This trip was not originally advertised as an educational trip.

They set out with the clearly defined goal of having great success and not being distracted by the staged trappings in this project.

The motto "Taking part is everything", which generations of German ice hockey players before them adopted, does not correspond to the ideas of the 2022 vintage.

Marc Heinrich

sports editor.

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The beginning in Beijing hit them all the harder, which caught them ice cold and triggered two reactions in particular: The national team and national coach Toni Söderholm were disappointed in themselves. But afterwards they did not look for excuses for their performance, which at times they thought had long since been overcome underdog performances, but unanimously named their omissions - and vowed to improve.

The 1: 5 (0: 3, 1: 1, 0: 1) against Canada is said to have been a slip, as Patrick Hager emphasized.

He and the others were caught on the wrong foot.

"At that level, it's the same old story: If you sleep ten or 15 minutes, it's often not enough," said the Munich striker.

Before the sobering start to the tournament, Söderholm pointed out that the glossy event in Beijing was not the right place to try something new.

But here, in the focus of the world public, it is more important than ever to access your existing potential.

It was important for the Finn to emphasize that he has no doubts about the fundamental effectiveness of the German selection.

“But we were a bit too slow with some of our decisions.

We weren't at the level we had imagined in terms of quality either," said Söderholm, who will have to do without Marco Nowak from Düsseldorfer EG, who was injured in a hard check by the Canadians, for the time being.

Twice within 24 hours

On the night of Friday, Söderholm revised his view of things in the waiting area in front of the aisle to the cabins in one point in particular: he expressly recommended looking at the gait of the Canadians, who had made short athletic work of his, what it was arrive at a clash under the sign of the five rings - and adopt their winning mentality at the next opportunity: "The game had a good learning factor for us.

We saw how fast we have to play here.” The Germans have to do better twice in 24 hours this weekend if they want to finish the preliminary round with an interim result that still makes their ambitious goals seem realistic.

Above all, the big players in the squad, who were supposed to give their colleagues security and lead the way, fell short of their potential against Canada.

Whether center Dominik Kahun, attacker Tom Kühnhackl or defensive boss Korbinian Holzer - everyone had so much to do with themselves that they could not be of any significant help to their neighbors.

They "reacted more than acted," said Holzer from Mannheim, who had arrived later because of the consequences of a corona infection.

Like everyone else, he attributed the difficulties to the smaller ice surface.

"We stand together"

The playing field in Beijing is based on the dimensions in the NHL and is around four meters narrower.

This increases the pace, there is less time to get the puck under control when it bounces off the rink because the opponents can jump on you quicker.

"Canada was simply faster in thought," said Captain Moritz Müller.

Four power plays also remained unused, only former NHL professional Tobias Rieder, who is under contract with the Växjö Lakers in the Swedish hockey league, scored a goal (31st minute).

Despite all the frustration about his own inability, Hager also formulated a message that should have an effect in his own ranks and at the same time was addressed to the fans at home who are not allowed to be there in China and, like the team, to a repeat of the great moment of Pyeongchang to hope.

The 33-year-old said he wasn't worried and shouldn't let anyone lose optimism: "A tournament isn't won or lost in one game.

Our team is stable.

We stand together and know that we can beat any opponent here.” Which would have to be proven from now on.

Next up this Saturday (9.40 a.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Olympics, on ZDF and on Eurosport) is against the formation of the hosts, which with their moderately talented squad of naturalized alibi Chinese should not be a serious touchstone.

Anything but a (clear) victory would be the next surprise, which would then cause much more nervousness in the DEB camp.