MUNICH – The German national team will be boosted with Buffalo veteran Jochen Hecht and Ottawa defenceman Christoph Schubert, the German Ice Hockey Association confirmed on Wednesday.

The addition of the duo means that two of the six NHL candidates will play for Uwe Krupp’s team.

The 31-year-old veteran forward Jochen Hecht had 12 goals and 15 assists in 70 games with Buffalo. The 27-year-old defenceman Schubert played 50 games this year, but was often and healthy scratch at the end of the season.

Hecht hasn’t played for Germany since the 2005 World Championship where Germany was relegated, while Schubert was with the team last year in Halifax. Both players will join the team after the exhibition games this week.

Marco Sturm will not be on the roster due to a knee injury, while Marcel Goc,  Christian Ehrhoff and Dennis Seidenberg are in the playoffs.

Germany plays in Berne on opening day against reigning world champion Russia before facing France and Switzerland.