The selection of the German Ice Hockey Federation has learned its lessons from the disappointing Winter Olympics in Beijing and has not given a clearly stated goal for the World Championships in Finland (May 13th to 29th). “I think we may have learned a bit from the Olympic Games in terms of this offensive expression of expectations,” said captain Moritz Müller before the World Cup dress rehearsal in Schwenningen against Austria on Sunday (5 p.m. / Sport1 and MagentaSport).
“We have developed very well with the national team in recent years with many good results,” said Müller, adding: “The Olympic Games were not part of it. I think it would be wrong to question everything now.”
National coach Toni Söderholm was also cautious. “I won’t have a World Cup goal. The goal has to come from the team,” said the Finn, who stormed into the semi-finals with the German team at last year’s World Cup in Riga and finished fourth. The early exit at the Winter Games in Beijing in the play-off for the quarter-finals was the first setback for Söderholm. In the run-up to Beijing, the DEB selection had spoken of gold ambitions.
Only Dominik Bittner from the Grizzlys Wolfsburg was a little clearer: “We want to attack, so that we can somehow go in the direction of a medal fight.” And Müller agreed cautiously: “We have a good team and want to have a say again.”
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