The pyeongchang silver medal field hockey team loses two of its long-time members in one fell swoop and is finally history in its olympic lineup.
Captain marcel goc and goalie patrick reimer announced their retirement from the national team one and a half months after the biggest success in german ice hockey history, following star defenseman christian ehrhoff, who had even announced his career end in march. National coach marco sturm will thus be at the upcoming world championship (4.-20. May) forced to change and rebuild.
At least the successful coach can count on NHL youngster leon draisaitl and stanley cup winner dennis seidenberg at the world championships in denmark. The sensational team of the winter games, however, will never again be on the ice together in compulsory games. Both goc and reimer were guarantors of success and lasting performers.
"I thought about it for a long time and finally came to the decision to make a clean break. It has always been an honor for me to play for germany and to wear the 'C' on my chest," goc said in the announcement published by the german ice hockey association (DEB). The 34-year-old played for various clubs in the NHL for more than a decade, but his stint with the DEB team marks the end of an era. "He will be missed by the national team as a leader," said association president franz reindl.
Who will succeed goc, who now plays for the mannheim eagles, as captain remained open. The forward played 112 games and is leaving at the peak of his DEB career, even though he did not win a crown in a thrilling final against the olympic athletes from russia. "A player and person of his format is hard to replace," praised coach sturm. Goc has always been a role model "on and off the ice.
Reimer has been one of the outstanding forwards in the DEL for the nurnberg ice tigers for years and is also one of the top performers in the national team. The 35-year-old was on the penalty bench when russia scored the winning goal in the olympic final, and he was at first disconsolate afterwards. "I also notice that my body can no longer easily cope with the stresses and strains of the last few years," said reimer.
Silver in pyeongchang was for him "an unforeseeable and outstanding conclusion" to his international career. "Patrick reimer is one of the best forwards german field hockey has ever produced," sturm said. President reindl called the decision of the striker "absolutely understandable.
Fur coach sturm, who was credited with a major part of the sensational silver medal in sud korea, is now facing an upheaval. With ehrhoff, reimer and goc he not only loses three top performers, but also tons of experience. At the world championships in denmark, when the NHL stars of the other nations are also back, it will be even more important for draisaitl and seidenberg to provide the next field hockey highlight after pyeongchang. "The national team always faces rough challenges to regroup, especially after an olympic cycle," Reindl Emphasized.
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