Meet the Team: Germany's roster for the 2026 World Juniors

The German word “Fahrstuhlmannschaft” ("elevator team") describes sports teams that repeatedly move between divisions, earning promotion one season only to be relegated the next, failing to stick for extended periods of time. 

For many years, German World Junior teams were exactly that.

From 2002 to 2012, it was a routine: Get promoted to the top division one year, get relegated the next. From 2016 to 2019, they even stayed in the Division I A tournament for four straight years. 

So going into their seventh consecutive top-division tournament next week is a huge accomplishment – and Team Germany’s roster looks to be one of the deepest in recent history, despite missing injured 2026 top prospect Max Penkin.

Head Coach Tobias Abstreiter will have to make one final cut – likely a forward – to get