In a 6-3 victory on Day One at the World Juniors, the host U.S. allowed Germany to stay within striking range before pulling away late in the second period.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MICHELINE VELUVOLU
The host Americans scored three first-period goals and marched to a 6-3 victory over a plucky Germany side as the 50th edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota got underway on Friday. Forward Will Zellers paced the attack with two goals and an assist.
"It was a good game overall," said Zellers, a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota. "I feel like there's times where we're up and down a little bit. Gave them a little bit too much life in that second period. So we've got to clean up some things going into the rest of the tournament."
The U.S. aims to capture its third straight World Junior gold medal for the first time ever. The Americans defeated Sweden 6-2 in the 2024 final in Gothenburg and Finland 4-3 in overtime in the 2025 final in Ottawa.
With no Leon Draisaitl or Moritz Seider clones on this year’s roster, Germany’s aspirations are more modest. Coach Tobias Abstreiter's boys have remained in the top division since 2020, but finished ninth at each of the last two World Juniors. They at least stayed competitive in their opener for the better part of two periods.
"I think we didn't play bad today, but yeah, obviously it's still the U.S.," said Germany's Simon Seidl, who had a goal. "Obviously we wanted to win, but still we should go into the game tomorrow [versus Slovakia] with a good feeling."
The Americans also kicked off their title defence last year versus Germany, delivering a 10-4 walloping. There was a little bit of deja vu going on, apart from the massive "USA!" chants at St. Paul's Grand Casino Arena.
In 2025, Cole Hutson became the first defender ever to solely win the tournament scoring title (11 points), and the U.S. assistant captain started strong again with two assists. In a positive early sign for U.S. coach Bob Motzko, twelve different skaters recorded a point for the U.S., which outshot Germany 47-21.
The Americans drew first blood at 5:34. Teddy Stiga put the puck off the post on a lovely solo jaunt and Max Plante cleaned up the garbage. Stiga, who plays for Boston College, also scored the sudden-death gold-medal winner last year and is one of eight U.S. returnees.
Chase Reid benefited from some nifty puck movement on the forecheck, cruising to the hash marks to beat beleaguered German goalie Lennart Neisse through traffic for a 2-0 lead at 10:53.
After U.S. goalie Caleb Heil stood tall against a flurry of German shots at one end, captain Brodie Ziemer fed Will Horcoff for a fantastic 3-0 one-timer goal at 15:55.
"We really stressed getting behind their D, making them turn," said the U.S.'s Brendan McMorrow. "I think that's what worked well for us, making turnovers in their zone."
Timo Kose, the twin brother of defender Fabio Kose, gave Germany some life 1:44 later when he barged to the net and banged in a rebound, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
At 5:46 of the second period, Seidl put the Germans within one goal, tipping in Dustin Willhoft's pass at the top of the crease.
The teams were trading goals. Just 56 seconds after Zellers scored on a rebound, Lenny Boos skated down and unleashed a high shot past Heil's blocker to make it 4-3 at 11:57.
The German resurgence wouldn't last, though. Neutral-zone speed on the rush led to Zellers' second goal of the night at 14:58.
Cole Eiserman, the all-time leading goal-scorer (127) for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, got robbed when Neisse slid across to deny him, but his lightning release made it 6-3 moments later.
In the scoreless, physical third period, Cole McKinney got a late breakaway but got pokechecked by Neisse, generating more excitement among the partisan fans.
Of what to expect against Slovakia, Timo Kose said: "They play a hard, physical game. We have to watch out clear some things up, and just play our game."
The U.S. is seeking its first gold medal as a host nation in seven tries. Its best previous home-ice results were bronze medals in Buffalo in both 2011 and 2018.
During the opening ceremonies, IIHF Senior Vice-President Petr Briza, the chairman of the 2026 World Juniors, and USA Hockey Pat Kelleher welcomed fans. Minnesota hockey royalty – including retired legends Phil Housley, Zach Parise, and Natalie Darwitz – also took part.
"It was a good game overall," said Zellers, a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota. "I feel like there's times where we're up and down a little bit. Gave them a little bit too much life in that second period. So we've got to clean up some things going into the rest of the tournament."
The U.S. aims to capture its third straight World Junior gold medal for the first time ever. The Americans defeated Sweden 6-2 in the 2024 final in Gothenburg and Finland 4-3 in overtime in the 2025 final in Ottawa.
With no Leon Draisaitl or Moritz Seider clones on this year’s roster, Germany’s aspirations are more modest. Coach Tobias Abstreiter's boys have remained in the top division since 2020, but finished ninth at each of the last two World Juniors. They at least stayed competitive in their opener for the better part of two periods.
"I think we didn't play bad today, but yeah, obviously it's still the U.S.," said Germany's Simon Seidl, who had a goal. "Obviously we wanted to win, but still we should go into the game tomorrow [versus Slovakia] with a good feeling."
The Americans also kicked off their title defence last year versus Germany, delivering a 10-4 walloping. There was a little bit of deja vu going on, apart from the massive "USA!" chants at St. Paul's Grand Casino Arena.
In 2025, Cole Hutson became the first defender ever to solely win the tournament scoring title (11 points), and the U.S. assistant captain started strong again with two assists. In a positive early sign for U.S. coach Bob Motzko, twelve different skaters recorded a point for the U.S., which outshot Germany 47-21.
The Americans drew first blood at 5:34. Teddy Stiga put the puck off the post on a lovely solo jaunt and Max Plante cleaned up the garbage. Stiga, who plays for Boston College, also scored the sudden-death gold-medal winner last year and is one of eight U.S. returnees.
Chase Reid benefited from some nifty puck movement on the forecheck, cruising to the hash marks to beat beleaguered German goalie Lennart Neisse through traffic for a 2-0 lead at 10:53.
After U.S. goalie Caleb Heil stood tall against a flurry of German shots at one end, captain Brodie Ziemer fed Will Horcoff for a fantastic 3-0 one-timer goal at 15:55.
"We really stressed getting behind their D, making them turn," said the U.S.'s Brendan McMorrow. "I think that's what worked well for us, making turnovers in their zone."
Timo Kose, the twin brother of defender Fabio Kose, gave Germany some life 1:44 later when he barged to the net and banged in a rebound, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
At 5:46 of the second period, Seidl put the Germans within one goal, tipping in Dustin Willhoft's pass at the top of the crease.
The teams were trading goals. Just 56 seconds after Zellers scored on a rebound, Lenny Boos skated down and unleashed a high shot past Heil's blocker to make it 4-3 at 11:57.
The German resurgence wouldn't last, though. Neutral-zone speed on the rush led to Zellers' second goal of the night at 14:58.
Cole Eiserman, the all-time leading goal-scorer (127) for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, got robbed when Neisse slid across to deny him, but his lightning release made it 6-3 moments later.
In the scoreless, physical third period, Cole McKinney got a late breakaway but got pokechecked by Neisse, generating more excitement among the partisan fans.
Of what to expect against Slovakia, Timo Kose said: "They play a hard, physical game. We have to watch out clear some things up, and just play our game."
The U.S. is seeking its first gold medal as a host nation in seven tries. Its best previous home-ice results were bronze medals in Buffalo in both 2011 and 2018.
During the opening ceremonies, IIHF Senior Vice-President Petr Briza, the chairman of the 2026 World Juniors, and USA Hockey Pat Kelleher welcomed fans. Minnesota hockey royalty – including retired legends Phil Housley, Zach Parise, and Natalie Darwitz – also took part.
Germany vs United States - 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship
OF