ice Hockey
Germany Cup: Landshut excited, but future uncertain
The DEB team impressed at the Germany Cup in Landshut. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Good audience demand, praise for the combined women’s and men’s tournament and the organization in Landshut. But the German Ice Hockey Association is still waiting for a decision for 2024.
The national team won the Germany Cup, but also Landshut can feel like a winner. “It was really fun here,” enthused striker Yasin Ehliz. “Landshut is an ice hockey town.”
National coach Harold Kreis is also enthusiastic about the move from Krefeld to Landshut. “I didn’t have the feeling that they were hosting the Germany Cup for the first time. It was a perfect organization,” explained the coach of the runner-up world champion after the five days.
The numbers are also correct: 20,881 spectators came to the hall from Wednesday to Sunday, and at the weekend German men’s games were sold out with 4,200 fans each. There was also praise for the first combined tournament with four women’s and four men’s teams. “We can only congratulate the German Ice Hockey Association on this idea,” said world association board member Petr Briza.
The former Czech professional goalkeeper played for the then first division club EV Landshut from 1993 to 1999 and was celebrated with a standing ovation from the audience.
Everything speaks for another year of the Germany Cup in Landshut. But the DEB has the option to move the tournament to another city as early as 2024. With a view to the home World Cup in 2027, the event is expected to take place in Düsseldorf. The DEB is also thinking about East Germany as a venue. The association plans to announce a decision on this later this year.