they beat titleholders frantz to clench a qualify class in macedonia on sunday. >> the defending champions couldn't believe it. france's first loss to germany since the 2000 world championship. the first half was a hard-fought affair but germany really came alive after the break. jumping in to a three-point lead and turning in its best performance so far. but the nation things evened up. that set up a dramatic finale and it was the german newcomers that proved the difference. stephen scored as germany netted five unanswered goals. france could not recover. in the final minute upping his tournament tally to six and secured was the 32-30 upset. >> it's a big day for ice hockey fans, especially fans of the national hockey league. the nhl which finally begins a occur tailed season that led to the league being closed down for 113 days. some of the players return to their home countries to stay in form. now, however, they are back. >> north american hockey fans have been sitting on the sidelines for months. now the players, including the washington exalings are back and rearing to go. alex ovech