Worlds Preview: Germany Making Slow But Sure Progress

Germany is coming off an emotional Olympic Games qualifier, as well as some positive moments for the nation, including a pre-tournament win against Switzerland. Last year Germany took Switzerland to overtime in a game that would have put them into Group A, and truly, Germany outplayed Switzerland from start to finish, missed a few golden opportunities in overtime, and came up unlucky. 

Germany's continue improvement will get them through the preliminary round and should keep them out of harm's way of relegation.  

Nina Jobst-Smith is a key player to this roster, and the Minnesota-Duluth defender is headed to the PWHL. Germany has a lot of players on their roster, from Luisa and Lilli Welcke, to Ronja Hark, Emily Nix, Franziska Feldmeier, Carina Strobel, and Daria Gleissner who play solid, hard working two-way games. While there's not a lot of higih end firepower, there are also no easy shifts against Germany. Sandra Abstreiter is the reigning World Championship Best Goaltender, and she'll need to be even better this time around as the talent level continues to improve at Worlds. 

The other point of note for Germany is their inclusion of 15-year-old Alexandra Boico and 16-year old Charleen Poindl on their roster. The pair are two of the best offensive talents to come out of Germany in recent years and still have multiple seasons left with Germany's U-18 team let alone decades ahead with their senior national program.

When you watched the 2024 World Championships, Laura Kluge stood out. When Germany threatened, she was there. When the game tightened and they needed a big defensive draw or a zone clear, Kluge was there. It was a moment that propelled Kluge into international focus and onto the PWHL radar. Last year, Kluge just did it. This year, she'll be expected to do it again, and should bring some swagger to the tournament after spending the second half of her season with the PWHL's Toronto Sceptres.

Franziska Feldmeier is one of Germany's top forwards. There's a belief she also wants to be the next Laura Kluge with the intention of jumping from the DFEL to the PWHL. She spent 2022-23 in the SDHL, and this season scored 26 points in 20 games with Eisbaren Berlin in the DFEL. She's been one of Germany's most consistent players for years, and there's nothing to say Feldmeier couldn't contribute in a bottom six role somewhere in the PWHL. She's going to want to have a big tournament.

Germany added youth in teenagers Alexandra Boico and Charleen Poindl. There's a larger percentage of Germany's core currently playing in the NCAA, and the nation will need to find ways to get more of their players into stronger leagues, or to sink more money into the DFEL to bring in import players to up the calibre of competition. Germany squeaked into 2026, but the real eyes for this nation will be 2030. Can they make steps in talent development? Right now Germany has plenty off good players coming up, but no great players. Skill development for the German's at a much younger are needs to improve.