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Eishockey Leon Draisaitl
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Ice hockey

Regarded as the fastest team sport, the North American NHL is considered the world's top league. There are also pro leagues in Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and Slovakia.

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All Content on this topic

Köln Eishockey WM 2017 USA Deutschland

Germany get off to perfect start at ice hockey worlds

Cohosts Germany have pulled off a major upset at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, beating the United States 2-1.
SportsMay 6, 2017
Eishockey Nationalmannschaft Testspiel Deutschland - Lettland

Germany aim to 'take step forward' at ice hockey worlds

The Ice Hockey World Championship opens this Friday with games in both Cologne and Paris.
SportsMay 4, 2017
Eishockey-WM Weltmeisterschaft 2010 - Deutschland

Germany's ups and downs in international ice hockey

As Germany join France in co-hosting the 2017 worlds, DW looks back at some of the national team's memorable moments.
SportsMay 2, 201711 images
Olympische Winterspiele Sotschi Eishockey Schweden gegen Kanada

NHL players won't take part in 2018 Olympics

The NHLwill not adjust its regular season next year, meaning a host of top players will miss the 2018 Winter Olympics.
SportsApril 4, 2017
Norwegische Eishockey-Teams mit Rekord

Norwegian teams set record for longest ice hockey game

Two Norwegian teams have produced the longest game in the history of ice hockey.
SportsMarch 13, 2017
Eisbaeren Berlin - Pressekonferenz

Eisbären Berlin now under supervision of LA Kings

The NHL's Los Angeles Kings have taken control of Eisbären Berlin of the German Ice Hockey League.
SportsFebruary 21, 2017
Eishockey Olympia-Qualifikation Lettland - Deutschland

Germany qualifies for Pyeongchang 2018

Germany needed to beat Latvia to ensure qualification for the Winter Olympics in 2018.
September 4, 2016
Deutschland Mahnwache für Hamburg Freezers

Bid to save Freezers ice hockey team fails

This came despite the fundraising efforts led by the team's captain, former NHL player Christoph Schubert.
May 25, 2016
Deutschland Hamburg Eishockeyspie Zuschauerränge

Schubert fights to save Freezers ice hockey team

The campaign to save the Hamburg Freezers has just 24 hours to raise hundreds of thousands of euros.
May 24, 2016
Moskau Eishockey WM Kanada Finnland Jubel

Canada beat Finland 2-0 to retain world ice hockey title

Canada clinched a second straight world ice hockey championship triumph when they overpowered Finland 2-0 in Moscow.
May 22, 2016
Eishockey-WM 2016 Finnland - Russland Sebastian Aho

Canada to play Finland in ice hockey worlds final

Canada will face Finland in the ice hockey world championship final after the holders edged the United States
May 21, 2016
Russland Eishockey-WM Ungarn vs. Deutschland

German ice hockey team face hosts Russia

Germany are in the quarterfinals of the world ice hockey championship, but will face Russia as underdogs.
May 17, 2016
Russland St. Petersburg Eishockey WM Deutschland - USA

Germany beat US

Germany took a huge step toward quarterfinal qualification with a 3-2 win over the US.
May 15, 2016
Eishockey IIHF Weltmeisterschaft 2016 Kanada - Deutschland

Canada beat Germany

Title holders Canada needed everything they had to earn a 5-2 victory of Germany at the Ice Hockey World Championships.
May 12, 2016
Eishockey WM Sankt Petersburg Slowakei vs Deutschland

Germany Win

Germany finally got off the mark at the Ice Hockey World Championships, beating Slovakia.
May 10, 2016
Russland Eishockey Weltmeisterschaft 2016 Finnland vs Deutschland

Finland thrash Germany

Germany have suffered their second defeat at the Ice Hockey World Championships, going down meekly against Finland.
May 8, 2016
IIHF Eishockey Weltmeisterschaft Deutschland - Frankreich

Germany lose hockey opener

Germany began the Ice Hockey World Championship with a dramatic defeat to France.
May 7, 2016
Canada ice hockey players celebrate winning the 2015 world championships

Canada win ice hockey worlds

The Olympic champions have followed up their success in Sochi with a win in Prague.
May 18, 2015
Tschechien Eishockey WM Deutschland vs. Tschechien

Germany out of Hockey World Champs

Germany are out of the Ice Hockey World Championships after losing to Czechs.
May 10, 2015
Eishockey WM - Deutschland vs Lettland

