Who comes and who doesn't? Complex preparation for the World Cup

ROSENZHIM (AP) — Tony Soderholm doesn’t want to moan. The national coach admitted in an interview with the German Press Agency that the preparation for the ice hockey world championship in May was “slightly” more complicated than usual.

The 44-year-old doesn’t want to be worried. But his situation is anything but easy.

second test against switzerland

This Saturday (3 pm / magentasport) Soderholm will test his national team’s cleverness and coordination for the second time against Switzerland at Rosenheim. Teams for the World Cup in Söderholm’s native Finland, the next tournament after a disappointing Olympic performance, could radically change ahead of the opening game on 13 May.

The national coach is used to the fact that the playoffs in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) and the current season in the North American NHL league make preparation difficult. This time, however, DEL extended the season for another week as multiple coronavirus cases made it necessary to postpone several games. “A week makes a difference,” admitted Soderholm.

There may only be five days between the potential fifth DEL final and the first World Cup group game in Helsinki against record champions Canada. None of the top DEL teams said goodbye early, which would have benefited the national team. Adler Mannheim and defending champion Eisbren Berlin compete in the semi-finals. In the other series, EHC Red Bull Munich are challenged against last year’s finalists Wolfsburg. Soderholm is (still) missing many established national players. Examples are Matthias Niederberger and Marcel Knoebbels of Berlin or Yasin Ehlies of Munich.

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“Basically everyone says I’m flying to the World Cup with another team, I didn’t say that,” Soderholm said. He said that his focus is on the players whom he called for training at 11:00 am on Friday. Many inexperienced players and new players are part of the team.

Soderholm pointed out that he cannot predict how big the turmoil will be. “Why I don’t know. I don’t know how much strength and power it will take to go through the entire playoff series.” “Injuries can have a lot to do with fatigue, whether boys are physically or mentally exhausted.” It is also doubtful whether former NHL forwards Tom Kuhnhackel and Tobias Reeder will join the team in Finland, even though their season in Sweden has already ended. “I’d say it’s 50:50,” said Soderholm: “we’ll still have to wait a bit.”

Superstar Leon Dresitl is looking to attack with Edmonton in the NHL playoffs. But Soderholm can probably build on a world-class goalie. NHL goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer of the Seattle Kraken has already announced that he intends to take part in the final preparatory game against Austria on May 8 in Schwenningen. He also believes NHL defender Moritz Cedar and NHL striker Tim Stutzl will come, Grubauer said in Magentasport. “I believe a medal is possible,” Grubauer prepared swiftly. It was an early end, following similar announcements, at the Olympics in Beijing.