Photo: Winnipeg Jets Twitter
Striker Kristian Reichel returns to Europe after seven years abroad. However, if he does not join Litvínov or another extra-league team, he will instead connect his future with the highest German competition. He immediately agreed on a three-year contract with Mannheim.
The fact that Reichel has Czech and German citizenship certainly played a role. Part of his family, including uncle Martin and cousin Lukas Reichel, still lives in Germany, his famous father Robert also played two seasons there.
“I am looking forward to this new opportunity,” reports Reichel in his first interview after signing with Mannheim. “Returning to Europe will definitely be a change for me. I would like to build on last season in Canada and do everything to make the team successful.”
The 25-year-old center played a great year in the farm AHL: in the Manitoba jersey, he scored a total of 23 goals in 70 duels and added nineteen assists. He finished fifth in the club’s scoring, but did not receive a call-up to the main team in Winnipeg.
He has now finished his overseas stint – during which he made fifteen starts in the NHL.
“He is a team player who works hard every game.”
Reichel will be the only Czech compatriot in Mannheim, who belongs to the leading teams in Germany: in 2019 he went all the way to the title, and in the following four seasons he went to the semi-finals three times.
“He’s a team player who works hard in every game,” says local coach Dallas Eakins, who is happy about the new addition. “In addition, he is right-handed and is valid in all game situations. I believe that his experience in America will also help us.”
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