The German national ice hockey team successfully flipped the switch after two tough defeats at the World Cup against Latvia and set course for the quarter-finals with their biggest win at a World Cup in 22 years.
After the two 1:6 defeats against title candidates USA and Sweden, the runner-up world champion won 8:1 (2:0, 5:1, 1:0) against last year’s third-placed Latvia in the fourth preliminary round game on Wednesday (May 15, 2024). It was by far the biggest World Cup victory ever against the Latvians. The last time there was a better victory at a World Cup was in 2002, when they beat Japan 9-2.
Dominik Kahun (6th), Kai Wissmann (19th), Leo Pföderl (21st), Parker Tuomie (23rd), John-Jason Peterka (26th, 36th), Marc Michaelis (31st) and Nico Sturm ( 45.) scored the goals for national coach Harold Kreis’ team. Markuss Komuls (40th) was successful for the Latvians.
Ticker: Germany versus Sweden arrow right 4th group match day arrow right
“Of course I was frustrated the last few games,” said NHL striker Peterka at MagentaSport. “Today we performed really, really well as a team.” The Buffalo Sabers attacker, who was voted the best striker in the World Cup tournament last year, also broke the knot with his first two World Cup goals this year.
Against Latvia, Harold Kreis’ team reacted to their recent defeats with their best tournament performance to date and can even afford a slip-up in the remaining three preliminary round games on the way to the quarter-finals.
DEB team with storm – and how transformed
“It couldn’t have gone better,” said Nico Sturm from the San Jose Sharks. “More important than the result today was the manner.”
With the recovered NHL professional Nico Sturm, the DEB selection appeared transformed. The district team dominated the game with high intensity, wit and a lot of offensive power. The importance of the storm, which was so sorely missed against the NHL stars from the USA and Sweden, was evident right from the start. The 29-year-old fought for the puck along the boards. After a shot from Lukas Kälble, Kahun from SC Bern converted the rebound into a deserved lead. Sturm continued with similar intensity later in the final third and literally worked the puck into the net to make it 8-1.
The German team, which was clearly superior, initially even failed to improve quickly. A strong solo from Berlin’s Wissmann in the majority resulted in the second goal. Sturm was involved again and prepared. Wissmann’s Berlin teammate Pföderl made the early decision right after the start of the second round.
The vice world champion was also merciless afterwards. Straubing’s Tuomie increased the score to 4-0 just under two minutes later. Then Peterka was also successful. The NHL professional, who had no luck so far in the tournament, heaved the puck into the net when he was in the majority (26th) and thus overcame Elvis Merzlikins. The NHL keeper from Columbus was now in goal for the exasperated Kristers Gudlevskis from DEL runner-up Bremerhaven.
Peterka scores twice
However, the German team’s desire to score goals was far from over. Again with one more player on the ice, the future Mannheimer Michaelis scored to make it 6-0 (31st). Yasin Ehliz prepared a goal for the sixth time in this tournament. And Peterka showed his extra class for the first time in the tournament: with his second goal he increased the score to 7-0.
Around 1,000 German fans in Ostrava couldn’t stop cheering. The 1:7 by Komuls only caused brief joy among the around 4,000 Latvian supporters (40th). In the final third they showed gallows humor in the face of the bitter lesson and celebrated the wave in the stands.
Two wins from three games guarantee progression
The German team now needs two wins from the last three games in Group B to advance. With six points from four games, the DEB team could even afford a slip-up. Germany will play its fifth group game against Kazakhstan on Friday (4:20 p.m.). This is followed by games against newly promoted Poland (Saturday) and finally against France (Tuesday). “It won’t be easy in the next few days,” said Sturm, and Berlin’s champion defender Wissmann also warned: “We mustn’t fly too high now.”
