With Tom Kühnhackl returning, the German national ice hockey team will contest the Germany Cup in Landshut next week. With the former North American professional, who played in Landshut as a youth, national coach Harold Kreis’ selection will face Denmark from November 7th, as well as against Slovakia (November 9th) and Austria a day later. Kühnhackl, Stanley Cup winner in 2016 and 2017, last played for the DEB at the 2022 Olympics.
With a view to the 2025 World Cup in Denmark and Sweden (May 9th to 25th), the Germany Cup is the only tournament before the start of preparations in April. Most recently, the German team won the home tournament three times in a row. “Of course we want to defend the cup and make the tournament successful,” explained Kreis. “At the same time, we want to give the players positive impulses for the rest of the season during our days together.”
Striker Markus Schweiger (22 years old/Löwen Frankfurt) and defender Phillip Sinn (20/Red Bull Salzburg) are in the national team squad for the first time. Furthermore, Kreis relies on many established players. “We are looking forward to an internationally experienced squad and going into the Germany Cup with a strong line-up,” explained the 65-year-old.
In addition to the NHL professionals around world-class striker Leon Draisaitl, the veterans Tobias Rieder (EHC Red Bull Munich) and the ailing Dominik Kahun (SC Bern/Switzerland) are not there. Düsseldorf’s Alexander Ehl will be out for several weeks due to an injury.
In addition to the men, the women will also compete in a four-country tournament in Landshut. The team of national coach Jeff MacLeod and star goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter (Ottawa) will face France, Slovakia and Hungary from November 6th to 9th.