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Riga (AP) - With striker Tobias Rieder as likely the only current NHL professional, the German national ice hockey team is tackling the World Cup challenge in Riga.

For the first time since the home tournament in 2017, the striker is back in the World Cup.

The 28-year-old from the Buffalo Sabers was still missing in preparation in Nuremberg and, like the two AHL players Lean Bergmann from San Jose Barracuda and Leon Gawanke from Manitoba Moose, will now fly directly to Latvia this Saturday.

«Tobi signaled fairly promptly that he was very interested.

It was just a question of when he will come to Riga, "said national coach Toni Söderholm before departure:" I'm really happy that he is there.

I hope that he gives us exactly the kind of energy that he always gave his team. "

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For the World Cup from May 21 to June 6, the 43-year-old Finn can count on other players who have North America experience or can play at the same level: The two-time Stanley Cup winner Tom Kühnhackl, who after a serious injury played in the AHL this season, the former NHL professional Korbinian Holzer and the future NHL defender Moritz Seider will play important roles.

The AHL is the second most important league in North America after the NHL.

Söderholm had to announce at the same time that Vancouver attacker Marc Michaelis gave him a rejection as the next NHL professional.

"Marc Michaelis will not come, it is a contractual situation," said Söderholm.

Top star Leon Draisaitl and his Edmonton team-mate Dominik Kahun, like world-class goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer, want to play for the Stanley Cup with Colorado and are therefore absent from Riga.

Exceptional talent Tim Stützle had not received approval from Ottawa.

Söderholm initially called 27 players and can thus make up an additional player.

However, after a quarantine, successors are only eligible to play on the seventh day after arrival.

It is therefore unlikely that another NHL professional such as Nico Sturm from the Minnesota Wild will join the team.

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For the German national team, after their journey to Latvia this Saturday evening, there is initially an individual quarantine in the team hotel.

The first ice training is ideally possible after negative corona tests on Tuesday and thus three days before the start against outsider Italy.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210515-99-606212 / 3

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