Head coach Ernst Höfner named three goalkeepers, 10 defencemen and 15 forwards to the camp that starts on 17th December in Füssen. The roster will be reduced to 23 players prior to the departure to Sweden on 21st December. On 23rd December Germany will play an exhibition game against Russia in Helsingborg.

“During the camp we want to consolidate and improve our system and we have to decide which players we will take to the World Junior Championship,” Höfner said. “It is important to have a good start into the tournament. Everything else we’ll have to earn game by game.”

Last year in Ufa, the German U20 national team managed to stay in the top division and avoid a straight relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1998.

One of the heroes in the deciding 4-2 victory in the relegation battle against Latvia will be back on the team. Leon Draisaitl, the son of former German Olympian Peter Draisaitl, scored two goals and had two assists in that game. He is one of three 1995-born forwards who return from last year’s team including Dominik Kahun and Frederik Tiffels. Also 1994-born goalkeeper Marvin Cüpper is back on the camp roster.

Most of the players join from German teams including five players who have played 15 or more games in the top senior league DEL this season. Six players play junior hockey in the Canadian Hockey League and five in the United States.

German U20 national team

Goalkeepers:
Marvin Cüpper, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Patrick Klein, EV Duisburg
Kevin Reich, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT/MHL)