For the second straight year, Germany narrowly avoided relegation at the World Junior Championship, this time eliminating Kazakhstan in a 4-3 victory to send the Kazakhs back down to Division IA in 2026, after only one year in the Top Division.

Germany and Kazakhstan, who previously met in the relegation round (which was then a best of three series) exactly five years ago, and were both relegated together in 2009, faced off after being outscored in the group round 20-8 and 30-8, respectively, with each team notching a lone point for an overtime loss. Kazakhstan jumped out to a 3-1 lead by the early second period, but the German power play ended up being the difference in the second half of the game, striking twice on a two-man advantage to even things up just 2:17 after Kazakhstan took a two-goal lead.

It was an Alexander Kim penalty early in the third that sealed the victory for the Träger der Adler, with Julius Sumpf scoring just five seconds into the man advantage to take the 4-3 lead, and Linus Viellard shut the door for the remainder of the game, clinching the win, and ensuring Germany will stay in the Top Division for the seventh straight tournament, last being relegated in 2015. Kazakhstan, on the other hand, is relegated after just one season promoted, spending 2021-24 in Division IA after being eliminated by Germany in 2020.

Kazakhstan will now join Austria, France, Norway, Slovenia, and the winner of this month’s Division IB tournament in Estonia, while Denmark will replace Kazakhstan as the promoted team in the Top Division, making their return to the top for the first time since 2019 after a dramatic victory over Austria to win Division IA earlier this month in Bled, Slovenia. Kazakhstan’s relegation continues the inconsistent rotation of various teams going up and down to Division IA over the past decade and a half:

Photo Credit: 2025 World Junior Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC