For the first time since 2014, the German Ice Hockey Federation will have a women’s team in the Olympic Games. Head coach Jeff MacLeod expressed his excitement for the tournament, stating, “We have assembled a group of athletes who have already competed in many tournaments together, and some young players who have proven themselves in recent training camps. We are confident in ourselves as a unit and are looking forward to the Olympic ice hockey tournament with great anticipation.”
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Hockey Tournament
Germany’s roster is highlighted by talent from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), NCAA, and other professional hockey organizations. Among the standouts to keep an eye on are veteran defender Daria Gleißner and forwards Laura Kluge and Franziska Feldmeier.
Daria Gleißner
Defender Gleißner is a staple on Germany’s national team. The 32-year-old has been playing with her home country since 2011-12, when she competed in her first Women’s World Championship. She has competed internationally 12 times since then in various tournaments.
Her veteran presence is an asset both on and off the ice. She served as captain of ECDC Memmingen for seven seasons, proving herself a valuable member of the team in multiple ways. While Memmingen’s season is just getting started, Gleißner has performed at a point-per-game pace with two points in as many games. Last season, she had 14 points in 19 games.
She will continue to be a cornerstone of Germany’s national team and should be a fun player to watch as the Olympics get underway.
Laura Kluge
Forward Kluge is one of the few members of the team with PWHL experience. She previously played with the Toronto Sceptres, but signed a one-year contract with the Boston Fleet in the most recent offseason. Fleet general manager Danille Marmer described her as bringing “an impressive combination of size, speed, and toughness,” as well as “tremendous potential”.
She had a solid college career with St. Cloud State from 2017-18 to 2020-21. The forward amassed 52 points in 99 games before joining ECDC Memmingen to play professionally. In her first season there, she excelled with 39 points in 19 games.
Last season, she joined Germany in the Women’s World Championship, where she tallied four points in five games. The Olympics will be the 14th time she has joined the national squad as an adult, and for good reason. Kluge consistently puts up multiple points in international tournaments and has proven herself a solid and reliable player for Team Germany time and time again.
Franziska Feldmeier
Feldmeier is a forward and teammate of Gleißner on ECDC Memmingen. This is her first season with the team. Last season, she tallied an impressive 26 points in 20 games with Eisbaren Juniors Berlin. The Olympic tournament will be her seventh time representing her home country. In last year’s Women’s World Championship (though Germany did not advance far), she performed at a stellar pace, notching two points in two games.
She has won multiple German championships in her career and is no stranger to tough competition. She is a strong player who has overcome adversity, injuries, and plenty of tough opponents to get to where she is today. She is a welcome addition to Team Germany, who should show up and shine in each game.
These three skaters, along with the rest of the roster, will be participating in Group B of the tournament, meaning they will have to face France, Italy, Japan, and Sweden to qualify for the quarterfinals. They play their first game against Japan on Feb. 7 and continue group play through Feb. 9. Should they advance to quarterfinals, competition begins on Feb. 13.
