<div align="center">REINHART EXCITED AS DRAFT DAY APPROACHES

With the NWJHL Entry Draft rapidly approaching, every prospect will be anxiously awaiting their name to be called. While it is certainly the dream of every player in attendance to be the first name chosen, there is of course no shame in going later. Some of the greatest players in both NWJHL and SHL history have gone not only after the first pick, but after the first round. One of those many prospects hoping to be chosen in the early rounds of the draft is German defenseman Cole Reinhart.


Reinhart (#11 shown) with his DEL club Eishockeyclub München.

Reinhart is just the latest in a quickly growing number of highly talented German players coming over to play in North America. In the most recent SHL Entry Draft, picks two through four were all from Germany. While Rashad Thomas, David Winter and Anton Wagner have already made a name for themselves and are on their way to beginning long, and likely successful SHL careers, there are still more prospects from the country coming out of the woodwork, and Reinhart is perhaps the most intriguing. When asked about the sudden influx of German-born players in North America, Reinhart gave credit to the improvements made to minor hockey in the country.

“I think you're seeing a lot more of us coming over to be successful in these leagues because the program over there has improved so much. Germany has always been one of the more competitive countries in the world, but we were never at that elite level. I think now we're getting closer to that level, and it's thanks to the attention our minor and junior hockey programs are getting now. Hockey is growing so fast back home, and it's great to be one of the many players coming over to play in North America.”

Certainly with his draft day approaching, it was hard for Reinhart to contain his excitement. Whenever we brought up the topic of the draft, and playing in the NWJHL, his face would light up immediately. Obviously for a player so young to come overseas from another continent, the move is a big change, not only in the style of play on the ice, but the culture off of it. We wondered how he was adjusting the the North American way of life.

“It's been really great so far.” Reinhart said. “I haven't been here for very long, and I've just been staying with my family in a hotel waiting for the draft, but from what I've seen, it's a great place to live. It's going to be hard when they go back home and I move in with a billet family or whatever after the draft, but it's all a learning experience and part of making a living through hockey.”


Cole Reinhart (#13) with the German National U-20 Team

Since the draft is almost here, we decided to ask Reinhart about his thoughts concerning the NWJHL and the draft. We wanted to know what round he could see himself going in, and if he had a specific team he would like to be drafted to.

“Well, I don't really know. I think I'm a strong enough player to go in the first round, but there are a lot of talented guys in this draft class. I've met a lot of them and so many of them deserve to go early.” he said. “For a team, I don't know that either. Back home in Germany we don't know much about the NWJHL or their teams, so it's something new for me to learn about these teams and get a chance to talk to the management of them. I don't have a preference, I just want to play in the NWJHL and get the best chance to make it to the SHL some day.”

In closing we asked him about his style of play. After reading the scouting reports it became clear that this was a defenseman who liked to contribute both defensively and offensively. We asked who his favourite player was growing up, and if he plays the way he does because of that person.

“My favourite player was actually Olaf Kolzig. He was born in South Africa but represented Germany and I always really loved watching him play. When I was younger I loved to play goaltender... all I can see is it's a good thing I changed to defenseman! As far as who has influenced my playing style, obviously not Kolzig, at least not as a defenseman, but I think you could compare my game to Christian Ehrhoff. I've been following him closely since he made it to the NHL and I think we have a lot of similarities because we both love to start plays and work the power play, but understand the responsibilities of our position.”

After talking to Reinhart for the time we were with him, it became evident that he's just like every other young ice hockey player. He's got a lot of confidence and a dream to make it to the pros one day, and he's definitely on the right track. Early mock drafts have Reinhart slotted to go in the early-to-middle parts of the second round, so he won't have to wait long to find out where he will play his junior hockey. One thing is for sure, he's got a good head on his shoulders, and the talent to be one of the best defensemen in the NWJHL this year.</div>

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