Overview
- The German Olympic Committee confirmed Draisaitl and ski jumper Katharina Schmid as flagbearers after winning internal athlete polling and a nationwide public vote exceeding 135,000 participants.
- Because Milan Cortina will stage a split-venue Parade of Athletes, Draisaitl will carry the flag in Milan while Schmid does so in Predazzo.
- Draisaitl is making his Olympic debut as the NHL returns to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014.
- Germany’s men’s hockey team opens against Denmark on Feb. 12 before facing Latvia on Feb. 14 and the United States on Feb. 15.
- Seven hockey players are set to serve as flagbearers across nations, including current NHLers David Pastrnak for Czechia and Nino Niederreiter for Switzerland.