SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. National Junior Team opens play in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship here today against Germany in the first of its four preliminary round games. Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. CT. The game can be seen live on NHL Network and tickets are available HERE.
The 10 teams in the World Juniors are split into two groups with Team USA hosting Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland in Group A and playing its preliminary round games at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minn. Group B – which includes Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland and Latvia – will contest its preliminary round games at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, Minn. Both venues will host quarterfinal games while Grand Casino Arena will stage the semifinal and medal games.
Team USA had gathered here in Saint Paul the evening of Dec. 14 and bussed to Duluth, Minn., for a nine-day training camp that included pre-tournament games against Germany (8-0 win) on Dec. 21 and Finland (3-1 victory) on Dec. 23.
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Bob Motzko (Austin, Minn.) is back as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team for the third time after guiding Team USA to gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018.
“We’re excited to get the tournament started and it’s an honor to have the chance to coach this team again,” said Motzko, who is also the head men’s hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. “We had a great training camp in Duluth and really like the way our team is coming together.”
The U.S. and Germany battle today for the 16th time ever in the World Juniors, and Team USA has won all but one of the first 15 meetings. Team USA faced Germany in its opening game of last year’s tournament and came away with a 10-4 victory.
Brodie Ziemer (Chaska, Minn./University of Minnesota) is serving as captain of Team USA, while James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College), Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University), Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth) and Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass./Boston College) are alternate captains.
The U.S. roster has eight players who were part of the gold medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team a year ago and 22 NHL draft picks that include 13 first and second-round picks.
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