Two bankruptcies, and only a few bright spots: around 15 months before the Olympics, things are not going well for the national ice hockey team. The clearly missed defense of the title at the Germany Cup in Landshut was still bearable, but the performances were surprisingly weak. The 6-0 win against Austria didn’t change the conclusion of national coach Harold Kreis. “The tournament didn’t go the way we wanted,” said the 65-year-old.
Even if there are still many months left until the highlight of 2026 in Milan, Kreis no longer has many opportunities for testing. The World Cup in May 2025 in Denmark and Sweden as well as the upcoming Germany Cup remain. “That’s why we sent a message to the team: We take every measure very seriously,” explained Kreis. You can also see it as a little warning to the players. Only a few of them showed up.
Warning to players: There are hardly any testing options left
Unlike in the past, Kreis did not use the Germany Cup as an experiment with young players. Without the NHL cracks around world-class striker Leon Draisaitl and without most of the players from the Champions League participants from Berlin, Bremerhaven and Straubing, the squad that had previously been considered good was not competitive, especially against the Slovaks at 2:6. Once again the defense was the weak point.
“We weren’t on equal terms,” Kreis said. In May, the German selection defeated the Olympic bronze medalist at the World Cup with a 6:4 spectacle. “Such a performance shouldn’t happen,” complained former NHL professional Tom Kühnhackl, who was one of the few to do self-promotion.
Kühnhackl demands more consistent performance
With performances like those against Denmark (5:6) and against the Slovaks, it will be difficult against any opponent. “We have to play a total of 60 minutes of ice hockey, not just 20 or 30,” demanded Kühnhackl. “If you want to play at this level, you have to play a complete game well.”
Some players will no longer be an issue for the squad at the World Cup in spring. In Landshut there were only a few bright spots in the DEB team. Wolfsburg’s Luis Schinko (24) scored three times. “I like his style of play, cheeky and fearless,” emphasized Kreis.
Mannheim’s goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee (22) impressed against Austria with a flawless performance and didn’t concede a goal. “He seemed very calm, very stable. A strong game,” said Kreis. The goalkeeper colleagues Maximilian Franzreb and Dustin Strahlmeier, on the other hand, fell significantly behind and will probably have a difficult time with a view to the upcoming World Cup.
Experienced players took advantage of the opportunity
Patrick Hager (36) and Kühnhackl (32) also took advantage of the first nomination since the 2022 Olympics. Munich’s Hager immediately took on responsibility as captain. Kühnhackl from Adler Mannheim led the team to victory against Austria. Both have significantly increased their chances of taking part in the World Cup and the Olympics. “I wanted to get to know them,” explained Kreis and then praised the duo: “They are role models in terms of running and fighting. They are an asset to the team.”