Hot Off the Rink: Stützle Joins German Hockey Squad, but Misses Out on Weekend Games
Germany lays down strict prerequisites for hosting the World Cup
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In a fantastic start to the World Championship, Germany's ice hockey team secured a solid 6:1 victory over Hungary. The DEB team will take on Kazakhstan next on Sunday, who managed a 2:1 win against Norway. But the spotlight remains on NHL star Tim Stützle, who's en route to joining the team, but won't make his debut until Tuesday due to a slight injury, post-playoff exit [1].
Coach Harold Kreis' squad kicked off the tournament without their top forward, securing an easy win with goals from Dominik Kahun, Joshua Samanski, Lukas Kalble, Frederik Tiffels, Alexander Ehl, and Düsseldorf native, Alex Ehl. The game was held in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark, where Germany's group games will all take place [2][3].
As the showdown with Kazakhstan approaches, it seems Stützle finally got the green light from the Ottawa Senators to join the team [1]. On Monday morning, the NHL sensation is expected to train with the DEB squad for the first time. "It's been a test of our patience," said DEB sports director Christian Künast, "We would've liked to resolve this earlier, but it wasn't possible."
Stützle has a history of having to pull out of past World Championships. In 2022, a knee injury forced him out, and his club vetoed his participation last year due to a shoulder injury [1]. With his debut on Tuesday against Norway, he'll be making his second World Championship appearance.
In goal, Philipp Grubauer made his first appearance for the team, while Mathias Niederberger is expected to take the stage on Wednesday. Coach Kreis has emphasized that he has two "Number-One goalies" in his arsenal, but Berlin World Championship debutant Eric Mik, and his club colleague Manuel Wiederer, as well as backup goalie Arno Tiefensee's statuses remain unreported [1].
Despite a rocky start due to poor ice quality and an overabundance of nervous mistakes, the team found its footing, with precision in passing improving significantly [1][4]. The opening goal came from Justin Schütz's assist to Kahun, followed by a beautiful combination from Lukas Reichel and Joshua Samanski, securing a 2:0 lead. Goals in the second and third periods from Kalble, Tiffels, Alex Ehl, and Kahun sealed the victory [1][4].
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[1] ntv.de, lme/sid[2] icehockeyworlds.com[3] weltmeisterschaft.de[4] pro-sieben.de
- In the upcoming World Championship game against Kazakhstan, Lukas may get a chance to showcase his skills, having received clearance from the NHL to join the German squad.
- Despite a history of having to withdraw from World Championships due to injuries, Lukas is set to make his second appearance in the tournament on Tuesday against Norway.
- In the previous game of the World Championships, Kazakhstan managed a narrow 2:1 win against Norway, demonstrating the competitiveness of this year's tournament.
- Last year, Lukas had to miss out on the World Championships due to a shoulder injury, just as he did in the 2022 tournament when a knee injury forced him out.