Germany beat Latvia

Germany come back to beat Latvia 2-1.
May 8, 2015
Tschechien Eishockey WM Deutschland vs. Schweden

Germany lose again at worlds

Germany were beaten by a single goal against Sweden at the Ice Hockey World Championships
May 7, 2015
Tschechien Prag Eishockey IIHF Weltmeisterschaft Schweiz vs. Deutschland

Switzerland beat Germany

Switzerland beat Germany in the qualifiers for the Ice Hockey World Championship
May 5, 2015
Eishockey WM Deutschland - Frankreich

Germany gets slim ice hockey victory over France

Germany has got off to a winning start at the Ice Hockey World Championship in the Czech Republic.
May 3, 2015
DEL Eishockey Finale ERC Ingolstadt Adler Mannheim

Adler Mannheim win game six for title number seven

Adler Mannheim have won the German ice hockey title, beating defending champions Ingolstadt ERC 3-1 in game six .
April 22, 2015
Eishockey-Trainer Viktor Tichonow 1985

Legendary Soviet ice hockey coach Tikhonov dies

Russian ice hockey has suffered an 'irreplaceable' loss with the death of legendary coach Viktor Tikhonov. The bench boss of the 'Big Red Machine' passed away at the age of 84.
November 25, 2014
Leon Draisaitl

The German Gretzky?

It's been a baptism of fire for German-born youngster Leon Draisaitl in the world's toughest league.
November 14, 2014
Eishockey WM Endspiel Russland Finnland in Minsk

Russia world champions

Russia have beaten Finland 5-2 in the final of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus. Goals from NHL stars Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin propelled the Russians to their 27th gold medal.
May 25, 2014
Canadian players celebrate winning gold

Canada wins hockey gold

Canada has won the gold medal in men’s ice hockey, the last event of the Sochi Winter Olympics. The Canadians beat Sweden 3-0 in the final.
February 23, 2014
Carey Price

Gold medal game

As the Sochi Olympics draw to an end, one gold medal remains to be awarded – for men’s ice hockey. There was controversy before the first puck was dropped, as the selection of the officials had some Swedes crying foul.
February 23, 2014
Olympische Winterspiele Sotschi Eishockey USA Kanada

Canada to face Sweden in final

The scene has been set for one of the premiere events of the Olympics, after Canada defeated the US to reach the gold medal game in the men’s ice hockey tournament. They are to face Sweden in the final.
February 21, 2014
Canada star Sidney Crosby. Photo: Reuters

Best of enemies square off

The second semi-final of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Sochi Olympics features a replay of the Vancouver final. Although the United States will be out for revenge, the real pressure is on Canada’s forwards.
February 21, 2014
Magnus Hovdal Moan of Norway, Christoph Bieler of Austria and Bjoern Kircheisen of Germany compete in the Nordic Combined Men's Team 4 x 5 km during day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on February 20. Photo: Getty

Germany win Nordic silver

Germany has won silver in the men's Nordic combined at Sochi, falling to Norway in a thriller. Seventeen-year-old Russian Adelina Sotnikova has become her country's first-ever figure skating gold medalist.
February 20, 2014
Olympia 2014 Sotschi 19.2.2014

Bjoerndalen sets Olympic record

Norwegian Ole-Einar Bjoerndalen has become the most-successful winter Olympian after winning gold in the biathlon mixed relay. In hockey, it was disappointment for the hosts as the Russian men's team were eliminated.
February 19, 2014
Russia's Alexander Ovechkin (R) falls while driving to the net against Norway's goalie Lars Haugen during the third period of their men's qualification round ice hockey game at the 2014 Sochi Winter. Photo: Reuters

Russia still alive on ice

Russia's push for gold in the men's ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics remains alive, despite another uncomfortable match. The host nation's under-pressure side overcame a slow start to eliminate Norway 4-0.
February 18, 2014

Ski jumping gold for Germany

Germany has won team gold in Olympic ski jumping at the Sochi Winter Olympics bringing the country’s overall gold count to seven. Meanwhile, the US won its first-ever ice dancing gold, setting a new world record score.
February 17, 2014
Russian hockey team at the press conference

Nothing but gold will do

In Sochi, Russia's hockey team is aiming to make amends for an embarrassing exit from the Olympic tournament four years ago. A Soviet legend has sought to inspire them with a tale of redemption from his own career.
February 11, 2014
Germany v France at the 2013 ice hockey championships. Photo: LEHTIKUVA / Jussi Nukari.

