Moritz Seider is set to lead the German national ice hockey team as captain during the 2025 World Championships in Sweden and Denmark, starting on May 9. The 24-year-old NHL star from the Detroit Red Wings takes over the 'C' on his jersey from long-time captain Moritz Müller, who is sidelined due to a shoulder injury. This announcement was made by the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) on Sunday, May 4, just before their final test match against the USA in Düsseldorf, which is scheduled for 17:00 (MagentaSport).
Seider expressed his excitement about the role, stating, "It is an absolute honor for me to hold this office, and it fills me with great pride. There are also big shoes to fill, so I rely on the support of the others in the locker room. I am very much looking forward to the World Championship, as we are a good group and we are entering the tournament with optimism." This will be Seider's fifth World Championship, having previously played a vital role in the team's silver medal run in Tampere two years ago.
Joining Seider in leadership roles are assistants Marc Michaelis from Mannheim and Jonas Müller from Berlin, along with Dominik Kahun, who plays in Switzerland. Bundestrainer Harold Kreis explained the rationale behind this decision: "We have decided not to define these roles solely by the number of international matches but to incorporate other factors as well. Thus, we arrived at the decision to name these four players. They embody the leadership group in the locker room and serve as ideal links between the older and younger players in our team."
The DEB team will kick off their World Championship campaign on May 10 at 16:20 against Hungary in Herning. Other opponents in Group B include Kazakhstan, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, the Czech Republic, and co-host Denmark. The team is currently ranked eighth in the world, two spots lower than the USA.
Before the championship, the German national team faced a crucial test against the USA on May 4. Although they lost the match 2-6, they managed to leave a strong impression. The game was a culmination of a series of mixed performances in previous test matches, which included a heavy 0-7 defeat against the Czech Republic, followed by a 0-1 loss to the same opponent, a 3-2 win and a 0-4 loss against Slovakia, and two victories against Austria (3-2 and 5-0).
During the match against the USA, the DEB team had their full roster available for the first time, including NHL stars and players from Eisbären Berlin. Coach Harold Kreis praised Seider's leadership qualities, stating, "Moritz is incredibly professional; he already has a very strong sense of what a team needs at such a young age. Everything he says has weight, and everyone listens to him - that was a good choice on our part."
Seider, who last played for the national team in the 2023 World Championship final, expressed that the captaincy gives him "a lot of tailwind" and emphasized the importance of collective leadership within the team. He also cautioned against placing too much pressure on the final test match, remarking, "Such a game is often made bigger than it is; we will try many things, and mistakes will happen, but we also want to challenge the Americans."
Germany started the match against the USA with a strong offensive approach, creating several good chances early on. However, it was the USA who took the lead with Michael McCarron scoring a well-deserved goal at the 17-minute mark. Despite some missed opportunities, including a near miss from Justin Schütz, Germany showed good synergy and posed challenges to the top team from the USA.
The USA, featuring standout players like Tage Thompson, demonstrated their superior individual talent, with Thompson scoring a fantastic goal just twelve seconds after the restart to make it 2-0. Germany continued to struggle with efficiency, missing key chances, including a breakaway opportunity for Yasin Ehliz. Frank Nazar then extended the lead to 3-0.
Germany finally broke through in the third period, with Schütz scoring two goals, bringing the score to 1-3. However, the USA responded quickly, with Nazar and Thompson scoring again to secure a definitive 6-2 victory for the Americans.
Looking ahead, the DEB team is focused on their upcoming matches, with the quarter-finals as the clear goal set by Coach Kreis. He stated, "We are doing everything we can to put ourselves in that position." Germany has consistently reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three World Championships, with their last tournament ending in a quarter-final loss to Switzerland.
As the World Championship approaches, the DEB is still hopeful for the potential addition of NHL player Tim Stützle, who recently exited the playoffs with the Ottawa Senators. The federation has confirmed that arrangements have been made, but the final decision rests with the player and his club.
Fans can follow the World Championship matches live on various platforms, including Pro7, Pro7 MAXX, and MagentaSport, as well as through streaming services like Sportdeutschland.TV and MagentaSport. The excitement is building for what promises to be a thrilling tournament for the German national team.
