2026 World Juniors Preview: Germany just hopes to stick around

Germany has stuck around in the top division of the World Juniors for the past five years – something that started thanks to the likes of Moritz Seider, Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka and Lukas Reichel back in 2020.

That was easily the best German junior hockey roster ever assembled. The 2026 team is a far cry from the powerhouse that took on the world in Ostrava and Třinec, Czechia. They’ve managed to hold on year after year, with the U-18 team even qualifying for the quarterfinal twice since 2022. For teams like Germany, one high-end prospect can make a difference. They might have one, albeit someone who isn’t eligible until the 2027 draft. More on him later.

Here’s a breakdown of a German team hoping to avoid the relegation round in Minnesota:

Looking Back to 2025

Germany is always in a tough spot at the World Juniors, and the 2025 edition was no different. They started with an ugly 10-4 loss to the United States before tightening it up with a 3-1 loss to the Finns. They played well against Canada, holding them to just one goal through 55 minutes of play (a night that proved Canada was in trouble). That gave the Germans some hope going up against Latvia, only to lose 4-3 in overtime – a heartbreaker, especially after the Germans took an early lead.

That loss sent the Germans to the relegation round – a one-game, loser-says-bye-bye effort to rule them all. The Germans managed to edge Kazakhstan 4-3 thanks to a power-play goal with just more than 15 minutes left to go, avoiding a trip down to Division IA for the sixth straight year.

Goaltenders

Germany might not have a future NHL goaltender between the pipes, but it does have three with solid international track records. All of them are playing well right now, too, which doesn’t hurt.

After backstopping the Germans a year ago – and playing quite well – Linus Vieillard is back for a second shot at glory. The Spokane Chiefs goalie has been busy in his first season in North America, and scouts have noticed. His numbers aren’t anything to get too excited about, but there’s been a handful of occasions where he was the reason why the Chiefs came out on top (or didn’t get blown out, in other cases). He’s a quick goaltender who reads plays through traffic well, and he should be one of Germany’s most important players.

Lukas Stuhrmann was Germany’s goalie at the U-18s last year, and, like Vieillard, was quite impressive. He has primarily played in the Finnish U-20 league, where he has put up solid numbers on a terrible Roki squad. He’s a bit too small, but he’s very competitive and seems to handle pressure well. Lennart Neiße was one of Germany’s backups a year ago and was a big reason why Germany advanced to the top U-18 tournament for 2025. He made the unusual jump of playing Junior B hockey in Ontario to pro hockey in Germany, but he’s been good in the second-tier DEL.

Defensemen

This, by a long shot, is Germany’s weakest position. There isn’t much depth to go around, and, truthfully, they’re not quick enough for a tournament like this. Like last year, the D-corps revolves around Carlos Händel (Montreal Canadiens). He was solid last year and then followed it up with a great showing as captain at the U-18s. He’ll never be a big-time offensive threat (he’s tracking for 30 points in the QMJHL), but he can shut down bigger opponents and knows how to run a power play. Defensively, Händel’s game is in a good spot. I know some scouts don’t think there’s an NHL future here, but at a tournament like this, Händel will be crucial to Germany’s success.

The rest of the blueline is quite large, with Max Bleicher being the lone blueliner standing below six feet. Bleicher had a strong U-18 World Championship, showing good hockey sense and puck skills. Max Hense (6-foot-3) loves to get physical, although his game is more about shutting opponents down. He struggled at points during last year’s tournament, but his game is more refined in his second season with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters. Fabio Kose, meanwhile, should be the big bruiser on the blueline, especially after a promising first half against men in the top German league.

Pro experience never hurts, and Moritz Kretzschmar has been hanging out in both the DEL and DEL2 in 2025-26. Kretzschmar can be more of a calm presence alongside someone like Händel or Bleicher, if needed. Both Nick Mähler and Finn Serikow can provide physicality, while Manuel Schams can block shots and kill penalties.

Forwards

The Germans have a handful of familiar names if you’re a fan of junior international tournaments. But what they lack is a true difference-maker – someone with clear offensive talent and the ability to take shifts over.

Could that be 2009-born forward Max Penkin? The 16-year-old is widely regarded as the next top German prospect, and he’s already making noise while playing against men in the DEL. Add in great numbers against U-20 competition and all his international experience already and he has an impressive CV for someone his age.

In terms of NHL prospects, both David Lewandowski (Edmonton Oilers) and Maxim Schäfer (Washington Capitals) will be relied on heavily. Lewandowski has been productive in the WHL, mostly as a playmaker. Give him a goal-scorer to work with and he’ll make magic. The internet scouting community loves Schäfer, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a 6-foot-4 forward who moves well and is impossible to budge in front of the net. Unlike many other big forwards, Schäfer doesn’t play a heavy physical game – and that’s because he beats players with his speed and mobility. He’s so difficult to push out around the net and he’s got the power behind the shot to make him extremely dangerous.

Elias Schneider made the jump to the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes and instantly became one of the team’s top forwards. He has a decent shot, but it’s his energetic nature and willingness to chase after everyone that make him dangerous. I expect him to be Germany’s top center unless Penkin has a pre-tournament for the ages.

One of the most impressive players at the 2025 U-18 World Championship was the small but mighty Dustin Willhöft. He registered five points in a three-game stretch and proved to be almost too slippery for even the tournament’s top defenders to deal with. But at 5-foot-7, how will he fare against the big blueliners from USA or Sweden? Regardless, look for him to be one of Germany’s more impactful forwards. Willhöft played well alongside Gustavs Griva throughout 2024-25, both internationally and domestically. Griva will be without his twin brother, Rihards, who is not on the team. But fortunately for the Germans, Gustavs has enough energy for both of them.

As for the supporting cast, Nick Maul not only has a good name, but he also brings a good work ethic, something he showcased a year ago. Elias Pul hasn’t produced much in the WHL, but he can hold his own defensively. And then there’s Simon Seidl, who looked decent at this event a year ago and has plenty of pro experience under his belt this year.

Projection

The Germans will be tested in Group A, especially in the opener against the United States. They’ll get plenty of quality practice, though, thanks to facing off against Finland and the Americans in the pre-tournament. They’ll have winnable games against Slovakia and Switzerland, but they can’t afford to drop any points against either of them. Germany should be able to hold their own against Denmark in the relegation game if needed, but they’d rather take the pressure off and skip to the quarterfinal instead.

Schedule

Dec. 19 vs. Finland: 8:00 PM ET (Pre-tournament)
Dec. 21 vs. USA: 5:00 PM ET (Pre-tournament)
Dec. 26 vs. USA: 6:00 PM ET
Dec. 27 vs. Slovakia: 2:00 PM ET
Dec. 29 vs. Sweden: 2:00 PM ET
Dec. 30 vs. Switzerland: 2:00 PM ET

NHL Prospects

Forwards:
David Lewandowski (Edmonton Oilers)
Maxim Schafer (Washington Capitals)

Defensemen:
Carlos Händel (Montreal Canadiens)

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