2013 U18 WJC Video: Tim Bender, Germany Photo: Germany is returning four players from last year’s U18 squad, including defenseman Tim Bender (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt/HF) Regardless of how the playoff round of the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship turns out for Germany, the fact they have extended themselves beyond the preliminary round and, most importantly, avoided the relegation round, has to be viewed as some measure of success for this developing hockey country. 2013 U18 WJC Playoffs: Canada, Russia could renew gold medal rivalry Photo: Forward Vladimir Tkachev has been the scoring star so far for Russia at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship (courtesy of Derek Leung/Getty Images) The preliminary round has come and gone at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship, and Groups A and B each featured one fairly dominant team. 2013 U18 WJC Video: Parker Tuomie, Germany Photo: German forward Parker Tuomie turned in a three-point performance in a big win for Germany at the 2013 U18 World Juniors (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt/HF) While forward Leon Draisaitl was the big story coming out of Germany's 6-3 win over Slovakia at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship, linemate Parker Tuomie turned in a solid offensive performance for his country, as well. Tuomie scored two goals and assisted on another for a 3-point effort in an important win for the Germans. 2013 U18 WJC: Two minutes with German U18 coach Jim Setters Article: Germany’s head coach for the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship, Jim Setters, talks about his team and their preparation for the WJC. As Germany’s U18 team wrapped up its 6-0 and 9-2 thrashing of Japan in two test games before heading to Sochi, coach Jim Setters was making his final decisions on who to bring to Russia. The decisions have come easier this year as Germany will be sporting a team that is expected to do a bit more than in years past, although it has finished sixth in the two most recent U18 tournaments. 2013 U18 WJC Preview: Germany hopes to build on improved U18 play
 Photo: Diminutive forward Dominik Kahun of the Sudbury Wolves will be one of the players that Germany will look towards for offense at the U18 (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images) In the past two years, Germany has managed to ice a U18 tournament entry that has competed strongly in finishing a solid sixth on both occasions. Along the way, the team was able to grab the odd unexpected point or push a favorite to the brink of defeat, for example, when it beat Russia 4-2 in 2012 or in its 5-4 and 4-3 losses to Russia and Canada respectively in 2011. |
