Germany’s last roster for the 2020 World Junior Championships has been determined. The expertise is there, however is there sufficient of it to make this staff a viable one?
The hope is that head coach Tobias Abstreiter’s roster has the efficiency to maintain them within the Prime Division for at the very least one other yr. Their top-end expertise makes them a staff that shouldn’t be taken flippantly, and they’re seem able to pulling off some surprises alongside the way in which.
Germany has named its last roster for the 2020 World Junior Championships.
The Germans haven’t performed on this elite grouping of hockey nations since 2015’s tourney in Toronto and Montreal. 2020 doesn’t see them in a really enviable spot. The Germans discover themselves nestled inside the Group B powerhouses of USA, Canada, Russia and the internet hosting Czech Republic.
No matter the place they find yourself ending within the last standings, Germany would be the “enjoyable” staff to observe in Ostrava and Třinec. There are a selection of gamers on this staff – Moritz Seider, Tim Stützle, and Dominik Bokk – who will sometime grace the NHL, and are potential stars.
THW summarizes Germany’s last roster and the way these gamers will affect their nation’s possibilities on this event.
Goaltending
Hendrik Hane (Dusseldorfer EG), Tobias Ancicka (Lukko Rauma), Philipp Maurer (EV Landshut).
This will likely be Hendrik Hane’s third and last U20 event. The spry netminder has performed for Germany’s U20 staff since 2018 and was merely good in internet throughout final yr’s gold medal win in Füssen. Hane performed in all 5 video games for his nation, and within the course of garnered the highest targets in opposition to common (zero.98), high save share (.949) and the Finest Goaltender honors. Extra importantly, Hane’s efficiency helped vault the Germans into the 2020 Prime Division. There isn’t a actual shock that he was chosen to man the crease but once more, and he’s prone to see the majority of the workload.
At 6-foot-1 and over 180 kilos, Tobias Ancicka is the biggest of the three German goalies, however he’s additionally the youngest. Not turning 19 till the top of February, Ancicka has performed in internet for the U18 squad the previous two years. He noticed about half of the motion each in 2018 and 2019, and subsequently helped backstop Germany to a silver and gold respectively. This present 2019-20 season Ancicka has performed for Lukko’s U20 staff in Finland, placing up a 2.35 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 video games. Taking part in time within the Czech Republic may show vital, as he would be the solely goalie on the staff who may probably return in 2021.
Philipp Maurer is of comparable measurement to Ancicka, and we envision him dealing with the tertiary goaltending position for Germany. Maurer simply turned 19 years outdated on Dec. 2. Having by no means been beforehand named to an IIHF U20 event, that is his solely alternative for doing so. Maurer has performed the vast majority of his time within the Deutsche Nachwuchsliga (DNL) – the elite junior league in Germany – with occasional appearances within the nation’s third tier stage of hockey, the Oberliga.
Protection
Moritz Seider (Grand Rapids Griffins), Alexander Dersch (Dusseldorfer EG), Eric Mik (Lausitzer Fusche), Niklas Heinzinger (Tolzer Lowen), Daniel Wirt (Lowen Frankfurt), Philipp Mass (Purple Bull Hockey Academy), Leon Hüttl (Lowen Frankfurt).
The Germans opted to go along with seven blue liners, all of whom possess good measurement.
Moritz Seider is the quintessential part for this staff. He’s an enormous younger man, standing at 6-foot-Four and simply shy of 200 kilos. The Detroit Purple Wings’ opening choice (sixth general) this previous summer season, Seider captained his staff to gold in 2019’s Division I-A U20 championship. Seider was named the event’s Finest Defender whereas additionally having probably the most factors amongst all blueliners (1-6-7). With seemingly no weak spot to his sport, count on him to garner some nods for Finest Defender this time round too.
At 6-foot-Four and 190 kilos, Alexander Dersch is one other sizable defenseman for the Germans. At 19 years of age, Dersch is competing in his first ever U20 event for his nation. Lanky, lithe and possessing a right-handed shot, he excels extra in his personal zone. Quebec Main Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) followers might acknowledge Dersch from his 2018-19 season with the Charlottetown Islanders the place he performed 53 common season video games and recorded 10 assists. Dersch will primarily be utilized in a shutdown style and to guard across the German internet.
