Missing from the Germany Cup
Krefeld (dpa) – Ice hockey comeback without national coach: The German national team will have to do without head coach Toni Söderholm at the Deutschland Cup next week because of a positive corona test.
According to the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), the 42-year-old Finn tested positive on Sunday at the end of last week. “That is clearly the greatest personal disappointment that I myself have experienced as a player or coach,” said Söderholm, who was preparing for his planned personal “comeback” at the traditional tournament in Krefeld (November 5th to 8th) about typical Complained of symptoms and developed a fever. In the meantime he is feeling better.
The national coach last looked after the national team a year ago at the Deutschland Cup 2019 due to corona. During the pandemic, international matches and the World Cup in Switzerland in May had to be canceled. Söderholm last said about the upcoming Germany Cup that he was “unlikely to be happy” that the national team and himself are starting again.
At least nothing will come of it for him. The tournament itself is not in jeopardy, as Söderholm had no contact with the players after his test. In Krefeld, the German U18 trainer Steffen Ziesche and the head coach of the Fischtown Penguin from Bremerhaven, Thomas Popiesch, are to oversee the German selection. «All tactical matters are very clear and I can intervene from home if I need to. We will be in contact two to four times a day and discuss the processes and content, ”said Söderholm.
Defender Moritz Seider and striker Patrick Hager are not there either. Seider, who has an NHL contract with Detroit Red Wings, is currently active at Rögle BK and currently cannot leave Sweden because of the pandemic situation there, according to DEB. The association did not provide any information about the absence of Munich striker Hager.
The Deutschland Cup should be the long-awaited comeback for all ice hockey in Germany. The DEB went to great lengths to ensure that the tournament can take place despite the corona pandemic. Among other things, the association accepts a high financial loss due to a lack of audience income. Several nations had canceled their participation due to the skyrocketing number of infections in Europe. The German Olympic perspective team stepped in. Third participant is Latvia.
Since March, when the German Ice Hockey League canceled its season because of the corona virus, there has been no professional level play in Germany. It is still unclear whether the DEL can even start a season again this winter.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201101-99-166242 / 3
– .
