National coach Toni Söderholm sends a colourful, very young German national ice hockey team into the traditional Deutschland Cup – and the team wins the home tournament. The side make their coach “very confident” for what is to come. There is disappointment because of the spectators.
The national ice hockey team is confident about the future. The inexperienced C selection of national coach Toni Söderholm managed to defend the title at the Deutschland Cup even with a number of perspective players. Finally, the team of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) also defeated the Olympic bronze medalist Slovakia 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0) in Krefeld. Overnumbered goals by Tim Wohlgemuth (7th minute) from the Adlern Mannheim and Tobias Eder (31st) from Düsseldorfer EG as well as a hit into the empty Slovakian goal by Nuremberg’s Tim Fleischer (60th) made the ninth triumph in the traditional domestic four-nation- tournament perfect.
After victories on Thursday against Denmark (3:2 after extra time) and on Saturday against Austria (3:0), a draw against the also young Slovakian team after regular time would have been enough. But the newly assembled DEB selection was rewarded for a committed and passionate performance on Sunday.
The tournament took place in Krefeld for the last time this year. After five years on the Lower Rhine, the DEB is moving to another city with its home tournament next year. “The innovation effect is gone. We want to go to another location,” said DEB President Peter Merten. Those responsible for DEB were once again disappointed with the number of viewers this year. A total of around 8,000 visitors came to the three German games. Above all, the backdrop of not even 1000 spectators on Thursday gave cause for thought. At the weekend, the number of visitors increased.
After 3310 spectators on Saturday, there were 3854 on Sunday. They saw a convincing German team even without the strongest player so far, captain Marc Michaelis from SCL Langnau from Switzerland. While Söderhom Michaelis and goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier (Wolfsburg) took a break this time, Dominik Bokk (Frankfurt) and Maximilian Kammerer (Cologne) returned to the team.
Both national team returnees, like new talents, were to be tested for their suitability for the World Cup next year, but unlike many others in the team they were only marginally convincing. The currently third best DEL scorer Bokk had his best action on Sunday before the second German goal with a great pass. Mirko Pantkowski from the Kölner Haien was extremely strong in goal, and he saved his team from conceding a goal, even when outnumbered, together with the strong defense.
Even before winning the tournament, Söderholm had praised his C selection. “I think they did a lot of things very well,” said the 44-year-old Finn, who deliberately decided not to hire a number of regulars. Some of the players tested at the Germany Cup should have a good chance of taking part in the World Cup in Finland and Latvia next May. “We are really confident in sport,” said DEB Vice President Andreas Niederberger, who is responsible for sport, about the prospects for the coming years.
