World Cup disappearance of team captain.
A Fresh Take:
Yo, here's the lowdown on the German men's ice hockey national team for the World Championship happening in Sweden and Denmark from May 9th to 25th. Unfortunately, their captain, Moritz Müller — a 2018 Olympic silver medalist and a vice-champion from 2023, who played with a busted shoulder during the DEL playoffs — will be sitting this one out.
This is a double whammy for the team led by coach Harold Kreis, as top defender Kai Wissmann from the Berlin Polar Bears had to drop out due to a hand injury, making him the best German defender of the past season. But Kreis ain't losing hope, saying, "We are convinced that we have a strong group that we'll prep for this bad boy with."
So, who's jumping in to help fortify the team? The newbies join the squad named by Kreis before the warm-up game against the USA on Sunday at 5:00 PM (MagentaSport, Düsseldorf). We got NHL defender Moritz Seider from the Detroit Red Wings, Maksymilian Szuber from the Tuscon Roadrunners/AHL, and Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks' attack.
Speaking of the attack, Tobias Rieder, a former NHL pro from EHC Red Bull Munich,'s a no-show in the squad. A handful of champions from the Berlin team will join the World Championship team on Thursday: Leo Pföderl, the outstanding DEL forward of the past season, and Eisbaeren's championship coach Serge Aubin, who's supporting Kreis as an assistant coach.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tourney kicks off! remember to catch the latest roster updates from the IIHF or German hockey federation for the most accurate data.
Did You Know?
- Some notable forwards on the team include Tim Stützle and Manuel Wiederer. The defense is fortified by the likes of team captain Moritz Seider and Maksymilian Szuber.
- Each team in the tournament must have at least 15 skaters and two goalies, with a maximum of 22 skaters and three goalies.
In light of the impending World Championship, sports enthusiasts can expect the German men's hockey team to field new reinforcements, with NHL defender Moritz Seider from Detroit Red Wings, Maksymilian Szuber from Tuscon Roadrunners/AHL, and Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks' attack joining the roster. Despite the loss of captain Moritz Müller and top defender Kai Wissmann, coach Harold Kreis remains optimistic about the team's prospects.
