When the NHL is mentioned in this country, it is currently mostly about two players.
Leon Draisaitl, last season’s MVP, who scored one scorer point after the other, and Tim Stützle, a young man with the Ottawa Senators, who was already really convincing at the age of 19. (Selected NHL games LIVE on free TV SPORT1)
There are many more Germans in the best ice hockey league in the world. One of them is Nico Sturm. The 25-year-old has been playing in the league since 2019 – and with great success.
It has been a few weeks since he achieved something very special in the jersey of his Minnesota Wild. For the first time in his career he scored a brace. And that despite the fact that he had only scored one goal before – in the playoffs last year.
Storm overcomes Grubauer
In the 6-2 victory of Wild against the Colorado Avalanche, Sturm overcame compatriot Philipp Grubauer of all people. (SERVICE: All games and results of the NHL)
“The performance was also good in the previous games – only the discs didn’t go in. I see that as a reward for the work of the season so far,” explained Sturm and joked in the direction of the goalie: “Maybe he felt sorry for us with me because it didn’t work out before. “
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His coach Dean Evason was also delighted with the 25-year-old’s double success: “It’s nice when a guy like him is so rewarded.”
No selection in the NHL draft
This “guy” fought hard for his place in the NHL. While he was still playing in his Bavarian homeland as a teenager, he moved to the United States in 2014. At Clarkson University, the center played in the ECAC, a college league played by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
A time of awards and prizes for Sturm. As a freshman he was elected to the All-Rookie Team, later to the Third All-Star Team and the First All-Star Team. The award as the best defensive striker was also awarded twice. However, he was not considered in the NHL draft.