BerlinHe has surprised in the Jets organization and sees the summer as an opportunity for development
The Leon Gawanke It clicked – or so the national coach thinks. “He has also developed a lot mentally in the last few years and now understands how hard he has to work in the future in order to fully exploit his qualities at some point,” says Toni Söderholm about the talented defender who exceeded the expectations of many experts in his first professional season. Was the BerlinAlthough he was initially part of a defense rotation on the Winnipeg Jets' farm team and not a permanent part of the top six, he had ultimately made himself quite indispensable, especially with his offensive drive, by the time the AHL season was canceled in March.
“It went better than anyone imagined,” said Gawanke, who is enjoying his AHL debut year after 48 games for Manitoba mosses with notable four goals and 22 assists concluded: "I was very surprised by it myself - it's nice how it went." Even if he is not yet eligible for a place in the Jets' squad for the planned NHL restart at the end of July/beginning of August, Gawanke has played his way past several other talented defenders in the organization and currently has a good prospect in Winnipeg. He is aware of this, but also sees it as an obligation. “I have to take the next step now so that they can no longer get past me”, emphasizes the 21-year-old combatively.
For this next step, Gawanke wants to further improve his defensive work, something he was repeatedly pointed out during the season and ultimately in the feedback discussion with the Jets management at the end. “I should compensate for my deficits, become even stronger and stick with it. For the NHL, defense and offense have to be good and next year the expectations will be higher because of the performances,” says Gawanke, who is spending the summer in his hometown and is currently with colleagues from the Eisbären Berlin working on his fitness. Where his passion for ice hockey began.
“My father worked at GASAG, the Eisbären’s sponsor at the time, got tickets for a game and simply took me with him. I was still five then. I thought it was cool and wanted to try it too“ says Gawanke. Said and done. A trial training session with the Eisbären followed and the fascination never left him. “Ice hockey was always my favorite hobby, now I've turned it into a career for fun,” notes Gawanke, “and when there are times when it gets to you, you just have to shake yourself and remember how blessed you actually are .”
This may also be a good recipe for the current phase, because no one can predict how long strength training will last at home due to the ongoing uncertainty. Gawanke nevertheless wants to make a virtue out of necessity: “Maybe the long summer is an opportunity"That you can take even more development steps than usual." He also learned a lot in his first year as a professional, the step out of the young talent area "was big," remembers Gawanke, who went to North America in 2016 and initially three years for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL played: “You don’t want to believe it, but then you immediately notice in the first training session what intensity the professionals have.” An intensity to which he quickly adapted.
That's why Gawanke, whose NHL rights the Jets secured in the fifth round at position 2017 in 136, is now part of the team Candidate group for the national team, which he “of course” defined as a big goal, as did participating in the Olympics. Toni Söderholm, the Gawanke also from the DEB-U20 promotion team from 2019 around Moritz Seider, attests to his “very, very high potential” and highlights some of the qualities of the right-handed shooter. “He likes to take responsibility on the ice and can drive the game forward very well. He also has a very strong shot from the blue line.", he explains DEB-Coach – and concludes: “His size, his reach and his strength offer him many, many opportunities.”
Gawanke still knows that it “won’t be easy” to get one of the coveted places in the DEBteam to get hold of. However, his motivation is all the greater because German ice hockey is currently on the rise - ignoring the possible effects of the corona pandemic. “It’s exciting and makes you want more.”, he says, “German ice hockey is getting better every year, getting more attention and being taken more seriously. At some point we want to be at the top.”
By 2026, according to one of the core theses of the “POWERPLAY 26” concept, German ice hockey should be to the point where medals are regularly within reach. Gawanke would love to be there, but “there’s still a lot of time until then.” And, for example, he’s waiting for his NHL dream to come true.
Photos: Jonathan Kozub/Manitoba Moose – City-Press