Sunday, February 17, 2002
Germans braced for a blitzkrieg
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Team Sun
PROVO, Utah -- Asked what it would take for his German squad to beat Canada today, coach Hans Zach's response needed no interpreter.
"I'm not a magician," he said in perfect English.
Having graduated from the qualifying round with a 3-0 record and allowing just three goals in the process, the Germans came crashing down to reality Friday with an 8-2 loss to the Czech Republic.
Things won't get any easier today when they face a hungry, humiliated Canadian squad that has the hockey world shocked by their opening loss to Sweden.
"That's not good at all," said Marco Sturm, smiling and rolling his eyes.
"It's going to be a tough first period. I was surprised (by Canada's loss). I know Sweden is pretty good and they kind of know that big rink style but 5-2 is a big one. But it doesn't matter -- we know how good Canada is and they have to win this game, so they're going to come out hard."
Qualifying without the help of any NHLers, the Germans have added Sturm from San Jose and Jochen Hecht from Edmonton to bolster their lineup. However, no one in the German dressing room, including the coach, believes they'll provide enough firepower to give Canada the slimmest of problems.
"What we hope to do is learn a lot," said Zach, whose club gave up four powerplay goals in five chances against the Czechs.
"They play more physically and they're more technical than the Czech team so we're just going to make it difficult for them to score goals. We know Canada is a very motivated team, which makes it much, much harder."
Offensively, the Germans will look to their top line of Sturm, Kathan Klaus and St. Catharine's, Ont. native Leonard Socchio. Hecht plays on a line with Stefan Ustorf and Jurgen Rumrich.
Question marks surround the status of Washington Capitals netminder Olaf Kolzig, whose knee injury may keep him from playing his first Olympic game. If he's not ready, preliminary round starter Marc Selinger is solid enough to have sported a 1.00 GAA in three preliminary games.
"They'll want to make a big statement," said Hecht of the Canadians. "Sweden is one of the best teams. Canada is good, too, but it takes awhile to get the team together, especially on that big ice. Two guys (Sturm and himself) don't make much of a difference when you play a team like Canada."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
