For the first time since 2019, Denmark will be returning to the World Junior Championship Top Division, after being pushed to the brink by Austria before upsetting them in a do-or-die final showdown in Bled, Slovenia, winning 5-4 in regulation to capture the Division IA tournament and book their ticket to Minnesota in 2026.

Entering the final day of competition with ten points to Austria’s twelve, even a single point, so long as it was not a regulation loss, would propel Austria to the Worlds. The game was a wild affair, with Denmark narrowly leading 3-2 after forty minutes; Adrian Gesson struck early in the third period to even things at 3-3, but a game misconduct for Austria’s Gregor Biber resulted in a pair of Danish power play goals from Anton Linde and Oliver Larsen with less than ten minutes remaining. Johannes Neumann pulled Austria within one with under give minutes to go, but despite pulling Benedikt Oschgan for an extra attacker for the final ninety seconds, the Lions held on for the tight 5-4 win.

Denmark will return to the Top Division for the first time since 2019, and for the eighth time in team history, after single stints in 2008 and 2012, followed by a five-year stay in the Top Division between 2015-19. The Danes will not know who they will replace until early January, with the relegation round at this year’s World Junior Championship in Ottawa scheduled for 02 January. The relegated team will join Division IA in 2026 alongside hosts Slovenia, Austria, France, Norway and a to-be promoted team from Division IB, while Denmark will be packing their bags for Minneapolis / Saint Paul!

Photo Credit: IIHF – HHOF – IOC