Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

After Team Germany's 2003 WJC B-Team entry managed to win their way back into the A group of World Junior Championship play, the motto for this year's WJC is to simply do everything in their power to retain that spot in the A Group.  This will obviously be a difficult task, and the German U-20 entry is the odds on favorite to be relegated once again.  However, the young German team coached by Ernst Hofner believes it can handle this task and surprise a few of the teams in close competition, namely Belarus and Switzerland. 

One of the advantages this defensively minded team has is that many of its youngsters are currently active for successful teams in Germany's top league, which features a great many former NHL and AHL players.  This regular play against experienced men as well as the tutoring they receive from such players on their various teams has these youngsters believing they're up to the task at hand.

It won't be easy and the Germans will need goalie Thomas Greiss to prove he was deservedly drafted by San Jose in the third round of the 2004 draft.  A big performance from him should go a long way in keeping Germany in the A group.  Although he is one of only two Germans in this tournament who have been drafted thus far, he hasn't received a great deal of ice time this season having played second fiddle to Cologne's starter Chris Rogles. 

The other NHL draftee, forward Kai Hospelt (again by San Jose) is coming off a torn ACL, which was first operated upon in August.  It isn't yet certain what role he will play in this tournament, if any whatsoever, after not having seen any ice time since the operation. 

Fortunately for Germany, there are several other players who have been on NHL scouts’ radar screens in the past or during this season.  Last summer, backup goalie Youri Ziffzer and forward Marcus Kink were among Germany's top 3 draft possibilities.  Kink in particular will be counted on to make the biggest offensive contribution for this team having gathered 11 points in 5 games in last seasons B U-20, although he is currently mired in a defensive role as a fourth line center for his club team Mannheim.  However, teammate Fabio Carciola is having a wonderful season and is being looked at as the team's secret offensive weapon, if indeed Germany should have one. 

The team's youngest player is Felix Schutz and many think he has a bright future internationally, despite his current 5’10, 175 lbs frame.  Other forwards of note are Sachar Blank, André Rankel, and Florian Busch.  On defense, the team's most notable are the Berlin Polar Bears' pair Jens Baxmann and Tobias Draxinger.  Germany is also high on youngster Moritz Muller.  In whole, the defensive corps is relatively unknown and may very well be out of its league in this tournament. 

Germany's philosophy in this tournament will be a defensive one.  It's well known that teams lacking in offensive punch must often put defensive systems into use, which could lead to a few boring yet effective games on behalf of the Germans.  Having former NHL defenseman Uwe Krupp as an assistant coach in the cards certainly lends credence to this prediction.  The players themselves are all currently playing in leagues against chiseled veterans and will be anything other than lacking in toughness.  In addition, the team possesses a strong skating game which should keep them in most games. Look for Germany to pressure opponents into trying to develop things offensively while the Germans will be in a system-destruction mode.   A clutch and grab, grind-out-the-opponent mentality will be the key to any positive results Germany pulls out of this WJC.  Germany will face quality of the opponents in their group, which includes traditional hockey powers Finland, Canada, Sweden and Slovakia.

In any case, keep an eye on Team Germany who managed to tie the Czech Republic 3-3 in preliminary play.  Several of the players in this line-up could very well be making a move up the scout's charts after this tournament.

Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future.  Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.