March 28, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (18) gets checked by Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) during the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will venture to Germany for a pair of showdowns next season, the NHL announced Friday.
The PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf will host the NHL Global Series showdown on December 18 and 20, just before the league’s annual Christmas break.
The game stems from a joint commitment between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association to grow hockey in Germany, one of the most populous countries in Europe. The German men’s team recently placed sixth at the Milan Winter Olympics.
A cornerstone of Germany’s lineup, 24-year-old center Tim Stützle is the Senators’ leading scorer with 70 points (30 goals, 40 assists) in 64 games.
“I think German hockey has grown a lot and there are a lot of great players from Germany,” said Stutzle, a Viersen native and one of seven active German NHL players.
“And now that (the NHL) has committed to playing games there and supporting the kids as well, that’s huge. I hope more people will be able to play hockey in Germany. It’s really exciting news.”
The Blackhawks counter with Canadian phenom kid Connor Bedard, who leads the team in assists (35) and points (62).
“I think the whole team was very excited when we found out,” said Bedard, a 20-year-old center. “This is a great opportunity for us. We’re excited just to spread (the game) to other parts of the world and showcase our skills and what we do here.”
Germany played one regular season game in 2011, when the Buffalo Sabers beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Berlin. Chicago defeated regional powerhouse Eisbaren Berlin 3-1 in a 2019 preseason exhibition.
In 2023, Stutzle led Ottawa to wins over the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild in a Global Series game in Stockholm, Sweden.
“From a team perspective, this is a really good thing for us, because we get to showcase one of our stars in Europe,” Senators president Cyril Leeder said. “Hockey is now a global game. Among team sports, soccer and hockey are probably the second best in the world. You know, we now have fans following our team in Germany, in Sweden, all over the world.”
–Field level media
