Germany show improving form at exhibition games

With just under 50 days to go until they take to the ice at the 2017 World Para Ice Hockey World Championships A-Pool, Germany claimed their first victory against Norway in 19 years at a series of exhibition games.

Whilst two out of three games, held in Skien, Norway, between 17-19 February, were won by the Norwegians, Germany will be encouraged by their historic 2-1 win.

Norway claimed the opening game on Friday (17 February) 3-2 on penalties after three scoreless periods.

However in the second match on Saturday (18 February), the Germans came back from 1-0 down for the victory. In the third period, Bernhard Haering and Jorg Wedde netted two goals and celebrated their first win over Norway in nearly two decades.

The Norwegians were much more consistent in the third and final game of the series on Sunday (19 February), scoring a goal in each period for another 3-2 win.

Despite a spirited performance from their opposition in the third stanza, scoring two goals including another from Wedde, Norway held onto their lead to take the game and overall exhibition series with two wins.

Both Germany and Norway are hoping to qualify directly for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games at the 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool.

The competition in Gangneung, South Korea, will see the top five teams directly qualify for the Winter Paralympics.

World and Paralympic champions the USA, Worlds silver medallists Canada, Italy, South Korea and Sweden are amongst the other teams expected to compete between 11-20 April. The tournament will also act as the Test Event for PyeongChang 2018.