ice Hockey
Despite the World Cup exit: DEB women on the way to becoming world leaders
DEB goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter is playing a strong World Cup. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
The German ice hockey women are hoping for their best placement in seven years at the World Championships in Utica despite being eliminated in the quarterfinals. The gap to the top nations should become even smaller in the future.
The disappointment among the Germans Women’s hockey was huge. The team led by outstanding goalkeeper Sandra Abstreiter hasn’t been this close to a World Cup semi-final for a long time.
“The defeat hurts,” said national player Laura Kluge after the bitter 1-0 loss against the Czech Republic, third in the World Cup. On Saturday (5 p.m. CEST/MagentaSport) we will play against Switzerland for fifth place. Only in 2017 did Germany achieve a better result with fourth place. “I am incredibly proud of the team and what we have achieved so far,” emphasized Kluge.
Because this year’s World Cup showed: the future for the DEB selection is good. National coach Jeff MacLeod’s team should be able to attack the top nations such as the USA, Canada, the Czech Republic and Finland at the latest if they are successfully confirmed for the 2027 home World Cup. In addition to the men’s World Cup, the German Ice Hockey Association has also applied for the women’s title fights in three years. The chances of winning the contract are good.
Pioneer denier
With goalkeeper Abstreiter, the DEB also has a world-class keeper for the first time. The 25-year-old, who plays for Ottawa, is currently the first and only German in the professional league (PWHL) in North America, which has been playing since January. More could follow in the near future.
The twins Lilli and Luisa Welcke (each 21 years old) already play at Boston University in the USA. Svenja Voigt (20), Nina Christof (20) and Katarina Jobst-Smith (22) are other talents hunting for pucks at a US college. With goalkeeper Abstreiter they now have a direct role model. “I think it’s cool,” said the ice hockey pioneer about her new status. “Boys have always been able to dream of the NHL, now the girls have the same dream of the PWHL,” explained Abstreiter. “Here everything is taken away from you. Just like with men.” The difference to Europe and especially the Bundesliga is “enormous”.
Strengthen the women’s league in Germany
The German Ice Hockey Association is also calling for this to change. “It’s our job to make the league in Germany stronger. And we’re trying to do that with all we can, but it’s not that easy because the structures don’t fit. And I have to say clearly: There needs to be more on board,” noted DEB sports director Christian Künast. The ex-goalkeeper sees the men’s clubs in the DEL as having a duty to also have women’s teams. “That is the way forward, we will not be able to avoid it,” said Künast.
The development of the German team at this year’s World Cup was all the more surprising. In November, coach MacLeod’s team was defeated 0-8 by the Czech Republic at the German Cup. On Thursday, only a single goal nine minutes from time ensured the knockout in the quarter-finals. “It was very difficult to play against them,” said Czech goalscorer Daniela Pejsova.
In Utica, a small town in the US state of New York, the German team took the next step towards becoming a world leader. In the preliminary round, the DEB selection remained undefeated and even beat the favored Swedes. “We have been able to improve ever since we arrived here in the USA and our confidence has grown accordingly,” praised MacLeod. Despite the 0-1 defeat and the World Cup exit, he was “very happy” with his players’ performance. “Overall we showed a very good performance.” The World Cup should be rounded off again against Switzerland with fifth place.