Wild showdown at the World Cup
DEB juniors are spectacularly worried about staying in the league
January 4, 2024, 6:57 p.m
Goal achieved and in a spectacular way: the German ice hockey juniors celebrate staying in the league at the U20 World Cup. The team of national coach Tobias Abstreiter wins the decisive relegation game against Norway. In the final phase, events come to a head.
After a relegation thriller, the German ice hockey juniors managed to stay in the league at the U20 World Cup in Sweden. In the relegation game, the DEB team won against Norway with a goal from Moritz Elias in extra time with 5:4 (1:1, 1:1, 2:2). This means that coach Tobias Abstreiter’s selection also qualified for the World Cup in Canada at the end of December. Germany has been playing in the top division since 2020.
Both teams looked very nervous for two thirds. Even a 1-0 and 2-1 lead didn’t bring any security for the German ice hockey talents. After goals from Kevin Bicker (10th minute) from Löwen Frankfurt and Veit Oswald (29th) from EHC Red Bull Munich, Germany was ahead. Norway equalized through Noah Steen (17th) and Mats Bakke Olsen (35th).
A German double strike by Phillip Sinn (50th) and Niklas Hübner within 48 seconds gave the first two-goal lead in the final third. Norway came back again: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (55th) and Bakke Olsen again needed just under two minutes to equalize 4:4. In extra time, Norway missed a great chance, then Elias scored after 58 seconds to make it 5:4.
“It’s a very nice success that we can continue to play in the top group,” said Abstreiter: “The boys all really carried along very well, worked hard and played good games. Of course there were always difficult phases, but that “It’s the case with a young team that there are learning processes and they still have to gain their experience.”
The national coach had already emphasized before the tournament in Sweden that the focus this year was on staying in the league. After a surprising opening win against Finland (4:3), the German team was clearly defeated in their other three group games. The Norwegian selection, which only achieved promotion last year, remained without a win of its own in Sweden.