On Tuesday, the German ice hockey team will play against France to qualify for the World Cup quarterfinals. The focus is again on NHL attacker Sturm. The late bloomer is the most important striker in the World Cup squad.
Best German World Cup goalscorer, secret captain and role model for the young players – Nico Sturm quickly earned his status as the most important attacker in the German ice hockey team.
After only ten international games for the 28-year-old NHL striker from the San Jose Sharks, it can be said: Without the Stanley Cup winner of 2022, the selection of the German Ice Hockey Association at the World Championships in Finland and Latvia would probably only be half as good.
“Nico is absolutely professional in preparation, in the weight room. We can see in the meetings how focused he is in preparation. He really is a role model for everyone here,” said national coach Harold Kreis before the last group game on Tuesday (11.20 Uhr/Sport1 and MagentaSport) against France. Then the Augsburger should play a decisive role again if the quarterfinals are to be made perfect.
Clear words and criticism
As the leader par excellence next to the actual captain Moritz Müller, Sturm swore the German team to the last mandatory task in Tampere before the start of the knockout round. “We have to be ready at this unusual time,” demanded Sturm. “It will be very unpleasant again. We want to go into the quarter-finals with a good feeling.”
Throughout the tournament, Sturm also addressed unpleasant things and sometimes criticized his teammates. That doesn’t harm his role in the team. Because Sturm also convinces with performance on the ice like no other. As in his entire career to date, the late bloomer also convinces with hard work. “Nico makes it relatively easy. He always marches,” said Sturm’s attacking partner Alexander Ehl (Düsseldorf).
His unpretentious game goes down well in the team. “I don’t have to score a point every game and it wasn’t a bad game if I wasn’t on the game report sheet,” said Sturm recently – to become Germany’s currently top scorer at the World Cup with five goals from six games so far to molt. “I mean, even without the goals, he’s a great asset to our team as a guy and the way he contributes to the game,” said Captain Müller.
Face-off specialist towers against Hungary
In the 7-2 win against Hungary, Sturm decided the game practically single-handedly. With the score at 1-0 in the second third, the face-off specialist defused a five-minute deficit with important puck wins and by repeatedly taking important time off the clock. After surviving outnumbered, his two-goal pack before the third siren then decided the game.
Even then there was plain text from him again: “My goals here are not magic goals. That’s how I earn my money, with goals like that. And not because I’m starting to dance some people out now.”
Hard work on the ice and no frills game learned Sturm in North America. He never played in Germany because he never really dared to become a professional – which he actually only managed to do at the age of 24. At college in the USA, he actually only played to finance his studies. However, the very thoughtful professional quickly realized that he would make it into the NHL with certain skills – for example at the face-off point or with consistent defensive work. This finally succeeded. And how.
Six million dollar contract in San Jose
In 2022 he won the Stanley Cup with Colorado and then signed a $6 million contract in San Jose. NHL world-class striker Leon Draisail now speaks with awe about his compatriot: “He worked hard to become a permanent fixture in the NHL.”
With the national team and Sturm, things had never worked out until April. He was either tied up in North America or injured. Only this year did it match the World Cup. In April he made his debut in the DEB jersey during preparation in Landshut against Austria. Much to the delight of national coach Kreis and Sturm’s teammates in the national team.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
