For the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, both the men's and women's German ice hockey teams are set to compete, marking their first participation since 2006. The National Hockey League (NHL) will be pausing its season, allowing top North American players to join their national teams. Currently, Finland holds the title for the men's competition, while Canada is the reigning champion for the women's tournament. This development will set the stage for a highly competitive environment and a chance for the German teams to showcase their talent on an international stage.

The men's German team, known as DEB, has a challenging schedule ahead of them in the group stage, where they will face three opponents. They need to perform well to qualify for the knockout phase, with the top team from each group and the best second-place team advancing directly to the quarterfinals. In their opening match against Denmark, Germany's star player Leon Draisaitl made an impact by scoring just 23 seconds into the game. Ultimately, Germany secured a 3:1 victory, providing them with a strong start in the tournament.

As the tournament progresses, the DEB team will play against Latvia and the USA as part of the group stage. The knockout phase will begin with qualifying matches for the quarterfinals, where the stakes become particularly high. The performances in these matches will be critical for Germany’s chances of advancing and potentially bringing home a medal in ice hockey, a sport where they aspire to make significant contributions to their country’s Olympic legacy.