2024 Worlds Preview: Germany

Team History

Team Germany remains in Group B after an eighth-place finish at the 2013 IIHF Worlds. The highlight of a 3-0-1 performance in the group stage for the Germans was a 6-3 win over Team Sweden. Celina Haider had four points in that win against Sweden, which was undoubtedly the best performance by a skater in a single game for Germany at the 2023 Worlds.

Germany's best finish at the top division of Worlds was a fourth-place result in the 2017 Worlds. The program's first game took place in 1988 and they competed in the inaugural Worlds tournament in 1990 as West Germany. Unfortunately for the Eagle Carriers, they have never won a medal at the Worlds or Olympics and are currently ranked ninth by the IIHF.

How To Watch

• Group Stage Game 1: Apr. 4 vs. Denmark, 3:00 p.m.
• Group Stage Game 2: Apr. 6 vs. Japan, 3:00 p.m.
• Group Stage Game 3: Apr. 8 vs. Sweden, 11:00 a.m.
• Group Stage Game 4: Apr. 9 vs China, 11:00 a.m.

Who to Watch | Sandra Abstreiter

Abstreiter may not have seen much playing time for PWHL Ottawa this season but make no mistake she is one of the top goalies in the World. At the 2013 Worlds, Abstreiter posted an eye-catching .928 save percentage in 288:39 of action. She was in net for all three of Germany's wins and established herself as the program's goalie of the present and future.

Germany's star goalie is big – she's listed at 5-foot-11 – but that's not the whole story here. Abstreiter is patient and resilient and has weathered a lot of storms while in net for Germany and the Providence Friars. She earned every bit of a 28-save, 3-0 shutout win against France at the 2013 Worlds and will be looking to guide Germany to another strong performance in the group stage in Utica.

What to Watch For | Who Lights the Lamp?

A big story for Germany from the 2023 Worlds was the team's successful power play (21.05%) and woeful penalty kill (64.71%), but this team must focus on its play at even strength offense and depth scoring.

In 6 games, Germany scored 9 goals at even strength. All told the Germans allowed 10 goals at evens – a -1 EV goal differential isn't bad at all. However, when you take the 6-2 victory over Sweden out of the picture, Germany was shut out by their toughest competition in Finland and America and scored just twice against Hungary. Furthermore, half of Germany's goals came from three skaters – Haider, Nicola Eisenschmid, and Franziska Feldmeier.

A team needs more than one line that can score.

Group Stage Showdown

It has to be Sweden, right? After last year's fireworks, Sweden will have April 8th circled on its calendar and so too will Germany. There is a real power struggle in Group B to prove which teams are on the rise, like Czechia, and which are stuck in neutral, waiting for a superstar to enter the pipeline and change their fortunes. Sweden will be a true test of where this German team is, especially as the third game on their schedule.

Prediction

There will be no podium finish for Germany in Utica. The Germans will look to prove themselves as a big fish in the small pond of Group B but are sure to be bumped in the playoffs and quickly find themselves competing for a fifth to eighth-place finish.

At the 2013 Worlds, the Germans were steamrolled by a wounded Finnish team by a score of 8-2. That game proved Finland was in another class than Germany. This year, in Utica, it is up to the Germans to prove they are not on the bubble for demotion. With consistent goaltending and a more balanced attack, Germany could finish as high as fifth or sixth place in the final standings. With that said, I have them finishing seventh, stepping up and over Team Japan.

Data courtesy of IIHF.com, EliteProspects.com, and the author's own notes.