The German ice hockey juniors managed to stay in the league at the U20 World Championship in the USA.
For the third time in a row, national coach Tobias Abstreiter’s team won the relegation game against Denmark 8:4 (2:1, 2:2, 4:1) and will also compete in the top group at the next World Cup. In 2024 against Norway (5:4) and a year later against Kazakhstan (4:3), the ice hockey talents were also able to avert the threat of relegation.
There was no sign of the DEB juniors’ offensive weakness with five goals from four preliminary round matches against Denmark. After goals from David Lewandowski (4th minute) and Maxim Schäfer (8th), who both play in the Canadian junior league, the Abstreiter team was ahead 2-0. Germany also had the right answer to the Danes’ 1:2: Manuel Schams from the Kassel Huskies (23rd) and Simon Seidl from EV Landshut (25th) increased the score to 4:1.
Within just under three and a half minutes, Denmark was able to reduce the score to 3:4 in the middle third. Dustin Willhöft (46th) and again Schams (51st) ensured a three-goal lead. Although the Danes scored 4:6 (52nd), Lenny Boos from Düsseldorfer EG almost decided the match with the goal to make it 7:4 (53rd). Tobias Schwarz from Landshut was responsible for the final score of 8:4 shortly before the end (59.)