Germany defeats Kazakhstan 4-1 at hockey World Championship
Germany, riding on its strong performance, entered the May 11 match of the second round of the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship as the clear favorite against Kazakhstan, which was viewed as a dark horse. Ultimately, the team that was favored to win delivered, securing a 4-1 victory. The three-goal difference fairly reflected Germany’s dominance throughout the game.
Kazakhstan struck first, catching a stroke of luck early in the match. German captain and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider scored an own goal while attempting to intercept a pass from Nikita Mikhailis in the fourth minute. Mikhailis was credited with the goal.
Despite the early setback, Germany quickly seized control. Kazakhstan’s goalkeeper Maxim Pavlenko, as in the previous match, put on a stellar performance with several brilliant saves. However, even Pavlenko’s sharp form couldn’t stop Maximilian Kastner from finding the back of the net in the 14th minute, with Seider redeeming himself by contributing to the play.
In the second period, Kazakhstan mounted a rapid attack, only to be punished on the counter when Wojciech Stachowiak scored in the 35th minute. Germany came close to extending its lead even further, with two powerful shots ricocheting off the crossbar instead of beating Pavlenko. Kazakhstan head coach Oleg Bolyakin watched as his team struggled to capitalize on power plays early in the second period, failing to create scoring opportunities while nearly conceding a goal. The period ended with Germany leading 2-1.
Germany sealed its victory in the final 20 minutes with two more goals. Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel scored in the 42nd minute, followed by defenseman Lukas Kalble in the 46th. Despite Kazakhstan’s efforts, the 4-1 loss was a fair reflection of the gap in strength and skill between the two teams.
On May 10, Kazakhstan opened the group stage with a 2-1 victory over Norway. The team will face Hungary on May 13, which is considered the weakest in the group. However, Kazakhstan’s path forward remains challenging, as there are no easy opponents in this tournament.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, while the bottom two will be relegated from the elite division.
This year’s World Championship does not include Olympic qualification. The roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy has already been determined, and Kazakhstan is not among the participants. The team lost to Slovakia last August in the decisive match for a spot in Turin.
The 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark, from May 9 to 25. Sixteen teams are competing in a round-robin format, split into two groups.
The defending world champions are the Czech Republic, who defeated Switzerland 2-0 in last year’s final. Sweden secured the bronze medal with a 4-2 win over Canada. Kazakhstan, under head coach Galym Mambetaliyev, finished sixth in its group last year, ahead of France and Poland.
The 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship team standings after the partially completed second round:
