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Ice Hockey World Championships: Evaluating Stars' Role in Germany's Prospects - World Cup: Stellar Performances and Germany's Prospects Assessed
Get ready for the Ice Hockey World Championship, kicking off in Sweden and Denmark this week! The German national team kicks off their bid a day later, taking on Hungary on Saturday (4:20 PM/ProSieben and MagentaSport).
The Venue is Set
The championship will unfold in Stockholm and the Danish city of Herning. Germany will battle in Group B in Herning, while Group A, featuring host Sweden, will play their games in Stockholm. Both cities will host two quarter-finals. The semi-finals, the bronze medal game, and the final will also take place in the Avicii Arena in Stockholm.
The Format's Grit
The preliminary round will consist of two groups of eight. The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals and continue on to a knockout format. The bottom two teams from each group will be relegated to the B group.
Germany's Hopes
Germany finished as runners-up in 2023 and was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Switzerland last year. Making it to the top eight is the minimum goal this year. Coach Harold Kreis has once again fielded a powerful team, including NHL professionals Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), Lukas Reichel (Chicago Blackhawks), and goaltender Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken). However, stars such as JJ Peterka (Buffalo Sabres), Nico Sturm (Florida Panthers), and Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) are missing due to the NHL playoffs and Peterka's expiring contract in Buffalo.
Meeting Germany's Preliminary Round Challengers
Unlike the past two years, Germany will square off against easier opponents initially. Besides the opening game against Hungary, they'll take on Kazakhstan and Norway. Tougher opponents like Switzerland, the USA, and reigning champion Czech Republic await the Kreis team, followed by a game against Denmark to conclude the preliminary round.
Top Contenders
There is no clear favorite this year with the Olympics 2026 ensuring well-represented teams. The reigning world champion Canada, host Sweden, Finland, the USA, and defending champion Czech Republic are among the potential champions. However, upset victories like Switzerland in the last year and Germany in 2023 are always on the cards.
Shining Stars to Keep an Eye On
Superstar Sidney Crosby is gunning for his second personal WM title with Canada. The 37-year-old from the Pittsburgh Penguins last participated in a WM tournament in 2015. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche bolsters Canada's offense. The forward finished the regular NHL season as the second-best scorer with 32 goals and 84 assists. Reigning champion Czech Republic comes with David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins, whose 106 points in the NHL were matched by Draisaitl. However, Germany also boasts a world-class player in Seider.
Where to Watch the Action
Most German games and almost all knockout games will be aired on free TV on ProSieben. ProSieben Maxx and the streaming platform Joyn will also broadcast other WM games. MagentaSport will show a total of 18 games, including German games, in a paid stream. All WM games can also be watched for a fee on Sportdeutschland.tv.
The Bigger Picture at the World Championship
The Olympics in 2026 in Milan is already a big topic for the top teams. For the first time since 2014, NHL stars will compete for Olympic gold in February. Germany has already qualified for the Olympics. Due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, Russia and Belarus remain excluded from the title fights.
Clarifying the Timeline
This article primarily focuses on the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship schedule for Germany, as there is no specific information available for the 2023 championship in the presented data. If you are searching for the 2023 schedule, you might need to refer to the official IIHF archives or other sports news sources from that time. To provide some context for the 2025 tournament, here's an example of Germany's preliminary round matches:
- Germany vs. USA (Pre-tournament game): May 4, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany[4].
- Germany vs. Hungary: May 10, 2025, in Herning, Denmark[3].
- Germany vs. Kazakhstan: May 13, 2025, in Herning, Denmark[3].
- Germany vs. Norway: May 13, 2025, in Herning, Denmark[3].
[1] Source: https://www.espn.com/action-sports/story/_/id/34124875/2025-iihf-world-junior-championship-will-be-played-edmonton
[2] Source: https://www.iihf.com/page-177403/world-championship#tabs-1
[3] Source: https://www.iihf.com/page-255054/group-b#tabs-1
[4] Source: https://www.iihf.com/page-583819/schedule
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning the Ice Hockey World Championship, considering the expanding sports participation in the tournament.
- Despite missing key players such as JJ Peterka and Leon Draisaitl due to contract expirations and the NHL playoffs, Lukas Reichel, a Chicago Blackhawks player, remains a significant contributor to Germany's team in the World Championship.
- Besides Germany, hockey enthusiasts should watch Denmark, a finalist in previous tournaments, and the team's standout player, Reichel, as potential game-changers in the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship.
- In addition to the preliminary round challenges, Denmark will face Germany in a crucial game to determine both teams' positions in the final standing, highlighting the Danish team's potential to disrupt the competition's upper echelon.
