Beijing – For a new one. The cabin already looks like 2018 again, and Germany’s ice hockey cracks have their sights set on medals even before the start of the Olympic tournament in their WhatsApp group. Just four years after the Pyeongchang silver coup, this time it will be gold in Beijing.
“Olympics 2022. But with a lot of gold medals in it,” said striker Marcel Noebels of the title of this year’s WhatsApp group, which is to show the players the way before the start on Thursday against Canada (14.10 clock / ZDF and Eurosport). In 2018, the group was called “Mission Gold” – at that time not quite serious.
Silver four years ago was a sensation and would be a surprise at most this year. “We have earned this position,” said captain Moritz Müller, who, like Noebels and eight other players in the German squad, was already in South Korea. “For me, this is a new journey, a new path. It starts from the beginning,” said Müller, who is constantly reminded of Olympic silver in 2018 when walking into the cabin in Beijing. As then, the team slogan “Faith, will, passion” hangs on the cabin wall.
Experienced players of 2018 in the team
“It really feels similar to 2018 in terms of the team,” said attacker David Wolf. In the preliminary round against Canada, on Saturday (9.40 am / ZDF and Eurosport) against host China and on Sunday (14.10 pm / ARD and Eurosport) against the USA, the spirit that led to the Olympic final four years ago and last year to the World Cup semi-finals is now to emerge.
“The journey is not over yet,” said the then national coach Marco Sturm at Eurosport with a view to the way to silver and the tournament in Beijing: “There are still many experienced players from 2018 in the team. This advantage must now be used against teams like Canada and the USA. We are already one of the favorites in our group.»
In fact, for the World Cup fourth of 2021, the preliminary round victory and thus the direct quarterfinal qualification is a realistic option. But first, record Olympic champion Canada will be out for revenge for the German “game of the century” in the 2018 Olympic semifinals, when Germany partially demonstrated the hockey Motherland at 4:3. Also at the World Cup last year in Riga, Germany won 3:1 against a Canadian team, which at that time consisted almost exclusively of NHL players. “The expectation outside is definitely a victory. And that is also the expectation of us,”said Captain Müller.
NHL stars are missing
As four years ago, Germany should benefit from the absence of the world’s best players from the NHL. Especially the North Americans are hit particularly hard again. The USA is almost only competing with college players in Beijing, as the league has decided not to take a break and is now catching up on many games that have been cancelled due to the corona pandemic during the Olympics. “We can be very optimistic,” said national coach Toni Söderholm. “The guys are ready for the next step to achieve something big.»
Under the 43-year-old Finn, the German team has also become even stronger in terms of play in recent years and, as the fifth in the world rankings, belongs to the extended circle of favorites. Even without their own NHL stars, the German team is well-rehearsed in contrast to the other top nations. “There are a lot of guys from the World Cup and a lot of guys from 2018. They know how to win and how to play successfully,” said long-time NHL defender Korbinian Holzer, and two-time Stanley Cup winner Tom Kühnhackl announced briskly: “It’s all in when you look at the last World Championships and what happened four years ago. We have a great team here.»
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