Los Angeles (AP) – NHL professional Philipp Grubauer assumes participation in the Ice Hockey World Championship in May. He is in frequent contact with national coach Toni Söderholm, said the goalkeeper.
“We still have a lot of games left and you have to stay healthy, but if I’m fit enough, I’ll be there on May 10 or 11 – or when it starts in Finland – if he invites me,” said Grubauer of the German Press Agency after his Seattle Kraken 6: 1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday evening (local time).
The 30-year-old from Rosenheim was in goal for the German national team at the 2014, 2017 and 2019 World Cups. He is one of the strongest goalies in the best ice hockey league in the world and won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018. After three years with the Colorado Avalanche, he joined the Seattle Kraken last summer. In the first NHL season for the new team, there are no longer any chances of a playoff participation. The Kraken have their last main round game at the end of April, the World Cup in Finland will take place from May 13th to 29th.
“It’s always an honor to play for Germany. This is the first year that I’ve missed the playoffs. Normally I’ve always been in the playoffs and you don’t often get the chance to represent your country,” said Grubauer. “If you can’t be at the Olympics, which was painful, then of course you want to be at the World Cup. It would be a great honor.” Because of the corona pandemic, no professionals from the NHL had recently taken part in the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220329-99-711294/2
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