IiHF-HoCkeY]”!!: Germany vs. Canada — LIvE StrEamS FREE TV channel 2021
Tags: Hockey, Writing, Social Media, Canada, Germany

[LiVE|@|IiHF-HoCkeY]”!!: Germany vs. Canada — LIvE StrEamS FREE TV channel 2021

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Watch Live Direct: [[ https://tinyurl.com/IIHF-WORLD-JUNIOR-CHAMPIONSHIP ]]

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However, the trio of Ancicka, Bugl, and Tiefensee is arguably the weakest among Pool A goalies, and though they’ve shown to be capable starters at home, the World Juniors will test them like never before. The absence of Seider won’t help either, as the defense will take a significant step back without him in the lineup. Glötzl and Pasanen should be fine, but the rest could find themselves in over their head rather quickly as they struggle to contain Aatu Raty, Anton Lundell, Payton Krebs, Bowen Byram, and Kirby Dach.

Yet, as the 2018 Olympics and the 2020 World Juniors proved, you can’t count Team Germany out. They may not have many stars in their lineup, but their work ethic and tenacity are among the best in the world and they won’t take a loss sitting down. Teams will have to fight for a full 60 minutes to beat Germany, no matter the score, which can exhaust even the best of them. So, a word of advice for the top teams at the tournament: don’t take their ranking for granted — Germany wants to win, no matter who they face.

Lead by Peterka, Reichel, and Stützle, the Germans will have a top line that could rival any other country and will likely provide the bulk of the team’s offense. Glötzl and Pasanen are capable defenders who will anchor the blue line, and Ancicka has experience at the World Juniors to help him handle the starting job. The rest of the roster is filled with intriguing players who have found success all across Europe and now will get a chance to show the world their skills.

Although the team lacks size and is on the younger side, the German development program has continued to pump out NHL-calibre prospects. Finding chemistry won’t be a problem, either, as many of the players already play for the same teams in Europe. That combination could help them sneak into the playoffs by stealing a win or two from a bigger nation still trying to figure out its lines and get into a groove.

The rest of the forwards are very young, which could prove to be a challenge for the team, but some potential stars are just waiting for their chance to show the world what they can do. Last season, Florian Elias finished third in the Germany 3 with 49 points and first in goals with 26, despite being one of the youngest in the league. He even gained some NHL draft attention despite being a relatively unknown prospect, although he went unselected most likely due to his diminutive 5-foot-8 frame.

Markus Schweiger has been the most prolific scorer of any German on the team this year, putting away five goals and 12 points in nine games in the German U20 league. However, at just 5-foot-6, he’ll be one of the smallest players at the tournament. Samuel Dube isn’t much bigger at 5-foot-8 but has some North American experience from his two-plus seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads before suddenly returning to Germany early this season. His speed and active stick can create highlight-worthy moments like the one below:

The only concern is that Stützle has missed several weeks healing from a hand injury, and early speculation considered whether he would be ready for the tournament, or if the Ottawa Senators, who picked him fifth overall in October, would allow him to compete, as they are hopeful he’ll join them for training camp in January. However, with many NHL teams still figuring out their season and the German phenom still under contract with the DEL’s Adler Mannheim, Team Germany is banking on him to be their captain at the 2021 World Juniors.

Nino Kinder and Jan Nijenhuis are also returning from the 2020 tournament and will be expected to take on bigger leadership roles. Kinder had two points at last year’s tournament, then finished the season with 11 goals and 21 points with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice. Nijenhuis has been playing in the Germany 3 league, where he has one assist in three games this season. He plays a solid defensive game that can be used on the penalty kill.

The Germans will have just four other 19-year-olds among their forwards: Manuel Alberg, Julian Chrobot, Filip Reisnecker, and Elias Lindner. Alberg may be familiar to some, as he played with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack in 2018–19 and split 2019–20 with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats and USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. Reisnecker also played briefly in the OHL in 2018–19, appearing in 32 games for the Mississauga Steelheads, although he’s been much better since returning home to Germany.

The biggest loss among the forwards is Dominik Bokk, who led the team in scoring last year with six goals and eight points. But it won’t hurt the Germans too much, as they will get back the trio of John-Jason Peterka, Lukas Reichel, and Tim Stützle who combined for seven goals and 16 points at last year’s competition — Stützle led the team with five assists. Since then, Stützle and Reichel were selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and Peterka was picked early in the second. Their skills mesh nicely with each other and they will make Germany’s top unit one to be reckoned with.

Another name to keep an eye on is Maksymilian Szuber, who has been very effective at the U18 level, often leading the team’s defense in scoring. He’s playing at the highest level in Austria this season, and recorded four assists in 13 games. The 6-foot-3 defender is smart defensively and is not afraid to sacrifice his body for the play. Luca Münzenberger is another intriguing youngster. He played in every U18 tournament last season and is currently the captain of the Kölner Junghaie U20, where he has three points in six games.