Like Dersch, this may also be 19-year-old Eric Mik’s one and solely alternative to play a event for the U20 staff. Mik will flip 20 years outdated on Feb. 28, and has solely ever performed in a single IIHF U18 event (2018) beforehand for his nation. He stands 6-foot and 183 kilos, and is one in every of solely three defenders on the staff with a left-handed shot. Mik has performed 27 video games and gone 1-7-Eight in scoring for Lausitzer Fusche (DEL 2), within the second tier German hockey league this season.
Forwards
Dominik Bokk (Rogle Angelholm), Lukas Reichel (Eisbären Berlin), Tim Fleischer (Iserlohn Roosters), John-Jason Peterka (EHC Purple Bull Munich), Tim Stützle (Adler Mannheim), Justin Schütz (EHC Purple Bull Munich), Dennis Lobach (EHC Purple Bull Munich), Luis Schinko (Lowen Frankfurt), Louis Brune (Heilbronner Falken), Nino Kinder (Winnipeg Ice), Yannik Valenti (Heilbronner Falken), Taro Jentzsch (Sherbrooke Phoenix), Jan Nijenhuis (Grizzlys Wolfsburg).
Taro Jentzsch has performed two straight seasons within the QMJHL for the Sherbrooke Phoenix. At 6-foot-2 and 165 kilos, he has a skinny construct however is a artful playmaker. By way of 80 profession video games with Sherbrooke, Jentzsch has notched 25 targets, 38 assists and 63 factors. Final yr’s gold medal-run in Füssen noticed him rating 4 targets in 5 video games. Three of these targets have been a hat-trick by Jentzsch within the last sport of the event – a 6-1 win over France on Dec. 15, 2018.
Winger Dominik Bokk might should be German’s most heavy gun at this event. A 2018 opening-round choice by the St. Louis Blues, he’s at the moment underneath contract with the Carolina Hurricanes after coming over in a commerce. At 19 years of age, Bokk is taking part in in his third and last U20 event for Germany. He served as an alternate captain eventually yr’s Division I-A contest in Füssen. There Bokk was a part of Germany’s gold medal-winning squad, and had probably the most assists (7) and factors (Eight) amongst all skaters. At 6-foot-2 and over 180 kilos, he possesses very fast palms and is a stable passer.
Germany’s Dominik Bokk is at the moment taking part in in Sweden’s SHL for Rögle BK (Picture Credit score: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN).
Tim Stützle is being heralded as hockey’s subsequent Leon Draisaitl. Simply 17 years of age, most specialists have him slated to go inside the top-10 picks of the 2020 NHL Draft. Stützle is 5-18-23 in 25 video games for Adler Mannheim this present 2019-20 Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) season. Taking part in in his first U20 event, he went Three-10-13 in scoring in 10 event video games performed in IIHF U18s.
Lukas Reichel is a well-known identify for followers. His uncle Robert scored nicely over 600 factors within the NHL. His nephew will now be taking part in in his first U20 event, and is already having a profitable season in Berlin. Reichel is Eight-7-15 by way of 24 video games within the high German league. He additionally was a point-per-game participant (Three-2-5 in 5 video games) in final yr’s U18 Division I-A event.
The Backside Line
We imagine the Germans have what it takes to stave-off relegation, and make a return in 2021. The expertise of gamers like Bokk, Seider, and Stützle is what is going to make them satisfying for followers to behold, and will see them generate an upset or two. In reality, an upset from this staff virtually appears sure to occur.
Tim Stützle of Adler Mannheim is slated to be hockey’s subsequent Leon Draisaitl (Picture Credit score: Simon Hastegård/Bildbyrån).
For our German followers although, the concern can be that gamers resembling Mik, Dersch, Maurer and others merely do not need quite a lot of worldwide event expertise. That’s the place the dearth of depth is available in, and finally hurts this membership.
We don’t anticipate them to medal, however they’ll make issues fascinating for positive. Search for the Germans to finally end ninth and retain their high division standing.
All of the 2020 World Junior Championship Crew Data:
*Hyperlinks to come back all through December
Canada — Crew Preview — Roster
Czech Republic — Crew Preview — Roster
Finland — Crew Preview — Roster
Germany — Crew Preview — Roster
Kazakhstan — Crew Preview — Roster
Russia — Crew Preview — Roster
Slovakia — Crew Preview — Roster
Sweden — Crew Preview — Roster
Switzerland — Crew Preview — Roster
USA — Crew Preview — Roster
Choice Camp Invitations by NHL Crew
Roster Breakdowns by NHL Crew
All Your THW 2020 World Junior Championship Protection
