On Thursday evening (February 12th at 21:10 pm) it begins for the German men's national team The Olympic ice hockey tournament. The team coached by Harold Kreis will start their Group C campaign against Denmark.
Olympics and World Championships: direct comparison
The two teams will meet for the first time at the Olympic Games. So, it will be a premiere in Milan.
In contrast, this fixture has already occurred eleven times at World Cups. Notably, all matches were fiercely contested. Eight of them ended with a single goal difference, while the other three were decided by just two goals. Denmark won six of these encounters, and Germany five.
The last comparison was around nine months ago. In May of last year, the DEB-Team lost 1:2 after a penalty shootout in their last preliminary round game at the World Championship in Herning, thus missing out on entering the quarter-finals.
Olympics and World Championships: Denmark at tournaments
The Danish national ice hockey team is participating in the Winter Olympics for the second time this year. At their debut in Beijing in 2022, Denmark finished seventh. The Danes have been regular participants in the World Championships since 2003. Last year, Denmark finished fourth, achieving their most significant result to date. In the quarterfinals, they sensationally eliminated Team Canada with a 2-1 victory, before suffering a 0-7 defeat against Switzerland in the semifinals. In the bronze medal game, the world's ninth-ranked team lost 2-6 to Sweden.
Olympic and World Championship medals for Denmark: 0
Current IIHF world ranking Denmark: 9th.
Squad: Europe meets North America
Denmark's head coach Mikael Gath (49) has assembled a roster that appears balanced on paper, with the offense likely to be a particular focus. The Danish squad also includes several familiar faces from the PENNY DEL. However, the lineup is led by an NHL star up front.
The Danish goaltenders also boast a big name from the NHL. Their number one is Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes), who has played well over 600 games in the world's best league.
The defense includes three current players from the PENNY DEL: Nicholas B. Jensen and Phillip Bruggisser (both from Pinguins Bremerhaven) and Matias Lassen (Iserlohn RoostersMarkus Lauridsen (HC Pustertal) also has experience from his time at Red Bull Munich and the Löwen Frankfurt about experience in Germany. His younger brother Oliver Lauridsen (TPS Turku) and Jesper Jensen Aabo (EC Klagenfurt) have also been key players in the defense for years.
The star of the team, however, is Nikolaj Ehlers. The NHL forward moved to the Carolina Hurricanes in the summer of 2025 after ten years in the Winnipeg Jets organization, signing a six-year, $51 million contract. The 29-year-old brings skill, speed, and scoring prowess, as well as plenty of leadership. Oliver Björkstrand (Tampa Bay Lightning) and two-way center Lars Eller (Ottawa Senators, 2018 Stanley Cup winner with the Washington Capitals) are also established NHL stars. Top prospect Oscar Fisker Molgaard (20, Coachella Valley Firebirds) made his debut for the Seattle Kraken in the world's best league this season.
The current third-highest scorer in the PENNY DEL also wears the "Danish Dynamite" jersey. Patrick Russell has already amassed 55 points this season for the league leaders. Kölner HaieTeammate Frederik Storm is also on the roster. The sixth professional from the top German ice hockey league is the physically imposing Christian Wejse (Pinguins Bremerhaven). Additionally, Mikkel Aagaard (Skelleftea AIK) is among the best forwards in the Swedish top league.
TV note:
The Germany vs. Denmark match is available live on Eurosport and ZDF.