2026 World Junior Championship: Team Germany Final Roster

It’s that time of year again, when we all get to see if this is the year that Team Germany will succeed in the World Junior Championship. This year’s team should have more upside in the sense that there is more NHL-drafted talent and players in North American juniors. Theoretically, the team will be able to compete harder than in past years, but they’re still not expected to contend. However, stranger things have happened, so there is always the possibility.

Goaltenders

Linus Vieillard (Spokane Chiefs 18GP / 3.15GAA / .890SV% — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
This will be Vieillard’s second year in the tournament, and he is projected to be the starting goaltender during this year’s tournament. He’s on the smaller side, but plays a quick game and is a strong skater. He is returning for the second year in the U20 tournament after posting a .915 SV% with 2.66 GAA last year.

Lukas Stuhrmann (RoKi U20 18GP / 3.34GAA / .914SV% — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Stuhrmann will likely be the backup goaltender in this year’s tournament. He is a very similar goaltender to Vieillard in size and skill, and has shown that he is more than capable at the junior level.

Lennart Neiße (Lausitzer Füchse 5GP / 2.80GAA / .922SV% — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Neiße is expected to be the third goaltender and likely won’t see much game time. However, he will offer a veteran goaltender presence after being on the roster during last year’s tournament.

Defencemen

Max Bleicher (Powell River Kings 23GP / 2G / 5A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Bleicher is known to have a strong motor; he can quarterback plays, he’s not afraid to shoot the puck, and he is attentive in his game. He can be moved off the puck on occasion and has been known to be part of a defensive breakdown or two, but he’ll be a good addition to this roster.

Max Hense (Trail Smoke Eaters 24GP / 0G / 5A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Hense plays a strong, defensively sound game. He has a strong hockey IQ and tends to stay calm under pressure, something all defencemen can benefit from. This is Hense’s second year in the U20 World Juniors; last year, he scored zero goals or assists over five games.

Carlos Händel (Halifax Mooseheads 25GP / 2G / 10A — Montreal Canadiens)
Händel tends to start passing plays while leaving room to support his teammates. He is able to control the puck well and plays his best game when he’s able to think about the next play. Handel is returning to the national stage for WJC after playing in five games last year, where he scored zero goals or assists.

Fabio Kose (Löwen Frankfurt 25GP / 1G / 3A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Kose tends to be a good skater for his size, is confident with the puck and has quite the heavy shot. He has the drive to make a difference offensively, but is still working on those skills.

Moritz Kretzschmar (Eisbären Juniors Berlin 6GP / 0G / 0A // Lausitzer Füchse 17GP / 1G / 1A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Kretzschmar is a solid defender; he tends to play a calmer game. He is good at moving the puck and using his body when needed.

Nick Mähler (Young Eagles Mannheim 6GP / 1G / 4A // Polar Bears Regensburg 18GP / 1G / 2A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Mähler is confident in his puck-moving abilities; he is also capable of supporting the attack. He does well at making space for himself when needed.

Manuel Schams (Kassel Huskies 14GP / 0G / 1A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Schams plays a physical game while being able to consistently move the puck. He is not afraid to use his body when needed and has shown a strong ability to defend not just the puck, but his space as well.

Matthias Pape (Trail Smoke Eaters 23GP / 1G / 6A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Pape is another blue liner who is comfortable and excels at moving the puck. He’s able to turn plays over with ease and lift the puck from the opposition’s stick.

Forwards

Lenny Boos (Düsseldorfer EG 22GP / 2G / 6A // Fischtown Pinguins 0 GP — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Boos has an incredible hockey IQ. He can read plays well and is confident moving the puck.

Gustavs Griva (Madison Capitals 20GP / 8G / 11A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Griva will likely slot into the third line with his ability to produce at almost a point per game pace. He is a phenomenal playmaker and was one of the top three scorers in Germany’s top junior league last season.

Timo Kose (Löwen Frankfurt 16GP / 3G / 0A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Kose will be entering the tournament right off an injury, which may impact his player. He tends to hang out on the fourth line and really adheres to the expected grit that comes with that role in his physical style of play.

David Lewandowski (Saskatoon Blades 28GP / 8G / 24A — Edmonton Oilers)
Lewandowski is expected to be the star, so to speak, on this roster. The skill, play-driving and puck-moving knowledge that he brings will be a key part of Germany’s top line. Lewandowski will be making his second appearance in the tournament after posting two goals across five games last year.

Nick Maul (Red Bull Hockey Juniors 22GP / 9G / 8A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Maul is effective on breakaways in the way that he’s able to hold the puck on his stick. He is a confident skater and is able to move up and down the ice with ease.

Elias Pul (Spokane Chiefs 22GP / 3G / 3A // Saskatoon Blades 0 GP — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Pul is a versatile player who is comfortable playing on either wing or as a center. He’s quick on his feet, energetic and is comfortable making plays when needed.

Clemens Sager (Kassel Huskies 19GP / 0G / 2A // Hammer Eisbären 6GP / 0G / 0A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Sager isn’t a flashy scorer, but he brings vision and a strong ability to move the puck to the lineup.

Elias Schneider (Shawinigan Cataracts 25GP / 9G / 14A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Schneider is expected to be the 1C on this team. He’s been known to have a bit of a messy skating style, but he makes it work with his ability to produce offensively.

Tobias Schwarz (EV Landshut 19GP / 6G / 5A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Schwarz is returning for his second World Juniors tournament; last season, he had one assist over five games. He’ll be looked at as more of a depth piece on the ice, something that should help Germany.

Dustin Willhöft (Saskatoon Blades 28GP / 2G / 5A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Willhöft is a quick player and a strong skater. He can maneuver himself wherever he needs to be to get to the puck and put it wherever he wants it to be.

Tim Schütz (Krefelder EV 81 11GP / 7G / 6A // Krefeld Pinguine 21GP / 2G / 3A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Schütz will be making his debut WJC-20 appearance, but has played on the international level previously. Last season, he played in four games during the International Jr games, tallying zero goals and assists.

Maxim Schäfer (Chicoutimi Saguenéens 25GP / 12G / 11A — Washington Capitals)
Schäfer tends to be a force on the ice; he is a returning player, so he understands the pace of the tournament. He possesses offensive stability and will be relied on for his ability to score, whether it’s a goal or an assist. Schäfer played in last year’s tournament, scoring two goals and one assist over five games.

Simon Seidl (Straubing Tigers 5GP / 0G / 0A // EV Landshut 18GP / 2G / 4A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Seidl is returning for his second World Junior Championship after scoring one goal and one assist during last season’s tournament. He is going to be a key veteran depth player for this team.

Mateu Späth (Salmon Arm Silverbacks 14GP / 6G / 9A // Niagara IceDogs 6GP / 0G / 1A — 2026 NHL Draft Eligible)
Späth will be making his WJC U20 debut this season; he has a good amount of international playing experience, though. Last season, he played on the U18 World Juniors team, scoring two goals and one assist over five games.

Final Thoughts on Germany’s Roster

This roster doesn’t appear to be anything crazy on paper, but they’re top-heavy when it comes to offence and they’ll have to rely on that pretty heavily. Their hopes for scoring are primarily in Lewandowski and Schäfer’s hands; if they struggle to produce, the team will have to look to more of the depth pieces for scoring. Their returning goaltenders should help their case in this year’s tournament, but given the pressure that comes with World Juniors, it could put them in a not-so-great situation. The varying levels of skill and experience in different leagues will make this roster an interesting one to watch either way.

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