Germany, France, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia emerged as the leading teams in the initial round of the 2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations, a prestigious tournament that showcased 18 national teams from across Europe. These teams were strategically divided into five distinct groups, each competing fiercely for a chance to advance further in the competition. The tournament not only highlighted the skill and determination of the participating nations but also served as a platform for showcasing emerging talent in European ice hockey.
Germany wins the Deutschland Cup
2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations – Group 1
Germany secured their 11th title at the Deutschland Cup with a decisive 3–0 victory over Slovakia in Landshut. The match saw an explosive start as Parker Tuomie and the young talent Bennet Rossmy found the back of the net within a mere 68 seconds of each other, both goals occurring midway through the first period. The home crowd was further energized when Fabio Wagner, returning to his hometown, added a third goal early in the second period, solidifying Germany’s commanding lead. In goal, Maximilian Franzreb showcased his skills by successfully stopping all 28 shots fired at him, contributing significantly to the team’s shutout performance. This victory not only highlights Germany’s dominance in the tournament but also underscores the promising future of its younger players.
The Slovak national team, having claimed victory in the last two editions of the Deutschland Cup, found themselves in the runner-up position this time around, finishing the tournament with an equal total of six points alongside Germany. The standout performer for Slovakia was Matus Sukel, who emerged as the tournament’s top scorer. He kicked off his impressive campaign with a remarkable hat-trick during a commanding 6–2 triumph over their neighboring rivals, Austria. Sukel continued to showcase his scoring prowess in the subsequent match, netting two goals in a decisive 4–1 win against Latvia. Despite their strong performances, the Slovaks were unable to secure the championship title,
Following two disappointing defeats, where Latvia suffered 4–1 losses to both Germany and Slovakia, the team managed to regain their composure and secure a victory against Austria in their concluding match. In this crucial game, Deniss Smirnovs emerged as a standout player, demonstrating his offensive prowess by scoring in all three of Latvia’s matches during the tournament. His performance was particularly noteworthy in the contest against Austria, where he contributed significantly to the team’s success by not only finding the back of the net but also accumulating a total of three points in the 4–2 triumph.
Roger Bader’s Austrian national team secured a commendable fourth-place finish, but the highlight of their campaign will undoubtedly be their impressive 5–2 victory over the host nation, Germany, in front of a raucous crowd of 4,200 enthusiastic fans. This match not only showcased Austria’s skill and determination but also marked a significant milestone for Dominic Zwerger, who celebrated his 100th appearance for the national team by contributing to the scoreline. Vinzenz Rohrer emerged as a standout player, netting two goals that were pivotal in leading Austria to this memorable triumph.
2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations – Group 2
In their quest for an 11th Olympic appearance, France triumphed on home ice in Epinal, clinching first place in just two matches. Jordann Perret, the tournament’s top scorer, contributed significantly with two goals and an assist in a 3–1 victory against Denmark, another Olympic contender. In a subsequent match, veteran Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored in the third period, complemented by an empty-net goal from Aurelien Dair, leading to a 2–0 win over Norway, with 20-year-old Martin Necar achieving a shutout in front of 2,516 fans. With their top position already assured, coach Yorick Treille opted to rest key players, resulting in a 6–4 defeat to Hungary, who celebrated their first tournament victory, thanks to two goals each from Mark Schlenkmann and Gergely Mattyasovszky.
Norway secured a commendable second-place finish under the guidance of their newly appointed coach, Sjur Robert Nilsen. The team showcased their resilience by overcoming Denmark in a thrilling 3–2 overtime victory, with the decisive goal coming from late roster addition Patrick Elvsveen, who made a significant impact in his debut. Earlier in the tournament, Norway’s opener featured an impressive performance from 18-year-old Tinus Luc Koblar, a promising talent drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Koblar shone brightly, netting two goals that contributed to a solid 4–2 win against Hungary, highlighting his potential and the bright future ahead for Norwegian hockey.
Denmark, building on the momentum of their historic fourth-place finish at the World Championships, secured a commendable third place by decisively defeating Hungary with a score of 5–1. This victory not only highlights Denmark’s growing prowess in international competition but also serves as a crucial step in their preparations for their upcoming participation in the Olympics. The team’s performance reflects a blend of skill, strategy, and determination, showcasing their readiness to compete on the world stage.
