The U.S. Junior National Team's first contest in the preliminary round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship takes place Thursday afternoon, with the U.S. holding an eight-game winning streak over the German squad.
The preliminary round of the 49th IIHF World Junior Championship begins Thursday in Ottawa, with the U.S. taking on Germany at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Team USA won both of its pre-tournament matchups last week, including a 6-2 win over Slovakia in Kingston, Ont. Saturday and a 5-2 triumph over Finland in Cornwall, Ont. Monday.
The U.S. is looking to capture a second consecutive gold medal after taking the 2024 WJC with a 6-1-0-0 record. They come into this year’s tournament with an overall 162-12-6-121-11 mark and have graced the podium 15 times (six gold medals, two silver and seven bronze).
On Christmas Day, the team took photographs before holding its first practice at the Canadian Tire Centre. They also took part in a Christmas/Hanukkah dinner at the hotel, complete with a Secret Santa gift exchange among the players.
The game with Germany is the first of four preliminary round contests for Team USA, who joins Finland, Canada, Latvia and Germany in Group A. The U.S. will play all its preliminary round games at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Group B division, featuring Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, will play its set of preliminary round games across town at TD Place.
The U.S. and Germany have faced each other on 14 previous occasions in the World Junior Championship, with Team USA taking 13 of the first 14 meetings , including the last eight. Their most recent showdown occurred in the 2023 quarterfinals in Moncton, and the U.S. thoroughly dominated in an 11-1 victory.
A total of 23 of Team USA’s 25 players played in the USHL. Ryan Leonard, a former NTDP forward who plays for Boston College, captains this year’s U.S. squad. Forward Oliver Moore, another former NTDP alum who currently plays for the University of Minnesota, serves as one of the alternate captains. Forwards Danny Nelson (NTDP, University of Minnesota) and Gabe Perreault (NTDP, Boston College) along with defenseman Zeev Buium (NTDP, University of Denver) are also alternate captains.
Several of Team USA’s coaches have USHL ties. Head coach David Carle was an assistant coach for the Green Bay Gamblers from 2012-14. Assistant coach Brett Larson served as head coach and general manager for the Sioux City Musketeers from 2011-13. Assistant coach Garrett Laboin played three seasons with the Lincoln Stars from 2002-06.
Norwin Panocha is the lone USHL representative on the German squad. The current Green Bay Gamblers defenseman was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Prior to Green Bay, the Bayreuth, Germany native appeared in three games with Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League. He also suited up for Chicoutimi of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, recording 15 assists in 52 games.
Puck drop for the U.S. matchup with Germany is set for 2:30 Pm ET. All U.S. games can be viewed on NHL Network.