Penguins winger part of rare group to make NHL from Germany

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Tom Kuhnhackl's dad is a legitimate German hockey legend, but that's not why the Pittsburgh Penguins winger chose hockey in a country where most opt for soccer.

Or, at least, that's not entirely why.

The 24-year-old kicked the soccer ball around like most kids in his well-to-do hometown of Landshut and played tennis, too. But he ultimately picked hockey, becoming one of only 26 German-born players to ever play in the NHL.

"It's not usual for a German guy to pick hockey over soccer or anything else," said Kuhnhackl, who scored the short-handed game-winner in the Penguins Game 1 victory over the Rangers. "I just played it because I had fun and I had a lot of friends. At one point my dad and a couple friends said 'Hey maybe you should stick to hockey because you're not bad at it.'"

His dad, Erich Kuhnhackl, is something of a legend in German hockey. He played more than 200 games internationally for Germany and won a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics in Austria. He won four German league championships, scored nearly two points per game and is a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame.

He was named the German hockey player of the century in 2000 and is nicknamed the "wardrobe on skates" for his imposing six-foot-five frame. He also coached and managed local teams in Germany.

"I kind of wanted to make my dad proud I guess knowing that he was a hockey player, too," said the younger Kuhnhackl. "I guess that had a little bit to do with it, too."

"I hope I made him a little proud," Kuhnhackl added. "It's just incredible the kind of career he had."

Germany is six hours ahead of local time in Pittsburgh, but Kuhnhackl's father watches all his son's games. He texts him afterward to say "Good game."

The two connect via FaceTime on off-days, though dad is apparently careful not to over-coach his son. Sometimes Tom Kuhnhackl has to ask for advice, pepper his father with questions about a shift he may have misplayed the other night.

Playing in the East Coast Hockey League as recently as two seasons ago, Kuhnhackl has made himself into a valued young player for the Penguins. A fourth round pick in 2010, he scored 15 points in 42 games this year, becoming a dependable penalty killer and depth presence for Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan.

Sullivan, who also coached Kuhnhackl in the AHL, describes him as versatile, a quality checker and shot blocker and capable body along the boards.

"Tommy Kuhnhackl, a few years ago was in the East Coast League and now he's an NHL player," said Sullivan. "I think that's a testament to his determination and his love for the game, the fact that he wants to excel and be at the highest level."

He may have chose hockey in a place where few do, but soccer, remains in his blood. Kuhnhackl says he's a rabid fan of Bayern Munich.

He doesn't know if more kids in Germany will make the choice he did in picking hockey. The German league is mostly filled with imports, many from Canada.

"So how is that going to develop the young German hockey?" Kuhnhackl said.

His local team in Landshut placed a premium on developing young talent, including Arizona Coyotes forward, Tobias Rieder, a former teammate of Kuhnhackl's, and Marco Sturm, who played nearly 1,000 NHL games and was Kuhnhackl's favourite player growing up.

Rieder and Kuhnhackl remain a rare breed in the NHL today.

Only eight of the 990 players to suit up at least once this season, or less than one per cent, hail from Germany.