Florian Elias is not above anything, a bundle of energy, hard-working, capable of development. In short: The 18-year-old is an important part of the German U20 national team and as such a player that U20 national coach Tobias Abstreiter will also rely on at the IIHF U20 World Championships in Edmonton. “I took him with me for the first time in Switzerland at the end of July. I have to say he has made good development so far,” says the head coach about the nimble winger.
At the end of July in Switzerland, the U20 had the opportunity to take part in three test comparisons against their Swiss contemporaries and Elias managed to get himself into the conversation - including at his club Adler Mannheim. Elias was so convincing there that coach Pavel Gross gave him the opportunity to make his first mark with the professionals at the Magenta Cup. Against the Schwenninger Wild Wings (4:2), Elias promptly took advantage of the chance to score his first professional goal. “He is very willing to learn, absorbs everything and then puts it into practice in the game. Florian is a good boy, a very good character and does everything for the team,” explains Abstreiter.
The team that will also be in the foreground at the World Cup tournament and that will be needed in order to deliver the performances that the selection of the German Ice Hockey Federation eV imagines. Elias is happy about so much praise and trust from the trainers. “It feels very good when you know that you have the support, that gives you strength and tailwind,” says the Augsburg native, and of course he also knows that he still has a long way to go until he becomes a seasoned professional: “Everything one after the other and one step at a time by step. I hope I can work my way out. Patience is very, very important.”
Also about a month ago at Deutschland Cup Elias had hinted at what was inside him. There, like six other players from the U20 World Cup squad, he was part of the top team in Beijing, which performed admirably overall. In the 2:4 against Latvia, Elias even provided the assist for Filip Reisnecker's 1:1, a combination that is also conceivable in the World Juniors. “I was really happy to be there, it was a great experience,” said Elias after the impressions of the days in Krefeld.
Even with his small stature of just over 1,70m, he sees no disadvantage; he knows how to assert himself and makes up for his lack of height with effort. “If there is the willingness and will to win the duels, then you will find a way,” says Elias, whose at least equally talented brother Moritz (born in 2004) plays for the Jungadler in Mannheim and recently moved to the Nürnberg Ice Tigers was awarded in order not to suffer any setback in development in the difficult times of the corona pandemic and the resulting forced break in the DNL. “We are two relatively different types of players. But it's always great to play together with him, we're on the ice together every now and then," says Florian, who sees his brother as being ahead in stick handling, but thinks he's stronger in skating.
In Edmonton, Elias could possibly play in a forward formation alongside Tim Stützle and John Peterka, which would be the next visible reward for his constant commitment. For the U20 national coach, the long-term perspective is already becoming clear. “If he continues like this, then he has a good future ahead of him,” says Abstreiter. Certainly also in the DEL with the Adler, says the coach: “Pavel Gross and the Mannheim team are using young players – and if they think that Florian is ready, then they will use him too.” Elias wants the decision to be made by those in charge in the city of squares Simplify with performance: “You wait for the opportunity and until then you have to work really well to earn the opportunities.”
Photos Deutschland-Cup: City-Press