Without him, the Germans will be in for a tough time on the back end. Seider, last year’s captain, led the defense in points with six and was chosen as one of the Top Three Players on the team. Replacing his impact will be near impossible, but Maximillian Glötzl is the most capable. He’s been called the biggest German talent on defense behind Seider, and he’s been the team’s best defender in pre-tournament games. He also wore an ‘A’ with the U18 team last year and played in six games at the U20 level despite being just 17 years old.

However, Glötzl will need some help, and shouldering some of the weight is Tommy Pasanen, who also stood out in pre-tournament competition. He’s played in North America for the past two seasons with the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Musketeers and led the team with 69 penalty minutes last season. Together with Glötzl, the pair will give the Germans some grit and provide the blue line with some high-end skill they’d be missing with Seider’s absence.

Fans were surprised when Moritz Seider announced that he would not attend the 2021 World Juniors. According to Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin, “He has made the decision that he would like to continue playing with Rögle (in the Swedish Hockey League) as opposed to the World Juniors. We would have been supportive of whatever he wanted to do,” (from ‘Red Wings’ top prospect Moritz Seider to skip World Juniors’, MLive Michigan — 18/11/20).

Newcomers Florian Bugl and Arno Tiefensee will fight for the backup job, a familiar situation for both of them. Last season, they split duties with the U18 team on the international circuit, with Tiefensee starting four matches and Bugl starting three. However, Bugl put up better numbers, finishing with a 1.62 goals-against-average and a .944 SV%.

He’s been just as dominant in Austria this season, posting a .923 SV% in 11 starts. Teifensee has the size advantage, though, covering much more of the net with his 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame, and it will be a close contest between the two.

Tobias Ancicka is the only returning goalie for the Germans, and he will assume the starting job after backing up Hendrik Hane last year. He steps into an unenviable role, having to face the barrage from Canada and Finland in the round-robin, but he has the experience to handle it. On top of making 23 saves against the Americans in 2020, he also started in 27 games last season with Lukko U20 of Finland’s Jr. A SM-Liiga, finishing with a .918 save percentage (SV%). While not the biggest frame at 6-foot-1, Ancicka is a workhorse and capable of robbing shooters.

Head coach Tobias Abstreiter returns for his second World Juniors and will likely rely heavily on his small group of returning players. Germany has a much younger team in 2021, with 14 players on their roster born in 2002. The lack of experience will be a challenge, but the Germans have overcome bigger odds before, and their development program is slowly becoming one of the best in Europe.

While Canada’s goaltending competition has remained unclear at best, Tristan Lennox (Mississauga, ON.) and Devon Levi (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC.) have not yet made as significant of an impact, separating the goaltending debate into two tiers.

With that said, Brochu certainly wasn’t the favourite heading into camp, and Taylor Gauthier (Calgary, AB.), who has played just as much, still has a legitimate chance to command the crease for Canada. Gauthier, who saw all 60 minutes of action during the second scrimmage, put up similar numbers with the Prince George Cougars (WHL) during the 2019–20 season. He hasn’t exactly set himself apart just yet, but in terms of his competition, Gauthier is right in the thick of it.

Due to Brochu’s stellar play, it seems as though the other half of Team Red’s tandem has overshadowed Dylan Garand (Victoria, B.C.). However, let’s not forget that Garand played just as well in the first scrimmage before leaving the net in favour of Brochu. Garand holds the best numbers in the CHL out of the three frontrunners, with a .921 SV% and a 2.21 GAA with the Kamloops Blazers (WHL).

Similar to previous years, Canada’s goaltending battle has yet to crown a winner. They’ll carry three goalies into the bubble, and it remains to be seen who those three netminders will be. Brett Brochu (Tilbury, ON.), who registered an impressive .919 save percentage (SV%) and 2.40 goals against average (GAA) with the London Knights (OHL) during the 2019–20 campaign, has been nothing short of spectacular thus far, so it would be fathomable to see the 18-year-old take the starting job.

Justin Barron (Halifax, NS.) and Kaedan Korczak (Yorkton, SK.) are the leading candidates to round out Canada’s defensive core. Both have made impactful contributions during the two intrasquad scrimmages, and both provide an increased level of depth on the blue line. Barron, who enjoys jumping into the rush and creating chances offensively, should have the confidence that Korczak, who loves to “physically engage opposing forwards” (McKeen’s Hockey, 2019), has his back.

