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Ice hockey world championship: complete success even without the best player
At the ice hockey world championship in Latvia, the German national team shone with a terrific performance. At the latest with the coup against Canada, the German team shows what it can do without its stars on the ice. Because in addition to the best German player Leon Draisaitl, the best goalie Philipp Grubauer and mega-talent Tim Stützle are missing – all of whom play in the NHL. Nevertheless, the national team got three wins from the first three group games. Therefore you should definitely remember these names of our German ice hockey heroes.
Mathias Niederberger – our super goalie
Goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger was the hero in the 3-1 win of the DEB team against Canada. With 39 parades, some of them terrific, he captured the first World Cup victory against the ice hockey motherland in 25 years – despite physical problems. “I had cramps after the second third,” reported the 28-year-old, who likes to call himself “half Italian” because of his mother from Milan.
Incidentally, he was born with a love for games from his father. Papa Andreas celebrated five German championships with the Düsseldorfer EG in the 1990s. His legacy on the ice is not only inherited by son Mathias. His brother Leon is also a professional ice hockey player.
Tobias Rieder – the NHL professional
Tobias Rieder is currently the only NHL regular on the German team. After the disappointing season with the Buffalo Sabers, the 28-year-old had signaled to national coach Toni Söderholm that he wanted to play his fifth World Cup for Germany. Because things should go as well in their professional life as in their private lives. He recently made a romantic marriage proposal to Laura.
There will also be a big reunion for him at the World Cup in Latvia. Rieder meets Tom Kühnhackl, his Landshut team colleague from childhood. “We played ice hockey together when we were little.”
Tom Kühnhackl – multiple Stanley Cup winner
Kühnhackl is also happy about the Landshut reunification. The professionals have been friends for years and keep posting pictures together on social networks. Of course you can also see his great love Alexis there.
The 29-year-old also shines with two special successes. With the Pittsburgh Penguins, he won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 – the most important ice hockey trophy. After a serious shoulder injury, he last played in the AHL, the American Hockey League.
(sid / jma)
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