What's it like to play hockey in Germany?
Player’s Name: Hayden Trupp
Who do you currently play for? (Team Name, League, Country):
HC Landsberg Riverkings, Oberliga Süd, Germany
Favorite part about playing hockey in Europe in general?
I’ve been fortunate to have been on teams here with incredible teammates, from day one of arriving I was welcomed with open arms and everyone helped me feel comfortable and made sure I was taken care of. Whether it was taking me out to lunch/dinner or taking me shopping in those first weeks to get me settled in, what seems like simple tasks are made difficult when you don’t speak the language or know the customs; my teammates took me under their wing that first year which I believed not only helped my on-Ice performance, but also made me want to return the next year.
The fans in Germany are on another level, even if there are a quarter of the fans you’re used to playing in front of in North America, I guarantee the fans will be twice as loud here. The fans are passionate and chant the whole game, playing against a rival team with a packed arena and fans chanting back and forth will give you goosebumps.
How many years of pro have you been playing hockey in Europe to date?
6 seasons
Describe how your experience of living in Germany has been. What is everyday life like outside of the rink?
Germany seems to always have something going on, some sort of festival or occasion to celebrate. Shortly after my arrival for the season, Oktoberfest starts up (September-October); after that is over, the Christmas markets start opening up (November-December); then in the new year, “Fasching” (carnival) is the next event (January-February), which is similar to Halloween where people dress up.
One of the great things about playing in southern Germany is that we are so close to other countries, it’s crazy to me that you can drive a few hours in any direction, and you will experience a different language, different culture, and different landscape. But as far as everyday living, I just try to get out as much as I can whether it’s trying new restaurants or exploring areas of the city I haven’t been to, meeting up with teammates as much as I can and being open to new things, and even trying to learn the language.
What’s the style of play and the skill level of hockey like in Germany?
The Oberliga Süd is a fast/skilled league; there is less physicality than my experience playing Division 1 (NCAA). And I feel that with the bigger ice surface here, it opens up more opportunities to make plays all of the ice, which can make for some exciting games. Because of that, a quick/deceptive player, especially in the offensive zone, can have a lot of success in this league.
Playing Hockey in Europe as an import
How many import players are allowed per team in the league? How was it playing there with the other imports on/off the ice?
Our league allows 2 import players. I’ve actually never played with another import from North America, the other import has always been from another country in Europe. But of course being the only 2 imports, there’s always some chemistry because a lot of the time you’re paired up together both on and off ice.
Do you have a favorite story or two of yours from playing hockey in Europe?
My first week in Germany was a complete culture shock, after a 24 hour travel day I landed in Germany and was at practice just hours later.
I was jet lag, got a bloody nose during practice, didn’t know what the coach was saying, and to add to it, after practice my team was having some drinks to celebrate a birthday..with all that, plus not knowing how much stronger German beer was than American beer, let’s just say that was a tough entrance into Europe.
Day two, the plan is that I’m getting picked up from my apartment before practice from my manager with what will be my new car, and after practice I will be able to take it. He picks me up, he’s explaining some stuff about the car, I’m trying to pay attention to the streets he’s taking because I still have no idea where I live or where the rink is, but I think I do a good job of remembering, the drive takes no more than 5 minutes.
I come out after practice and there is so much fog, and keep in mind these practices are late in the day, because some guys have school or work, and this was December 3rd so it’s pitch black and foggy outside, and I’ve been to my apartment two times. I didn’t have an international phone plan so my phone only worked with WiFi, there was no way to call someone and no way to look up the address, I clearly didn’t do a good job of remembering directions because it took me an hour and a half to find my apartment..
Later that week we had a few games, I remember in one game we weren’t playing as well as I thought we should be.
Before I understood German, the language seemed pretty aggressive to me, and my coach at the time had a pretty deep Bavarian accent. He came in the locker room during the intermission and from my perspective i thought he was furious, he came in yelling, pointed at some guys, pointed to the rink, wrote some words on the board, then stormed out, I thought he had just ripped into us for not playing well. I turned to my stall mate (the best English speaking guy on the team that I had to sit next to) and said “Dang, he sounded pissed, can you translate what he said?” And he’s casually said “Oh he’s not mad, he said we were actually playing well”.
After 6 years here I can think of countless stories, but thinking back to those first days in Germany and how different and foreign this place was for me, seems crazy since this place is a second home for me now.
Which country/region do you currently reside in during the off season and what do you enjoy most during the summer while you are out of the season?
Because of corona I spent last summer in Germany, but normally I travel back to Alaska in the summer where I spend a lot of my time fishing/ golfing/ hiking with friends and family. Sounds like a typical response, but because of the distance during the season and little time to spend with friends and family during the summer, i try to do the outdoor activities I enjoy with the people I enjoy.
One final question: Favorite word/phrase you learned (or like using) in the foreign language where you played?
I don’t really have a favorite German word but i recently learned the word “Ohrwurm” which I thought was interesting. It translates into “ear worm”, meaning if you have a song stuck in your head.
What's it like to Play Pro Hockey in Sweden?
