In the past weeks, a handful of countries have announced their hockey rosters for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan, one of them being Germany. Their goaltenders have been a point of attention at the past few Olympics with fifth all time in DEL wins Danny aus den Birken leading the team to a somewhat surprising silver medal in 2018, but Olaf Kolzig was the last significant (starting) NHL goalie to lead the team. That changes this year, as a red hot (but 34-year-old) Philip Grubauer will lead his country for the first time at the Olympic games.
As we detail their careers, which of these goalies do you think will end up being the team’s starting goalie as Germany competes for a medal this year?
Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken
Born 1991 (Age 34)
Forget last season. Grubauer is one of two German-born goalies to play 1000 games in the NHL (Kolzig), having won the OHL and Memorial Cup championship with the Windsor Spitfires, the D-1 U20 World Championship, and the Stanley Cup.
Grubauer has posted over a .920% in more than five seasons (including this year with Seattle) in his 10+ years in the league. His bounce back this year was slightly overdue, but right on time for him to represent in country as a starter.
Maximilian Franzreb, Adler Mannheim
Born 1996 (Age 29)
Franzreb has played nine years in the DEL (Germany’s top professional league). After winning goaltender of the year in the DEL2 in 2021, he posted a .941% in 19 games with the Fischtown Pinguins in 2022. At the 2023 World Championships, Franzreb was in the press box as a third string en route to a Silver Medal.
His career .917% in 140+ DEL games speaks volumes to Maximilian’s consistency and dedication. He is the youngest goalie on the squad by almost four years.
Mathias Niederberger, Red Bull Munchen
Born 1992 (Age 33)
Niederberger was once a German prodigy between the pipes. In 2012 he won the D-1 World Championship after going 5-0 with a .921%, and in his next season with the Barrie Colts of the OHL he won 35 of 56 games with a .944%. These stats should have gotten any young goaltender drafted, but Niederberger was barely 5’11. He had a brief stint in the AHL as a 21-year-old before returning to Germany, where his career truly began.
Mathias is a 2-time DEL Goalie of the Year, and a 3-time DEL Champion, cementing himself among the league’s all time best. In 2023 at the World Championships, Niederberger was named one of the Top 3 Players of Team Germany after brute forcing the team to a Silver Medal.
Who do you think ends the tournament as Germany’s starting goaltender?
One response to “Olympic Goalies: Team Germany”
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