Laura Kluge worked her way back to Team Germany following a wrist surgery this year, and the veteran is serving as a leader off-ice, and one of the biggest on-ice contributors for Germany at the 2024 IIHF women's World Championships.

Watching Germany compete at the IIHF women's World Championships in Utica, New York, many things stand out, but it's been hard to miss German assistant captain Laura Kluge.

Over the last year, Kluge has battled injury, including a wrist injury that required surgery and kept her from the ice for much of this season. She's back now, and the 5-foot-10 forward's impact is bigger than ever. 

"What it showed for us was her recovery and her will to get back; it showed to everybody her leadership and direction that she wanted to be to make sure she was ready for playoffs in Germany in the pro league but also to be ready for the World Championships," said Germany head coach Jeff MacLeod of Kluge.

Kluge opened the World Championships with a two point performance. The former St. Cloud State forward however, who helped ECDC Memmingen win a championship in Germany's top women's league this season scoring 11 points in six playoff games, is more than a scorer, she's a physical two-way player who has been playing a key defensive role for Germany as well.

"It doesn't matter where we put her in the lineup, and it doesn't matter what situation,"said MacLeod. "She plays really hard, she's smart, she's got size, she's what you want in the type of a captain and leader for your team and she's a really good pro hockey player as well."

Kluge herself does not take her role as a leader with Germany for granted.

"Wearing the assistant captain is always an honor, and I'm taking pride of it," said Kluge. "I'm just trying to help the team as good as I can and giving some of the experience I have to the younger people and trying to be a leader for them."

Kluge's leadership and on-ice impact have been evident for Germany, who got off to a strong enough start to immediately remove themselves from the risk of relegation, firmly entrenching themselves as a top division team.