2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations – Group 3
Poland emerged as the dominant force in Group C, securing the top position with a total of seven points accrued from three matches against formidable opponents. Under the guidance of their new head coach, Pekka Tirkkonen, the Polish team commenced their campaign with an impressive 4–2 victory over Italy, where Dominik Pas showcased his scoring prowess by netting two goals. Following this strong start, Poland continued their winning momentum by narrowly defeating Great Britain 1–0, with Pawel Zygmunt providing the decisive strike. However, the Eagles faced a setback in their quest for perfection, suffering a 3–2 defeat in overtime against Slovenia, where Jan Cosic emerged as the hero for the opposing team by scoring the winning goal. This performance highlighted both the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Polish squad.
Italy’s head coach, Jukka Jalonen, who successfully guided the team to promotion last year, is diligently refining his roster in preparation for the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Following a challenging start marked by an opening day defeat, the team demonstrated resilience by securing a thrilling 5–4 overtime victory against Great Britain, with Rudy Rigoni making his debut as the starting goaltender. In their concluding match, the Italian squad showcased their offensive prowess by outshooting Slovenia 54 to 24, ultimately clinching a 3–2 win. The decisive goal came from Alessandro Segafredo, who scored in the third period after Slovenia had mounted a comeback from a two-goal deficit, highlighting the team’s ability to maintain composure under pressure and their determination to succeed on the international stage.
Slovenia commenced their campaign with an impressive 5–1 triumph over Great Britain, showcasing their skill and determination on the ice. This strong opening performance set the tone for their tournament, ultimately leading them to secure a third-place finish. In contrast, Great Britain, who had previously claimed the gold medal in Division IA last spring, struggled throughout the competition and concluded their efforts with only a single point.
2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations – Group 4
Lithuania’s promising young talent, Simas Ignatavicius, celebrated his 18th birthday just last month and has already begun to make a significant impression on the ice, particularly in front of his home fans. As a prospect for Geneve-Servette and a likely candidate for selection in the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Ignatavicius showcased his skills during the host nation’s opening match against Ukraine, where he scored the decisive goal in a thrilling comeback that secured a 2–1 victory for Lithuania. Following this impressive performance, the Lithuanian team maintained their momentum by replicating the same scoreline in their subsequent game against Romania, with contributions from Ilja Cetvertak and Ugnius Cizas, ultimately allowing them to top Group 4 in the tournament standings.
In a commanding performance, Ukraine secured a decisive 4–1 victory over Romania, with Oleksander Peresunko standing out by scoring two of the four goals. Romania’s return to the World Championship Division I Group B after a hiatus since 2019, but the team faced significant challenges on the offensive front. Throughout the course of 120 minutes, they managed to find the back of the net only twice, highlighting their struggles to convert opportunities into goals. The game showcased Ukraine’s dominance and tactical prowess, while Romania will need to reassess their strategies to improve their scoring capabilities in future competitions.
2026 IIHF European Cup of Nations – Group 5
As the anticipation builds for the 2026 IIHF World Championship Division I Group B in Shenzhen, China, the three competing teams recently gathered at Tallinn’s Tondiraba Ice Arena for a crucial series of matches. The host nation, Estonia, emerged as the dominant force in Group E, showcasing their prowess by winning both of their games and amassing an impressive total of 16 goals. Under the guidance of coach Petri Skriko, Estonia delivered a commanding performance against Spain, securing an 8–2 victory, where standout players Erik Potsinok and Daniil Fursa each contributed two goals to the scoreboard. Following this, Estonia continued their winning streak by blanking the Netherlands with a decisive 6–0 win, highlighted by a two-goal effort from Nikita Puzakov and a stellar shutout performance from goaltender Conrad Molder, further solidifying their status as a formidable contender in the upcoming championship.
Spain triumphed over the Netherlands with a score of 4–2 in a thrilling match that showcased the talents of both teams. The standout performer for Spain was Joan Valles, who made a significant impact by scoring two goals, demonstrating his skill and composure in front of the net. His contributions were pivotal in securing the victory for the Spanish side. On the opposing team, the youthful Dutch roster, managed by Doug Mason, fought valiantly and managed to find the back of the net twice, thanks to the efforts of Olaf-Jan Schöningh and Jay Huisman. Their goals highlighted the potential and determination of the younger players, even as they faced a more experienced Spanish squad.