Ice hockey 2017 in Cologne

Germany and France are to co-host the 2017 ice hockey world championships. Cologne is to be the main venue and will host the championship match.
May 17, 2013
Germany's Christian Ehrhoff (L) celebrates his winning goal with teammate Marcel Goc during overtime in their 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round match against France at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki May 14, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Grigory Dukor)

Ousted Germany beat France

The German players knew before faceoff against France that their world championship dreams were over. After watching Slovakia celebrate at their expense, Germany bowed out with an overtime win against France.
May 14, 2013
US forward Bobby Butler (L) celebrate scoring next to Germany's defender Justin Krueger during the preliminary round match Germany vs USA at the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship in Helsinki on May 12, 2013. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

US dispatch Germany

The US have beaten Germany 3-0 at the ice hockey World Championship. The heavy defeat was an unfortunate setback for the Germans, but hope remains that they can reach the quarterfinals.
May 12, 2013
Germany's Patrick Hager (back, obscured) celebrates his goal with his teammates next to Latvia's goalie Kristers Gudlevskis during their 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round match at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki May 11, 2013. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Germany nabs second win

The German ice hockey team has kept their World Championship hopes alive after a 2-0 victory over Latvia. The result sets the stage for a crucial dual with the United States on Sunday.
May 11, 2013
Germany's players celebrate scoring during a preliminary round game Austria vs Germany of the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship in Helsinki on May 8, 2013. (Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Revenge on the ice

Germany eked out a 2-0 win over rivals Austria on the ice in Helsinki at the World Championships. German hopes stay slim despite the shot in the arm, but it was at least revenge for February Olympic heartbreak.
May 9, 2013
Florian Iberer of Austria (l) and Andre Rankel of Germany vie for the puck during the IIHF ice hockey Olympia qualification between Germany and Austria in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, 10 February 2013. Foto: Marijan Murat/dpa

No German men's team in Sochi

The German men's ice hockey team has failed to qualify for the Winter Olympics for the first time in decades, losing out to neighboring Austria. But Germany will still be able to root for their women's team in Sochi.
February 10, 2013
Germany's Christoph Schubert, Germany's goalkeeper Dennis Endras and Norway's Patrick Thoresen vie for the puck

Norway 12 Germany 4

Germany were demolished 12-4 by Norway in the world ice hockey championships. The result means that the national side misses out on a place in the quarterfinals.
May 14, 2012
Germany's goalkeeper Dennis Endras, right, and Sweden's Niklas Kronwall vie for the puck

Hockey: Sweden-Germany 5-2

Germany have suffered another defeat in the world ice hockey world championships group stages. Hosts Sweden secured a 5-2 victory, leaving Germany in need of a string of wins to move on to the quarterfinals.
May 10, 2012
Germany's Sebastian Furchner, left, and Russia's Alexei Yemelin, Russia's goalkeeper Semyon Varlamov, center, and Dmitri Kalinin, right, vie for the puck

Ice hockey: Russia 2-0 Germany

Germany has gone down 2-0 against heavy favorites Russia in the world ice hockey championships group stages. The German underdogs put up quite a fight, however, taking more shots than their Russian opponents.
May 8, 2012
People place flowers and other mementos at a makeshift memorial at Lokomotiv's stadium

Global tragedy

The world of hockey is mourning the loss of a Russian team that died in a plane crash.
September 8, 2011
Russia's Dimitri Kulikov and Yevgeni Nabokov fight with Germany's Andre Rankel

Historic victory

Perfect goaltending and a strong team performance gave Germany its first hockey win over Russia.
April 29, 2011
Slovak national ice hockey team players

Hockey nation

All eyes will be on the ice in Slovakia as the country hosts its first ice hockey World Championsip.
April 28, 2011
Huskies gather around the net before the opening face-off

From the brink to the rink

Instead of spelling ice hockey's demise in Kassel the DEL team's bankruptcy sparked a revival.
March 20, 2011
Czechs dethrone Russia to win world title

Bronze bust

Czech Republic wins World Ice Hockey Championship beating Russia 2-1. Germany misses out on bronze.
May 23, 2010