It’s all but a guarantee that the two returning players from last year’s team will become the new go-to pairing this time around. Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, AB.) has been nothing short of outstanding over the course of selection camp, never failing to put his elite skating ability and on-ice intelligence on display. Jamie Drysdale (Toronto, ON.), who made last year’s team at the age of 17, should have an even more important role on the backend as well. Another brilliant skater, the Anaheim Ducks prospect is a complete partner for Byram on Canada’s top pairing.

At the beginning of camp, Thomas Harley (Syracuse, NY.) and Braden Schneider (Prince Albert, SK.) were favourites to make the team, and they should find themselves with a prominent middle-pairing role when the tournament kicks off in Edmonton. Both are excellent distributors and are incredibly mobile when shutting down rushes. A secure contrast compared to the Byram-Drysdale pairing, both Harley and Schneider provide a steady, more defensively inclined alternative.

Jack Quinn (Cobden, ON.) and Samuel Poulin (Blainville, QC.) should also make the team and could find themselves in the lineup on any given night. Both present a contrasting style of play to one another and could be an effective replacement in any situation. Quinn, the 8th overall selection this past summer, is an elite goal scorer who can find the back of the net from almost any area of the ice, while Poulin, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, is a traditional power forward who exemplifies an ideal two-way game. The two haven’t been as notable through the first half of selection camp. However, their talent and potential speak for themselves.

Expect to see Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Cole Perfetti (Whitby, ON.) crack the lineup on his second attempt as well, considering he enjoyed an even more productive season with the Saginaw Spirit (OHL). While not having the most electrifying presence in Red Deer so far, the Whitby-native should bring a potent scoring touch in whatever role he’s placed in. Already having played with the national team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Perfetti also brings a wealth of international experience.

Following an impressive rookie season with Boston College (NCAA), Alex Newhook (St. John’s, NL.) has the best chance to make the team out of the crop of NCAA players. Notching an impressive 42 points in 34 games last season, he has proven his worth at every level of hockey he’s played, and his explosive skating ability and high-octane mindset should give him the edge over other players in the main cohort.

Rounding out the forward group are two wild cards that Canada can interchange at will. For now, Jakob Pelletier (Quebec City, QB.) and Jamieson Rees (Hamilton, ON.) are my picks to fill in on the fourth line, as the pair have been standouts in both of Canada’s scrimmages. Pelletier, who has captained both the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) and the Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL) while simultaneously posting impressive point totals, would be a valuable offensive talent on any fourth line. Rees, with his ability to track down loose pucks and engage in the high-danger areas of the ice, make him an ideal role player for the Canadians.

Krebs and Zary fill out the rest of Canada’s needs down the middle, as both have enjoyed an incredibly successful camp. Krebs can not only quarterback a power play, but his two-way ability and effectiveness at both ends of the ice is something that every team needs. Captaining the Winnipeg Ice (WHL) this past season, it’ll be Krebs’ vision and all-around ability that will lead him towards a prominent role with Team Canada.

Zary, who has the ability to shift to the wing, brings mobility and a physical presence to the team. Add an above-average scoring touch to that mix, and Zary could find himself in any in-game situation. While I originally had him on the outside looking in to begin camp, he found instantaneous chemistry with Dach and Tomasino while also contributing in his own fashion. His shot placement and his ability to find the puck at top speed make him an ideal linemate for a distributor.

Tomasino, an Oshawa Generals (OHL) standout, has also reached another level of success as selection camp draws on. Possessing a “lightning-quick first step and high-end foot speed” (Future Considerations, 2019) to go along with a dynamic release and a knack for the high-danger areas of the ice, he brings another offensively-driven threat to Team Canada’s lineup.

Let’s start with last year’s returnees. Quinton Byfield (Newmarket, ON.), Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, YT.), Connor McMichael (Ajax, ON.), and Dawson Mercer (Bay Roberts, NL.) all find themselves back with the national team following a successful tournament in Ostrava. All four have seemingly gotten better, as McMichael, Cozens, and Mercer all averaged well over a point-per-game in their respective leagues, and the Los Angeles Kings just drafted Byfield 2nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. Combine that with an impressive showing at selection camp, and you have four locks to make the team.

Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan, SK.), Philip Tomasino (Mississauga, ON.), Peyton Krebs (Okotoks, AB.), and Connor Zary (Saskatoon, SK.) all find themselves in a similar position, as each one has exemplified a tremendously unique skill set so far. Dach, being the only one with NHL experience, is seemingly the unanimous favourite to lead Canada’s centre group, and for good reason. With elite hands and playmaking ability, his creativity alone allows him to rise above everyone else.

Following a dominant showing during last year’s tournament overseas, Canada will hit the ice in search of their 19th gold medal. Already leading all other countries in regards to medal count with 32, the Canucks will be backed by the comfort of their own backyard, playing within a bubble in Edmonton. Attempting to avenge the heartbreak that occurred the last time the Canadians hosted this tournament, here are the 25 players you can expect to defend Canada’s title.