The roster for the men's national team for the start of preparations for the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland next May has been finalized. Head coach Harold Kreis has nominated a total of 25 players who will play two international matches against the Czech Republic in the first phase of the World Championship preparation. The games will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 17:30 p.m., and Friday, April 17, 2026, at 17:00 p.m. in Karlovy Vary. Both games will be broadcast live and free of charge on MagentaSport.
Three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and 14 forwards make up the roster for the start of the World Championship preparation – all players from the PENNY DEL. Rayan Bettahar (Bremerhaven), Johannes Krauß (Ingolstadt), Samuel Dove-McFalls, and Thomas Heigl (both Nuremberg) have been called up, marking their first time with the national team. Forward Dominik Kahun (Lausanne) will join the national team for the third phase of preparation due to a flu-like infection.
The coaching staff for the start of the World Cup preparations has also been finalized: In addition to national coach Harold Kreis, Mitch O'Keefe (Nuremberg), Heiko Vogler (Wolfsburg) and Sebastian Buchwieser will be the assistants in Phase 1. Luca Endres (Frankfurt) will travel to Karlovy Vary as goalkeeping coach.
The team will meet on Monday, April 13, 2026, and travel to Karlovy Vary. The first team meeting will take place in the evening, followed by two on-ice training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for the two international games against the Czech Republic. After the game on Friday evening, the team will return to Germany.
National coach Harold Kreis on the squad nomination and the opening match against the Czech Republic“I’m looking forward to the start of our World Cup preparations with a good mix in the squad for Phase 1. We have players who already know the international stage and understand what’s required at this level, alongside young players eager to prove themselves. We also have new faces on the coaching staff, whose input will help us in the coming weeks. The matches against the Czech Republic are the perfect starting point for us. It will be a challenging task that will test us at a high level.”
Christian Künast, Sports Director of the DEB, to start the World Cup preparations: “We are excited that it’s starting and that we have a big test ahead of us right away against the Czech Republic. For us, it’s important at this stage to lay the foundations for the work in the coming weeks and, together with the staff, to solidify the things that are important to us both on and off the ice. At the same time, it’s a chance for many players to make a good impression and earn a place on the roster for the coming weeks leading up to the World Championship.”
World Cup preparation 2026, Men's National Team
April 17, 2026 | 5:30 PM | Czech Republic – Germany (Karlovy Vary / CZE)
April 17, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Czech Republic – Germany (Karlovy Vary / CZE)
April 23.04.2026, 20 | 00:XNUMX p.m. | Germany – Slovakia (Kaufbeuren)
April 25, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Germany – Slovakia (Augsburg)
April 30, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Austria – Germany (Zell am See / AUT)
May 2, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Germany – Austria (Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
May 10.05.2026, 17 | 00:XNUMX p.m. | Germany – USA (Mannheim)