Bozen's bad boy: The best in the world raved about him

"He is a true leader. He does everything for the team, that's something you love as a teammate. You always want to have a guy like that around you." We didn't catch these words about Bozen's new signing Braden Christoffer from coach Glen Hanlon or captain Daniel Frank, and no: We didn't find them on the ice hockey portal either. Elite Prospects where the skaters are often described with such sentences. No, this statement dates back to 2015 and was made by none other than Connor McDavid.

THE Connor McDavid? Yes, that's right, THE Connor McDavid! The player who sets one record after another in the world of ice hockey. The player who is the nightmare of every defender and goalie in the National Hockey League, the NHL. The player who is generally considered the best player on the planet. But how is it that the superstar of the Edmonton Oilers pays the new Bolzano player such a compliment?

Connor McDavid is the best ice hockey player in the world. © APA / CODIE MCLACHLAN

"I like to remember that," says Braden Christoffer when we ask him about it after a training session in Bolzano. "The whole thing happened in September 2015 at a training camp with the Edmonton Oilers. I was without a contract at the time and was allowed to train with the Oilers before the season," says the now 30-year-old Canadian, who grew up near Edmonton. “It felt great to receive such compliments from McDavid.” Braden Christopher In a test match, Christoffer scored a goal à la McDavid: He elegantly weaved his way through two defenders and coolly put the puck into the net. This wonderful goal and other courageous performances ensured that even the then 18-year-old Connor McDavid was amazed by the then 21-year-old Christoffer. McDavid had been drafted number 1 that year and was about to play his first NHL season. Today, nine years later, 988 points in 651 games are impressive evidence that he is currently the best player in the world.

"McDavid is a great guy," Christoffer remembers, "but he was also a bit reserved because he was already a superstar back then. Of course, it felt great to receive such compliments from him." Christoffer's courageous performances in training camp earned him a contract with the Edmonton Oilers organization, but he was denied a place in the NHL. "The density of top players is simply huge," says Christoffer, who instead played for four years with the Bakersfield Condors - the Oilers' farm team - in the American Hockey League before moving on to Europe and playing in Norway, for HC Innsbruck and in the top Finnish league.

More than 100 penalty minutes – per season Last summer, Christoffer first joined Bozen in Italy - and when he was signed, one detail caught the eye of many fans. If there is one common thread running through the 30-year-old's career, it is the huge number of penalty minutes. In almost every season, he reached or exceeded the 100-minute mark, sometimes even spending around 150 minutes in the penalty box. "I can be a bad boy on the ice," says Christoffer with a grin. “I have had more than 50 boxing matches in my career.” Braden Christopher The many penalties also have to do with the fact that the Canadian is a fighter through and through - and drops his gloves when necessary. "I think I've had more than 50 boxing matches in my career," says Christoffer, who adds: "I wasn't a great hockey player in the past, I didn't have the skills that many others have. But because of my fighting spirit, I often stayed in the team and was able to improve my other qualities."

A hat trick of a special kind The Bolzano striker particularly likes to remember a match at Rexall Place, the arena where the Edmonton Oilers used to play their home games - and where Christoffer achieved a special feat. "I managed a Gordie Howe hat trick in front of my family - a goal, an assist and a fight. That was special." But it would be a mistake to limit Christoffer to his fighting qualities alone. The venomous center is also good with the hard rubber disc on his stick and has always delivered a lot of points in Europe. For HC Innsbruck, for example, he scored 51 in 46 games.

And what's the bad boy from Bolzano like in his private life? "I'm a quiet guy, I have fun with my teammates and I like playing video games," says Christoffer. He's also looking forward to his fiancée coming to visit South Tyrol soon. "She lives and works in Canada - with our cat and our dog. It's not easy when we're apart for so long during the season, of course, but she's a really impressive lady! We're getting married in the summer." Bad boy on the ice, nice guy off it: that probably describes Braden Christoffer best.

	SP	TV	P
1. Ilves Tampere	6	24:7	18
2. KalPa Kuopio	6	24:8	17
3. Frölunda Gothenburg	6	21:11	15
4. Sparta Prague	6	18:9	14
5. Lukko Rauma	6	21:14	13
6. ERC Ingolstadt	6	23:15	12
View all

	SP	TV	P
1. EC Klagenfurt	38	134:90	82
2. Graz99ers	38	125:80	78
3. EC Salzburg	39	133:82	75
4. HCB South Tyrol	38	136:100	72
5. HC Pustertal	37	130:99	66
6. Olimpija Ljubljana	38	139:106	65
View all

football

Italy

International leagues

International

hockey

tennis

Winter sports

Learn More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

Bozen's bad boy: The best in the world raved about him

HC Bozen is rocking the ICE Hockey League with its new stars. One of them is striker Braden Christoffer, who, in addition to his bad boy image, also brought a very special story with him to the city of Talfer. We met the Canadian.

Comments (0)