Will Germany pull off another Olympic miracle?
The Winter Olympics are already a few days old and only now the German men’s ice hockey team is getting into the action. And yet, summer and winter alike, it is the team competitions that exude a very special Olympic flair, especially when you are successful. That’s what the German men’s ice hockey team did in 2018 when they sensationally brought home the silver medal.
The DHB men now want to build on the performances from Pyeongchang in Beijing. Toni Söderholm’s team will also benefit from the fact that the players from the NHL have not been allowed to play. Many teams have to do without many more NHL players than the German team, and this circumstance should definitely be an advantage.
On Thursday, the German team has to take to the ice in the opening match against record Olympic champion Canada. At first glance, this sounds like a clear-cut affair for the North Americans, who, however, are badly shaken in terms of personnel.
However, the German team has established itself in the extended world elite in recent years and therefore they will go into this first match with respect, but they will by no means hide. In any case, we think it is conceivable that a bet on a German victory in the match between Canada and Germany, possibly in overtime or in the penalty shootout, can be successful.
Canada – Statistics & current form
The setbacks for the Canadian hockey team do not cease. The fact that no NHL players are part of the line-up hits this team tremendously hard. Normally, the squad is recruited only from players who are under contract in the best league in the world. The Canadians who travel with the team play in the KHL, in lower-class clubs in North America or in European clubs.
Record Olympic Champions without NHL pros
In addition, the coach who put together this line-up, Claude Julien, suffered a broken rib after a fall and did not even travel to China. Assistant coach Jeremy Colliton has taken over and is expected to deliver a successful tournament. Overall, however, the conditions for a successful Olympic Games are anything but good.
Despite this, it must be seen that the Canadians are all excellently trained. However, the preparation with the Channel One Cup in December was not very successful with defeats against Finland and Russia. Only against Sweden was there a victory. Therefore, we would not necessarily bet on a success for the Maple Leafs in the duel between Canada and Germany.
However, the coach’s absence also seems to have welded the team together. Attacker Josh Ho-Sang of the Toronto Marlies evokes the good spirit in the dressing room. Nevertheless, we think some of the teams in Beijing are stronger. But the very first match will show what the Canadians are capable of these days in China.
The Canada squad:
Goal: Pasquale, Tomkins
Defence: Gormley, Grant, Power, Wotherspoon, Robinson, Barberio, Noreau, Demers
Attack: Carr, Knight, Street, McBain, Staal, Tambelini, O’Dell, Winnik, Cracknell, McTavish, Ferraro, Desharnais, Weal, Ho-Sang
Coach: Colliton
Germany – Statistics & current form
Four years ago in Pyeongchang, the star of this current German team was rising. A silver medal saw the emergence of a team that must now be said to have extended world class credentials. In 2019, Toni Söderholm’s team finished sixth at the World Championships in Slovakia and last year they were good enough for fourth place at the World Championships in Latvia.
All players on board
These results show that the German ice hockey cracks have rightly travelled to the Middle Kingdom with great ambitions. Understatement is not the order of the day. The aim is to win another medal and the Finnish head coach of the German team makes it clear that the team’s condition is cause for optimism.
A few days ago, there were still bad news about players testing positive. However, Marcel Brandt, Daniel Pietta and Stefan Loibl all tested negative, so they were able to join the team immediately. Only Korbinian Holzer was added as a latecomer after he was able to submit four negative tests in a row. Thus, the German team is complete before the first match.
The German men were able to play one test match in Beijing. There was an unofficial duel against Slovakia, which Germany won 5:3 and which only served to fine-tune the routines. All in all, however, there are actually a few factors that speak in favour of a prediction for a German victory in the duel between Canada and Germany.
The Germany squad:
Goal: aus den Birken, Niederberger, Bruckmann
Defence: Bittner, Holzer, Nowak, Abeltshauser, Wagner, J. Müller, Brandt, Rieder
Attack: Loibl, Krämmer, Plachta, Kühnhackl, Ehliz, Hager, Bergmann, Kahun, Pföderl, Pietta, Wolf, Noebels, Tiffels
Coach: Söderholm
Canada – Germany Direct Comparison / H2H-Balance
There have been a total of 73 duels between the national teams from Canada and Germany. Of course, the direct comparison is a crystal-clear affair for the Maple Leafs, who have a clear 61:11 lead after victories. One match ended in a draw. However, especially in the last few years, the Germans have almost achieved a balanced record.
The DHB men have even won two of the last three matches. Among others, Germany won the semi-final of the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang 4:3 and thus already secured a medal. The Germans also won 3:1 in the preliminary round of the World Cup in Latvia just over half a year ago. The Canadians will know not to underestimate this German team.
Canada – Germany Tip
Of course, Canada is one of the biggest names there is in hockey. When the North Americans field their strongest team, this team is hard to beat, but there are no NHL players playing in Beijing and that makes this mission extremely complicated for new head coach Jeremy Colliton. Especially since not only the squad has been cut down, but also the coach had to miss the Winter Games due to injury.
With the German team, on the other hand, everything fits. Of course, Toni Söderholm is also missing players from the NHL, but Germany is better able to compensate for these absences. At the last three tournaments, the German team was always among the best six.
The last games have shown that the German team does not have to be afraid of the Maple Leafs. Two of the last three head-to-head duels went to the DEB men, including in Pyeongchang 2018 and also most recently at the 2021 World Cup. That’s why we decided to play the betting odds on a German victory between Canada and Germany, possibly also in overtime or in the penalty shootout.
