Seventeen-year-old Max Calce became the youngest German goalscorer in history during the Deutschland Cup. The teenager scored in a comeback effort against Slovakia.
Calce, a forward for Adler Mannheim, scored a power-play goal in the 48th minute of Germany’s match against Slovakia. The goal made the score 2-3, part of a larger comeback effort after Germany fell behind 0-3. The team ultimately secured second place in the four-country tournament with a 4-3 result.
“It was really fun coaching him this week,” said André Rankel, who was making his debut as national team coach. Germany failed to defend its title at the tournament, but the result against Slovakia provided a positive finish.
Calce was named the best German player of the game for his performance against Slovakia. He had impressed throughout the entire Deutschland Cup tournament with his play.
Despite the historic achievement, Calce remained focused on the team. “We all stayed calm, took our chances, and fought back as a team,” Calce said after the game.
Rankel praised Calce’s grounded demeanor, while Tobias Rieder, a former NHL forward who plays for Red Bull München, spoke highly of the young player.
“That’s an incredible player, and it’s just fun to be on the ice with him,” Rieder said.
Calce has good prospects of being selected in the first round of the upcoming NHL Draft. He would join a group of German players who became world-class players in the North American professional league, including Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Moritz Seider.
NHL scouts were present in Düsseldorf for the Deutschland Cup to observe.
“For me, he handled it coolly,” Rankel said. “I noticed it a bit in the first game, but from then on, he really played his own game.”
The next major milestone for Calce will be the NHL Draft. His performance at the Deutschland Cup has highlighted his prospects for the upcoming draft.
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