This question concerns ice hockey Germany: How is Marco Nowak (31)?
In the 1: 5 debacle against Canada at the start of the Olympics, the Dusseldorfer was checked by Eric O’Dell (31) immediately before the 0: 1 and initially remained on the ice. He then drove into the dressing room and didn’t come back until the end of the game.
Captain Moritz Müller (35): “That’s usually not a good sign. We haven’t found out how he’s doing.” BILD now found out: Nowak was able to spend the night in the Olympic Village, so he didn’t have to go to the hospital and is said to have gotten off lightly.
The native of Dresden, who plays in the DEL for Düsseldorfer EG, wants to be there again on Saturday (9.40 a.m.) against China, but missed training on Friday. Therefore, it is understood that he will not play for the time being.
National coach Toni Söderholm (43): “You can evaluate the check from different perspectives. The referee said it wasn’t a foul, what else can you do?”
Striker Patrick Hager (33): “Internationally, they just drive through. What matters is where the first contact was. But that was not visible in the video. If it was on the chest it was a good check, if it was on the head it wasn’t a good check. Very easily.”
Photo: JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/marco-nowak-fallt-aufs-eis-das-Faellt-ist-sofort-schmerzverzerrt-f4f51fef4c194c9d80b6428d9f45b2ab-79114014/Bild/6.bild. jpeg”/> Marco Nowak falls on the ice. The face is immediately contorted in painPhoto: JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS
The fact is: Both drove towards each other, so it wasn’t a bad check from behind or from the side. The stick wasn’t involved either. Still, it’s possible that Nowak didn’t see O’Dell coming or saw it very late because he had the puck between his feet and was looking down.
If Germany makes it to the quarter-finals, Nowak should then be operational again at the latest.