The NHL will presumably soon organise another points game in Germany. “I expect to play a regular game of the season here in the near future,” Deputy NHL boss Bill Daly said before the duel between the Cologne sharks and the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. This should happen within the next five years.
In 2011 the Buffalo Sabres and the Los Angeles Kings (4:2) met in Berlin. Basically, the development in Germany with a successful national team and many professionals in North America is “important for the NHL. I hope it goes on like this. We will do what we can to help,” Daly said.
The Cologne guest appearance of the Oilers, who will open their season on Saturday in Gothenburg against the New Jersey Devils, is “a success”, said Daly. This had already been established before the beginning of the duel.
Franz Reindl, President of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), is also very pleased with the Oilers’ guest appearance with the sharks. “Of course it’s a highlight for us when the NHL serves here,” Reindl said before the duel.
The fact that national striker Leon Draisaitl will meet the Canadians at his home club and that his father Peter is also the coach behind the shark gang gives the matter “a little pepper”.
Leon Draisaitl’s development sees Reindl as “a kind of heroic story. He has run through all our youth teams and was a leader in every team. We are proud.” His example shows that “all efforts are worthwhile. That’s good for our program.”
“He’s a special boy. There’s more to come,” said national coach Marco Sturm about Draisaitl. Germany could learn a lot from the NHL. “Not only playfully, but all that’s around is the best there is. We can take something with us.”