The team around national coach Harold Kreis is ready for the final phase of preparation for the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Denmark and Sweden. Late Thursday evening, the players from Berlin and Maksymilian Szuber (from the USA) also joined the team. Friday and this Saturday morning were marked by intensive training sessions and team meetings. The German team's opponent, Team USA, also arrived in Germany yesterday morning.
The two teams will meet on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 17 p.m. in the sold-out Düsseldorf PSD Bank Dome. The Düsseldorf Arena will be hosting an international ice hockey match for the first time, and in just over two years, the 2027 World Championship will start in Düsseldorf (and Mannheim). The game will be broadcast live and free of charge on MagentaSport transfer.
National coach Harold Kreis: "The Americans have arrived with a strong roster, mostly comprised of NHL players, so we expect a technically skilled and fast opponent who can also handle the puck confidently in the offensive zone. It's a good challenge for us in terms of pace, tackling, and maintaining our structure. We have perfect conditions here in Düsseldorf and will be playing in front of a sold-out arena, which is naturally fun and also a recognition of the excellent performances of the German national ice hockey team over the past few years. The integration of the players who joined the team in Düsseldorf went smoothly, and we're all looking forward to tomorrow's game."
Striker Dominik Kahun: "We're excited that it finally starts tomorrow. Above all, we've heard that the arena will be sold out, which is obviously fantastic. The USA are a tough opponent, we know that. But it's also important to have a tough test before the World Cup starts. We've played the Americans in our final warm-up game several times in recent years, so it's good to face top-class opponents, and of course, it's also fun to compete against NHL players. The level will be very high, so we'll be well prepared for the first game of the World Cup."
Defender Jonas Müller"We expect a fast and tough match. The Americans have some good players, so we have to be ready from the first second. This is the last test before the World Championship for both us and Team USA, so everyone wants to show their skills and deliver a good performance. We'll be playing in a sold-out arena tomorrow, which definitely promises a great atmosphere, and we're looking forward to it."
USA vs. Germany: Both teams meet again and again
With the USA, the DEB-team a good acquaintance. The two teams last met at last year's World Cup in Prague and Ostrava. In the second group match, the Americans prevailed 6-1. The two teams even met twice at the 2023 World Cup in Tampere and Riga. Germany narrowly lost 2-3 in the group stage, but our team turned the tables in the semifinals. Frederik Tiffels scored the 68-4 winner in the 3th minute, securing a celebrated place in the final.
Team USA in profile
The US boys first became world champions in 1933, but their last world title to date was 65 years ago (1960). With 18 other medals (nine silver and nine bronze), the USA remains one of the most successful nations. Team USA has also won two Olympic medals (1960 and 1980). They have also won eight Olympic silver medals and one bronze.
Which squad will the USA bring to Germany?
The US national team's goalie lineup includes two current NHL goalies, Jeremy Swayman and Joey Daccord. Swayman signed a new eight-year, $66 million contract with the Boston Bruins last October, and Daccord is a teammate of Philipp Grubauer on the Seattle Kraken. The left-handed catcher also holds Canadian and Swiss citizenship.
The defense of head coach Ryan Warsofsky's (San Jose Sharks) team is also predominantly comprised of professionals from the world's best leagues. The most recognizable name is probably Brady Skjei, the 31-year-old from the Nashville Predators who has already made 767 NHL appearances. Behind him are several up-and-coming youngsters with strong offensive skills. These include Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks), Michael Kesselring (Utah HC, a good friend of Maksymilian Szuber), and Will Smith. The 20-year-old recently impressed with 18 goals and 27 assists for San Jose.
The attack is led by Tage Thompson, who plays alongside JJ Peterka for the Buffalo Sabres. The tall right winger just broke the 40-goal mark for the second time in his career; with 44 goals, the 27-year-old was the fourth-best scorer in the NHL regular season. Matty Beniers (Seattle Kraken) won the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie two years ago, and Clayton Keller (90 points for Utah HC) is one of the best attackers in the world. Maksy Szuber can also look forward to another teammate in Josh Doan, who is also under contract in Utah.
