Short-term cancellations increased the concerns of national coach Toni Söderholm for this special ice hockey World Cup in his home country Finland. Even with the reinforcement by a total of seven national players from the Master Berlin and Vice-Champion Munich, not all weak points in the contingent should disappear. Problems on the offensive were added to the defensive, which has been cropped so far. Söderholm will miss Dominik Kahun in particular. The ex-NHL striker is injured. It was the next serious cancellation for the tournament, which started on Friday.
“I would have loved to have the Dominik with me,” said Söderholm. The 44-year-old at least indicated how complicated the squad puzzle was until the end, even if he did not want to use the word “difficult”: “You can tell that some players have 60, 70 games in their legs. It has a lot of mental energy Tosted, “said Söderholm and reported:” There were players who canceled a bit at short notice who might have strength a month ago. Now that the season was over, it was suddenly different. “
On Tuesday, the World Cup semi-finalist from 2021 and Beijing Olympic Tenth will increase with doubts to the charter flyer in Helsinki despite the victory against Austria in the last World Cup test. Kahun was struck in preparation. In the 3-1 on Sunday in Schwenningen, when the selection did not show a World Cup form, the 26-year-old had played.
not the best conditions
Until the end, Söderholm searched for stronger staff who can accept the first challenge on Friday (7.20 p.m./Sport1) against defending champion Canada. In February in Beijing, the team had disappointed with the Olympic stand before the quarter-finals. According to DEB, the World Cup destination will only be determined in the coming days.
The selection for the desired Olympic reparation continues to make other strikers such as Berlin’s former North America professional Manuel re-canceled and the Munich Patrick Hager and Frederik Tiffels canceled. Söderholm did not want to give reasons for the cancellations of this trio.
The most important days at the World Cup are at the beginning
Toni Söderholm
At least the national coach can build on master goalkeeper Mathias Mathias Niederberger, the Berlin defenders Jonas Müller and Kai Wissmann as well as the polar bear strikers Marcel Noebels and Leo Pföderl. In addition to Maximilian Kastner, which was already used on Sunday, attacker Yasin Ehliz is the only Munich.
The additional challenge is to quickly integrate the new forces in a few training sessions and, in the case of Berliners, after an exuberant master party. “The most important days you have at the World Cup are now at the beginning,” said Söderholm.
The final participants could “give the team a really good push,” said NHL defender Moritz Seider hopefully. In addition to Ottawa striker Tim Stützle and world-class goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer, the 21-year-old from Detroit is one of three NHL professionals in the contingent-and the outstanding defender.
carefree defensive
The occupation of the defensive showed little hope of a successful performance until the end. But also on the offensive in Schwenningen, a formation occurred five days before the World Cup start, with which the minimum goal quarter-finals should not be a matter of course even in a preliminary round group weaker on paper. Söderholm listed a lack of efficiency, puck losses, inconsistent duel behavior. “It is actually the things that are important to us, we have to improve,” said the Finn.
It is not unusual that players do without a World Cup in an Olympic season. The consequences of the Corona pandemic also robbed energy, other players are injured. It was already clear that the former NHL professionals Tom Kühnhackl and Tobias Rieder were missing before the Deb announced the squad. It would be all the more important if other professionals from North America would move up during the tournament. Söderholm is considering not officially reporting all squad places. It is unlikely that NHL top star Leon Draisaitl will come.
The national team starts the World Cup as research as before the Olympics. “There can also be a lot of criticism very quickly if a game doesn’t run that way. That’s why I don’t want to say much,” said Ottawa striker Stützle. Goalkeeper Grubauer, however, did not deviate from the firm belief in the team. “Of course our goal is to get gold,” he told the “Söderholm” (Monday).