Overview
- André Rankel announced his first senior roster for the Deutschland Cup, selecting Augsburg Panther forwards Alexander Blank and Tim Wohlgemuth plus goalie Tobias Ancicka.
- The squad also includes several debutants, notably 17-year-old Max Calce and Eisbären Berlin keeper Jonas Neffin, with Ancicka listed among three competing goalkeepers.
- Ancicka arrives with strong recent form—about a 93 percent save rate that ranks in the DEL—but faces stiffer statistical competition from peers such as Jonas Neffin and other top German netminders.
- Germany will use the Deutschland Cup in Düsseldorf (5–8 November) to start work with Rankel’s staff, test tactical structures and give fringe players live international minutes against Austria, Latvia and Slovakia.
- The selection follows Germany’s group-stage exit at the 2026 World Championship and continued scrutiny of DEB choices, with several Augsburg players previously invited to WM camps but omitted from that final roster.