Dustin Willhoft scored on a penalty shot in the second period.
photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
German captain Carlos Handel set a U18 record with two goals just 19 seconds apart in the opening period to erase an early 1-0 Swiss lead and guide Germany to a 5-4 win this afternoon.
The win had huge implications in the standings. Germany now has secured at least fourth spot in Group B, and a coveted place in the quarter-finals for the newly-promoted team. The Swiss will now face Norway on Wednesday night in the relegation game. The winner of that game will stay in the top pool for 2026 while the loser goes down to Division I-A. The Swiss last played in I-A in 2006, so relegation would be a significant step backwards for the U18 program.
Coming into the game the scenario was simple. Germany, with two points in the standings, needed only to take the game to OT to qualify for the playoffs. Switzerland, with no points, needed to win in regulation.
"We wanted to win the game and get three points, and that's what we did," Handel said. "It was too close for my liking, but we did it."
"We knew we had to win this game in regulation, and we knew our game plan," offered Swiss defender Finn Bichsel. "It didn't go as we planned, but we have to keep going. We are one team, one family. We have to stick together all the time, no matter what happens. We didn't get that last goal that we needed, but the last period we tried our best."
The Swiss had a great chance to open the scoring early, but Clemens Troxler blasted a shot over the net on a breakaway. Nevertheless, they opened the scoring at 12:13 on a power play when a Luca Nappiot shot slipped through the armour of Lukas Stuhrmann.
Then Handel went to work. First, he took a brilliant pass from Gustavs Griva from the opposite corner and snapped a low shot past Jovin Trachsel at 17:36 to make it 1-1. Then, 19 seconds later, on a power play, he scored again on a long shot that Trachsel didn’t see in time.
"I know Gustavs from Mannheim," Handel explained. "We played together for two years. He saw me, we made eye contact, and he made an amazing pass. I wanted to shoot high, but the defenceman got his stick on it and it went five-hole. It was a bit lucky but it still went in."
Germany made it 3-1 midway through the second on another power play. Lucien Lehmann’s one-timer found the mark at 8:42, but the Swiss came right back. Mike Aeschlimann snapped a quick shot to make it 3-2, but Dustin Willhoft restored the two-goal bulge on two great plays.
First, he outraced all comers to a loose puck and went in alone, only to be tripped and be awarded a penalty shot. Then, with the freebie, he beat Trachsel over the blocker at 15:51 to make it 4-2.
The Swiss got one back early in the third when Noah Franzina got to a loose puck in front and drilled a high shot past Stuhrmann, and then the Germans ran into penalty trouble. They incurred two quick minors for shooting the puck over the glass, giving the Swiss a 5-on-3 for 1:16. They didn't take long to tie the game. Florian Schenk capitalized at 11:14, giving La Suisse new life.
But just when it looked like we might have a wild finish, the Germans struck off a faceoff win in their own end. Max Penkin fed Mateu Spath Mariscal off the rush, and Spath Mariscal made good with a high shot to give Germany a 5-4 lead.
"We want to finish the group with a strong game and get ready for the quarter-finals," Handel noted. "Of course, USA is always a great opponent. They have played together all year. We just need to recover tonight and play our best game. I think in the quarter-finals the game will be faster and more physical, so we have to get the puck deep, go on the forecheck and not make too many turnovers at the blue line. I think that will be our focus."
The win had huge implications in the standings. Germany now has secured at least fourth spot in Group B, and a coveted place in the quarter-finals for the newly-promoted team. The Swiss will now face Norway on Wednesday night in the relegation game. The winner of that game will stay in the top pool for 2026 while the loser goes down to Division I-A. The Swiss last played in I-A in 2006, so relegation would be a significant step backwards for the U18 program.
Coming into the game the scenario was simple. Germany, with two points in the standings, needed only to take the game to OT to qualify for the playoffs. Switzerland, with no points, needed to win in regulation.
"We wanted to win the game and get three points, and that's what we did," Handel said. "It was too close for my liking, but we did it."
"We knew we had to win this game in regulation, and we knew our game plan," offered Swiss defender Finn Bichsel. "It didn't go as we planned, but we have to keep going. We are one team, one family. We have to stick together all the time, no matter what happens. We didn't get that last goal that we needed, but the last period we tried our best."
The Swiss had a great chance to open the scoring early, but Clemens Troxler blasted a shot over the net on a breakaway. Nevertheless, they opened the scoring at 12:13 on a power play when a Luca Nappiot shot slipped through the armour of Lukas Stuhrmann.
Then Handel went to work. First, he took a brilliant pass from Gustavs Griva from the opposite corner and snapped a low shot past Jovin Trachsel at 17:36 to make it 1-1. Then, 19 seconds later, on a power play, he scored again on a long shot that Trachsel didn’t see in time.
"I know Gustavs from Mannheim," Handel explained. "We played together for two years. He saw me, we made eye contact, and he made an amazing pass. I wanted to shoot high, but the defenceman got his stick on it and it went five-hole. It was a bit lucky but it still went in."
Germany made it 3-1 midway through the second on another power play. Lucien Lehmann’s one-timer found the mark at 8:42, but the Swiss came right back. Mike Aeschlimann snapped a quick shot to make it 3-2, but Dustin Willhoft restored the two-goal bulge on two great plays.
First, he outraced all comers to a loose puck and went in alone, only to be tripped and be awarded a penalty shot. Then, with the freebie, he beat Trachsel over the blocker at 15:51 to make it 4-2.
The Swiss got one back early in the third when Noah Franzina got to a loose puck in front and drilled a high shot past Stuhrmann, and then the Germans ran into penalty trouble. They incurred two quick minors for shooting the puck over the glass, giving the Swiss a 5-on-3 for 1:16. They didn't take long to tie the game. Florian Schenk capitalized at 11:14, giving La Suisse new life.
But just when it looked like we might have a wild finish, the Germans struck off a faceoff win in their own end. Max Penkin fed Mateu Spath Mariscal off the rush, and Spath Mariscal made good with a high shot to give Germany a 5-4 lead.
"We want to finish the group with a strong game and get ready for the quarter-finals," Handel noted. "Of course, USA is always a great opponent. They have played together all year. We just need to recover tonight and play our best game. I think in the quarter-finals the game will be faster and more physical, so we have to get the puck deep, go on the forecheck and not make too many turnovers at the blue line. I think that will be our focus."
Germany vs Switzerland - 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
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