There won't be high hopes for Germany at the 2024 IIHF World Championships. Their main goal will be to avoid relegation. Here's a look at their team.
There won't be high hopes for Germany at the 2024 IIHF World Championships. Their main goal will be to avoid relegation. Here's a look at their team.
There's only one goal for Germany at the 2024 IIHF women's World Championships in Utica, New York, and that's to avoid relegation. Asking Germany to advance to Group A, or even improve upon their current placement with Sweden and Japan now in Group B seems unlikely. Their goal will be to beat Denmark and China to stay in the top division.
Here's a look at their roster.
Sandra Abstreiter Will Need To Be Amazing
Germany doesn't have an offensive star, which means the puck will be moving toward their net more often than away from it. Last year Abstreiter was spectacular in USA's quarter-final win against Germany, and she'll need to be sharp from start to finish this year. Abstreiter has only played one full game this season with PWHL Ottawa, but also got some time with Germany overseas. If she's rusty, Germany is in trouble. Abstreiter is the be all and end all of this team's hopes, and she needs to be at the top of her game to help Germany avoid relegation.
Who will score for Germany?
Franziska Feldmeier spent her season in Sweden with Linkoping and is likely Germany's best hope to score up front, but this will need to be a committee task, and Germany needs to capitalize on their powerplay, as well as get to the front of the net whenever they have the puck. Goals won't be pretty. For Germany to avoid relegation, their NCAA foursome will need to take a step forward. Luisa Welcke and Lilli Welcke took a step forward this season at Boston University, and look like they could become a duo who can generate chances. RPI's Nina Cristof also has that potential. St. Cloud State's Svenja Voigt hasn't scored much at the NCAA level, but will still provide invaluable depth and experience for Germany having played against many national team stars in the WCHA. Last year's top scorer for Germany, Celine Haider is also back, as is Nicola Eisenschmid. Germany will have chemistry as much of their roster played for Memmingen in the DFEL, but it's a league several steps below where other players are coming from.
Gleißner and Jobst-Smith Will Anchor The Blueline
Nina Jobst-Smith has one season of NCAA eligibility left at the University Minnesota-Duluth. If there's any player from Germany who could generate PWHL interest in the near future, it's her. She'll be playing for her nation, and in front of PWHL scouts at this event, and will be given plenty of ice time, including on the power play and penalty kill to try to lock things down for Germany. Daria Gleißner and Carina Strobel are both coming from ECDC Memmingen, and they'll be counted on to handle top lines along with Jobst-Smith at the tournament, with Gleißner a likely power play staple as well.