Master coach, NHL, favorites
This is how the Ice Hockey World Cup goes for the Silver Coup team
May 10, 2024, 7:03 a.m
The Ice Hockey World Championship is starting and the German team is much more in focus after the silver sensation last year. But national coach Harold Kreis and his players are stacking their bases low. Who is there and how strong is the competition?
Where is the game played?
In the capital Prague and in Ostrava, the former coal mining area in the Moravian-Silesian east of the Czech Republic. All Group B games with the German team take place in the Ostravar Arena of former champions HC Vitkovice, which has a capacity of 9,800 spectators. Group A plays at the O2 Arena in Prague (17,500).
What goal does the DEB team have going into the tournament?
After the historic silver coup in Tampere last year, expectations have increased. National coach Harold Kreis and his players always have to answer questions about gold. “It’s nice that people perceive us differently now, but for us it’s exactly the same concept as last year,” emphasized NHL attacker Nico Sturm. The first goal is the quarter-finals, “then we know that anything can happen from then on.”
How strong is the German team?
This varies depending on the team. In defense, NHL star Moritz Seider and Mannheimer Leon Gawanke, who were absolute guarantees of success last year, are missing. The offensive, on the other hand, is perhaps even stronger with the future Mannheimer Marc Michaelis, the Olympic silver medalists Yasin Ehliz and Leo Pföderl and the upcoming NHL striker Lukas Reichel. And in goal, NHL professional Philipp Grubauer joins silver hero Mathias Niederberger. “We have two number one goalkeepers,” says Kreis, who once again did without some top DEL strikers: top scorer Justin Schütz, who was there last year, survived the preparation neither did Mannheim’s top scorer Matthias Plachta.
What speaks for the DEB team?
Most of the vice world champions are back – including NHL attackers Nico Sturm, who was an important leader at his first World Cup, and John-Jason Peterka, who was voted the tournament’s best striker last year. This team knows how to be successful. And also what it’s like to get off to a difficult start. She wasn’t deterred by the three defeats at the start in Tampere. The starting program in Ostrava is also tough: after Slovakia, who came third in the Olympics, the USA and Sweden are the first opponents. Kreis “even prefers the big chunks at the beginning”.
What’s new in the DEB team?
The Berlin master trainer Serge Aubin assists Kreis. The most successful coach in recent years in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) – with three titles since 2021 – is responsible for the strikers and the power play at the World Cup. “He has a lot of responsibility – actually no less than at the club, except that I address the team and make the final decision,” explains Kreis, “I benefit from his expertise.”
Who are the favorites?
On paper, the top nations are stronger than they were a year ago. Because the NHL is returning to the Olympic Games in 2026, many stars apparently want to present themselves to their national team. Defending champion Canada relies primarily on Connor Bedard, who is considered the greatest talent since superstar Connor McDavid. Hosts the Czech Republic want to win a medal again in 2023 after a disappointing eighth place and have three NHL goalkeepers in their squad. Above all, star power is offered by the German group opponents USA with top strikers Johnny Gaudreau and Brady Tkachuk and Sweden with world-class defenders Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman. Superstar Roman Josi is making his World Cup comeback for Switzerland after five years. Olympic champion Finland, on the other hand, is missing the big NHL names. With the exception of Canada, everyone finished behind Germany last year…
Where will the World Cup be broadcast?
For the first time, Pro7 will show all German games as well as the knockout round live on free TV; a further 15 games are planned for Pro7 MAXX. MagentaSport broadcasts up to 21 games live. The complete World Cup program, which Sportdeutschland.TV as the rights holder offers with all 64 games, is also subject to a fee.