The German ice hockey teams are participating in the Olympics for the first time since 2006, with the NHL pausing its season for the event, and their initial match resulted in a victory against Denmark.
For the first time since 2006, both German ice hockey teams will compete in the Olympic tournament, coinciding with a pause in the NHL for the Games. This allows Germany to field its top professional players from the North American league. The reigning Olympic champions are Finland in the men's category and Canada in the women's.
In the preliminary group stage, the German men's team, known as DEB-Cracks, has a series of three crucial matches. The structure of the tournament qualifies group winners and the best second-place team automatically for the quarterfinals, while the remaining teams vie for the remaining spots. In their opening match, Germany's star player Leon Draisaitl scored just 23 seconds into the game, leading to a 3-1 victory over Denmark.
The schedule outlines Germany's matchups: They faced Denmark on February 12 with a score of 3-1 in their favor, followed by a close 4-3 loss against Latvia on February 14, and a challenging game against the USA on February 15, ending in a 5-1 defeat. This tournament marks a significant moment for German ice hockey, especially with the notable 50-year anniversary of their surprising medal win at the Innsbruck Olympics in 1976.
