27-year-old goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who was the number one at the end of the season in the Colorado Avalanche’s net, will join the German national team for the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.



Grubauer is expected to land in Kosice on Sunday and the practise first time with the team on Monday.



“We get a player who in the past few months has been one of the best NHL goaltenders,” said German national team head coach Toni Soderholm. “He’s a strong personality who’s good for the dressing room and supports the team. His commitment is a very good thing for us on all level.”



Gruber played 39 regular-season games (91.7% save percentage) and all 12 playoff games (92.5%) for the Colorado Avalanche this season. The native of Rosenheim had joined the Avalanche in the off-season after a trade and six years in the Washington Capitals organization and winning the 2018 Stanley Cup as backup goalie.



It will be Grubauer’s second IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship after playing in 2014 and 2017 on home ice in Cologne.



Germany has already registered two other goaltenders with Mathias Niederberger and Niklas Treutle. Goaltender Dustin Strahlmeier, who has been practising with the team as third goaltender, will therefore not be registered and leave the team.