füssen in January 2020, we were promoted back to the top division.
In addition to the German juniors, there are also two female referees in Madison and Middleton. Svenja Strohmenger (Königsborner JEC) and Julia Männlein (EHC Königsbrunn) will lead several games.
The tournament schedule
Monday, June 06.06th, Switzerland – Germany, 20:00 p.m. (03:00 a.m. CEST – June 07.06.22th, XNUMX), Middleton
Tuesday, June 07.06th, Czech Republic – Germany, 16:00 p.m. (23:00 p.m. CEST), Middleton
Thursday, June 09.06th, Germany – Slovakia, 20:00 p.m. (03:00 a.m. CEST – June 10.06.22th, XNUMX), Middleton
Friday 10.06.22/7/XNUMX, XNUMXth place game, Middleton
Friday, 10.06.22/1/XNUMX, Quarterfinals XNUMX, Madison
Friday, 10.06.22/2/XNUMX, Quarterfinals XNUMX, Madison
Sunday 12.06.22/7/XNUMX, XNUMXth place game, Middleton
Sunday, 12.06.22/1/XNUMX, Semifinal XNUMX, Madison
Sunday, 12.06.22/2/XNUMX, Semifinal XNUMX, Madison
Monday, June 13.06.22, 7, XNUMXth place game, Middleton
Monday, June 13.06.22, XNUMX, Bronze Game, Madison
Monday, June 13.06.22, XNUMX, finals, Madison
You can find more and up-to-date information on the IIHF website at IIHF – Home 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U18 WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP