U.S. Defeats Germany 6-3 In World Juniors Preliminary Round

SAINT PAUL, Minn. –Will Zellers (Maple Grove, Minn./University of North Dakota) tallied two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist to help the U.S. to a 6-3 victory over Germany here tonight at Grand Casino Arena in its first preliminary round contest of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“What a great atmosphere tonight and I know it’s only going to get better,” said Bob Motzko, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team and also head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team. “I liked a lot of what we did tonight and we certainly have some things to shore up, but overall, a good start.”

Max Plante (Hermantown, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth) opened the scoring 5:34 into the contest, finishing from the top of the crease off a rebound after Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass./Boston College) nearly scored on a breakaway moments prior but hit the post.

HIGHLIGHTS

At the 10:53 mark of the opening frame, Zellers sent a no-look drop pass from the goal line to Chase Reid (Chesterfield, Mich./Soo Greyhounds) at the point, who doubled Team USA’s lead when he capitalized on a snap shot that snuck through the five-hole of German netminder Lennart Neisse.

With 4:05 to play in the first, James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College) forced a turnover, knocking the puck loose behind Germany’s net. Brodie Ziemer (Chaska, Minn./University of Minn.) gained possession and found Will Horcoff (Birmingham, Mich./University of Michigan) in the slot who capitalized on a top-shelf wrister to make it 3-0.

Germany’s Timo Kose buried a rebound from just outside the crease with 2:21 remaining in the first to make it a 3-1 game.

At 5:46 in the second period, Simon Seidl brought Germany within one when he batted the puck past U.S. netminder Caleb Heil (Victoria, Minn./Madison Capitols) after Team USA lost possession in its own end.

Zellers put the U.S. up 4-2 at the 10:31 mark of the middle stanza when he put home a rebound while battling through traffic out in front of the Germany goal off a shot from Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University).

Just 56 seconds later, Germany made it a one-goal game when Lenny Boos capitalized on a three-on-two chance after receiving a cross-ice pass and rifling home a wrister from the top of the right circle.

With 5:02 remaining in the second, Zellers tallied his second goal of the contest with a top-shelf snipe from the high slot off a feed from AJ Spellacy (Westlake, Ohio/Windsor Spitfires).

Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass./Boston University) gave Team USA a 6-3 lead with 1:53 left in the middle stanza when he fired home a short side wrister from the left circle. Hutson recorded a helper on what proved to be the final goal of the contest after a scoreless third period.

Heil made 18 stops to earn the win in goal for Team USA.

The U.S. will play its second preliminary round contest tomorrow (Dec. 27) against Switzerland at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minn. Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. local time/6 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised live on NHL Network. Tickets for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship are on sale and can be purchased here.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Germany 47-21 … Team USA went 0-3 on the power play, while Germany was 0-3 … Brendan McMorrow (Lakeville, Minn./University of Denver) was named U.S. Player of the Game.

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