World junior championship: Leon Draisaitl-led Team Germany hopes to make some noise

GROUP A: Germany

2013 finish: Ninth place
2013 round-robin record: 0-0-1-3, 4 GF/ 26 GA

Yahoo! Canada Sports has asked North American-based players, some of whom are playing in the world junior championship, to break down their national teams.

As one of the smaller countries with little previous success at the tournament, Germany is clearly a major underdog to medal. They are at the point where they have the tools to make some noise, but are still easily behind four or five countries on paper. This isn’t news to them, though, or at least to their offensive catalyst, Prince Albert Raiders centre Leon Draisaitl.

“It’s almost like impossible to win a medal because we are very small country,” says Draisaitl, who is regarded as Germany’s best player by a wide margin. “Teams like Canada have better development and are bigger countries. We’ll try to win every game, but it’s hard because of teams like Canada. But I think we can take a step forward and step forward to being a better team - maybe we can make it to the quarterfinals.”

Even though Draisaitl just turned 18-years-old in October, he will be looked upon to be a leader in the room as he is only one of four returning players. The 6-foot-1, 209-pound centre is up for this role and knows the Germans are in need of his leadership.

“It’s totally different this year (than when he was a rookie last year),” says Draisaitl. “I know more about the tournament and how everything works. I’m still young, but I know I have to be a leader. I think I’m ready to be a leader and I think our team needs it because we don’t have many returning players.”

Without Phoenix Coyotes offensive prospect Tobias Rieder, who has aged out, the Germans will be banking on Draisaitl to lead the offence. He isn’t feeling any pressure on his shoulders, but the Cologne native knows he and the other two returning forwards, the Sudbury Wolves’ Dominik Kahun and Fargo Force’s Frederick Tiffels, need to bring their A-games.

“I don’t feel pressure, but I know I need to score,” says Draisaitl, who led Germany in points last year with two goals and six points in six games. “It’s important for our returning players to do everything they can. They are used to it and know more about it. We need to lead the offense – that’s really important.”

Germany’s back end doesn’t have any returning players. They are hoping for several young guns to make a quick transition to the U20 tourney, including London Knights 18-year-old Tim Bender.

“Defencemen will need to learn quickly and help each other out,” says Draisaitl. “We (forwards) can help them out by getting back in our own end. It’s important everyone does what they can to help each other out.

"It’s good to have players (like Bender) who have played in the CHL. It’s great for their development."

In the blue paint, Germany is relying on Shawinigan Cataractes puck-stopper Marvin Cupper for the second straight year. It seems the 19-year-old goalie will have a similar heavy workload to what he had last year, where he maintained a .847 save percentage in five games, and has had on the struggling 7-24-2-1 Cataractes this season. Their other two goalies, Patrick Klein and Kevin Reich, play in German junior leagues.

“He’s a great goalie and was our starter last year,” says Draisaitl on Cupper. “It’s important and huge for us to know we have him coming back. It’s a big positive for our team to have him coming back. We know he can play and will make big saves for us.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Forward Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL): The second-year Raider has solidified himself as one of the top talents in the WHL this season with elite hands, size (6-1, 209), playmaking abilities and a high compete level. This elite skill set has Draisaitl, who has 18 goals and 51 points in 33 games, regarded as a top-10 prospect of the 2014 NHL draft. In addition, there is a strong argument to suggest he’s the best draft prospect taking part in the world junior behind Canada’s Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad.

Goalie Marvin Cupper (Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL): The 5-foot-10, 181-pound netminder has split time with Storm Phaneuf in Shawinigan this year. Taking into account the Cataractes are in a rebuilding stage, his 3.88 average and .884 save percentage in 20 games belies how well his sophomore season has been going.

Forward Frederik Tiffels (Fargo Force, USHL): The 18-year-old stands out for his playmaking abilities as he notched three goals and 22 assists in 50 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks last year. All signs point to the 6-foot, 181-pound winger, who is committed to Western Michigan University for next season, riding shotgun with Draisaitl on Germany’s top line.

Forward Dominik Kahun (Sudbury Wolves, OHL): The 5-foot-11, 175-pound winger has potted four goals and 15 points in 16 games with the Wolves this year following notching 40 points in 58 contests last season. There’s pressure on the 18-year-old to join Draisaitl and Tiffels as Germany’s standout forwards.

Defenceman Tim Bender (London Knights, OHL): The 18-year-old defender is in his rookie OHL season with the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup-bound Knights. As he did on their past two U18 squads, Germany is hopeful Bender will anchor the back end.

Defenceman Janik Möser (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL): Like Bender, Germany is banking on Möser to play a big role on their blueline. The 5-foot-11, 181-pounder is in the midst of his rookie season with the Lumberjacks, scoring one goal and eight points in 26 games along the way. He decided to make the trek up to North America last year when he committed to Ohio State University for the 2014-15 season.

MUST WIN GAME: Slovakia (Dec. 27, 3 p.m.)

Assuming Germany drops their first match to Canada on Boxing Day, they will need a strong bounce-back game the following day against Slovakia. This contest should be in Germany’s grasp as Slovakia only finished one seed ahead of them last year. In addition, a win could give Germany enough momentum and confidence to top the Czech Republic in their final round-robin game on Dec. 30.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen