Thursday, 08. May 2025 | EHC Red Bull München: DEB quintet around Hager eager for World Championship
Munich DEB quintet excited for the World Cup: “Everyone is eagerly awaiting it!”Niederberger, Wagner, Ehliz, Hager, and Kastner start in the World Championship// NATIONAL TEAM - PREVIEWThe DEB team's ice hockey world championship begins on Saturday in Denmark and Sweden. In their first group match, national coach Harold Kreis's team will face Hungary (4:20 p.m.). Also playing: World Cup comeback player Patrick Hager.After a six-year break, the 36-year-old is returning to the big international stage of a World Championship. With eight appearances to date, most recently in 2019, Hager is the most experienced player in the German squad. Only Marcel Noebels (Eisbären Berlin) has also played in eight World Championships. “I'm obviously really excited because it's been a long time. It's a lot of fun and it's great to be back,” said the Red Bulls forward.
In addition to Hager, goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger, defenseman Fabio Wagner, and forwards Maximilian Kastner and Yasin Ehliz are four other current Munich players in the squad. Our new assistant coach Rob Leask is also acting as assistant to national coach Kreis.
DEB team wants to reach the quarterfinals
Hager himself has been with the DEB team since the beginning of April and has completed four weeks of preparation. That's a long time, especially after a strenuous DEL season. So it's all the more exciting that things will get serious again in a few days. “Everyone is eager to get started in the tournament. The atmosphere is always great with the national team; we have a very harmonious group,” says our number 52, giving an insight into the mood of the DEB squad.
The 2023 vice world champion has big plans again this year. The goal is to reach at least the quarterfinals. “That's no secret and can be said openly. We have set this goal for ourselves, especially after what we have achieved in recent years,“ says Hager. ‘Of course, we want to finish in the top four in our group. To do that, we have to find a way to win games. We have enough quality, we just have to bring it to the ice,’ emphasizes the most successful playoff scorer in DEL history.
”We want to be emotionally ready"
A win on Saturday in Herning against the newcomers from Hungary would be an important first step. Next up in Group B are Kazakhstan, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, the Czech Republic, and Denmark. Incidentally, the German team will play all of its preliminary round games at the Jyske Bank Boxen arena, which can hold up to 12,000 spectators.
However, Hager does not want to look too far ahead. “It's best to go in with the same mentality we had in the playoffs. We are primarily preparing for the game against Hungary; nothing else interests us at the moment. And then we want to be emotionally ready and start with a win and a good feeling,” explains our captain.
Munich duo likely to play together on the ice
Hager will also play a key role, taking on a leadership role as he did in Munich. The national coach values the versatile qualities he has demonstrated over the years. It is quite possible that he will be joined on the ice by a teammate. “Kasti (Maximilian Kastner) and I will probably be called upon a lot when we're shorthanded, which is something we play together in Munich. We also work well together in 5-on-5 situations. That will help us,” said the center forward. Hager wants to contribute to the team's success with lots of energy, hard work, and a straightforward style of play.
It will be a few more months before we see him and our four other guys on the ice in their brand-new Munich jerseys. At the Red Bulls Salute 2025 in Zell am See-Kaprun, we will face Rögle BK from Sweden in the first game of the 2025/26 season on August 22 at 7:30 p.m.
The DEB team's games at a glance:
Germany vs. Hungary | May 10 | 4:20 p.m.
Germany vs. Kazakhstan | May 11 | 4:20 p.m.
Norway vs. Germany | May 13 | 4:20 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Germany | May 15 | 4:20 p.m.
USA vs. Germany | May 17 | 12:20 p.m.
Germany vs. Czech Republic | May 19 | 4:20 p.m.
Germany vs. Denmark | May 20 | 8:20 p.m.
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