STMPED: Stützle Joins Germany Squad for WM Kickoff Despite Delay
Germany insists on specific terms for World Cup hosting
Get ready for some top-notch ice hockey! Germany's national team has already kicked off the World Championship in Sweden and Denmark with a bang, defeating Hungary 6:1 in their opening game. Tim Stützle, the NHL star, is finally on his way to join the team, despite the delay.
Coach Harold Kreis' squad faced off against Hungary without their best forward, Stützle, and yet managed to secure a comfortable victory in front of 6,184 spectators in the Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning. Scored by Dominik Kahun, Joshua Samanski, Lukas Kalble, Frederik Tiffels, and Alexander Ehl, the goals signaled an easy victory for the German team over the underdog Hungary.
Kazakhstan will be the next opponent for the German team on Sunday, and they had already won their opener against Norway with a 2:1 score. With Tim Stützle soon expected to join the team, the German squad might be ready to take on the challenge.
Stützle's participation was initially uncertain after the Ottawa Senators were eliminated from the NHL playoffs. However, a change of heart from Stützle and the necessary approvals from the Ottawa Senators and German officials finally cleared the way for his inclusion. Now, after days of waiting, Stützle is all set to arrive in Herning on Sunday, ready to join his team for training on Monday morning.
Coach Harold Kreis took the opportunity to give NHL goalie Philipp Grubauer his first appearance in goal, with Mathias Niederberger poised to take over in the second game. "I have two number-one goalies," Kreis emphasized. The Berlin World Championship debutant Eric Mik, as well as Manuel Wiederer and third goalie Arno Tiefensee, remain unreported.
Though the team struggled with passing precision due to poor ice quality, they managed to secure a solid first period by minimizing mistakes and taking advantage of Kahun's and Justin Schütz's skilled passes. The rest of the game was characterized by a confident display of hockey, with Kalble and Tiffels scoring spectacular goals and Ehl and Kahun adding more goals in the final period to secure the clear victory.
Stützle's participation in the 2022 World Championship was cut short due to a knee injury, and his club vetoed his participation last year due to a shoulder injury. The addition of this NHL star to the German squad is sure to boost their morale and increase the stakes for the Hamburg World Cup Final Four in July.
Sources: ntv.de, lme/sid, espn.com, thehockeywriters.com
- Germany in the World Championship
- Tim Stützle (ice hockey player)
- IIHF World Championship 2025
The arrival of NHL star Tim Stützle is imminent, adding another dimension to Germany's ice hockey World Championship campaign. With his expertise in hockey and experience in the NHL, Stützle's inclusion is expected to enhance the squad's performance in the tournament.
