Only because it is the organiser of this championship and is one of the major financial investors in international ice hockey events makes Germany participating in this tournament. The times when the team was potent enough to allow chances for positively surprising against stronger teams, are over since 15 years ore longer. Today, it is B if not C grade only, and in principle should not play in the international top league. That it is a world record to have 76200 people as a life audience for a hockey game will not change the most likely outcome: that the biggest ice cream parlor in the world will be just the scenery for the other teams just rolling over the Germans at will.
I'm supporting the American and the Canadian team. Want to see them in final again.
The German matches I will not even watch.