Ice welcome European defenders

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2021 (1489 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Max Streule and Martin Bohm started a crash course in Canadian hockey Thursday morning.

Fortunately, they’ll have some time to make the transition.

The two defencemen, chosen by the Winnipeg Ice in the 2021 Canadian Hockey League import draft, landed in the city Tuesday night and practised for the first time at the Rink Training Centre less than 48 hours later.

Both are expected to be play an integral role in the WHL club’s season.

“It was kind of busy, but the guys here were extremely open and happy with everything, so it’s kind of easy to get in here and get going,” said Streule, a 17-year-old from Zurich, Switzerland.

Streule and the 18-year-old Bohm, who hails from Prachatice, Czech Republic, come with similar physical attributes and skill sets. Both shoot left-handed and weigh 172 pounds. Streule is 5-11 while Bohm is 5-10.

“I really wanted to come here because everything’s faster, you can don’t have much time and space to decide what to do (with the puck) and the rink’s even smaller so it’s gonna be harder to get going,” said Streule.

Streule, who models his game after countryman Yannick Weber, had a difficult start to the 2020-21 season that had nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. He was diagnosed with a heart condition that required pre-season surgery and he missed three months while recovering.

“He’s got total clearance from the doctors, he feels great,” said Ice head coach James Patrick. “I know he’s very healthy and he looks very fit.”

Bohm, meanwhile, had an easy time when it came to researching his hockey future. He called some friends.

A buddy from home, Kristian Reichel, played one season for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels and is currently preparing for his fourth year with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose while another Czech compatriot, Michal Teply, played his 18-year-old season with the Ice in 2019-20 before graduating to the AHL.

“I feel so tired, the flight was so long and it was complicated today, but now it’s OK,” said Bohm. “I’m happy that I’m here and I’m so excited.”

Patrick is hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“It’s nice that he’s got a fellow Czech that he can talk to you and who’s been a player in the Western Hockey League and experienced hockey over here so I think that will be really helpful for him,” said Patrick. “But no doubt for both of them, the difference in the game, the difference in the size of the rinks and there’s no question the bus rides in the West, the physical play in the Western Hockey League is going to be a new experience for them. We’re going to let them grow with it and develop.”

Veteran forward Mikey Milne plans to do what he can to make the newcomers feel welcome. As a rookie, he was greeted by then captain Peyton Krebs.

“I just try to be a good example in the room, someone people can come to talk,” said Milne, 18. “The new guys came in today and they’re great guys. We’re excited to have them on board. I think they’re really excited for the year and we’re just going to talk to them as much as we can to make them feel comfortable. I know when I was 16 years old coming in, I was a bit nervous to know who to talk to.”

The Ice leave Friday morning for its first pre-season game in Regina against the Pats. The teams return to Winnipeg for a Saturday night matchup at the Rink Training Centre. Both game start at 7 p.m.

Winnipeg still has 32 players on its pre-season roster and Patrick said he had no plans to rush Streule or Bohm into the lineup.

“It’s important for everyone to get into games — young and old — because… it’s been a longer than normal off-season and because of how last year was,” said Patrick. “But like I’ve said a number of times, I really like our group, I think we got a lot of depth in the guys who are gonna push each other for roles and ice time. As far as (Friday), I’m going to get a feel for some of the younger guys in a lot of different situations.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14