Germany: Martin Walter Profile

Team: Hamburg Freezers (DEL, signed through 2005)

Hometown: Ostrava, Slovakia

Country: Germany

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 185 pounds

Shoots: right

An eventful season came to a close Sunday for 20-year-old Martin Walter when his Hamburg Freezers were eliminated by the Frankfurt Lions in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga Playoffs. The youngster was just hoping for some playing time when he arrived for his second year in Hamburg, however, he emerged as one of the top prospects in the DEL and debuted on the international stage with Team Germany.

Under North American standards, Walter would have been a legitimate candidate for "DEL Rookie of the Year" honors. He hadn't touched DEL ice before the 2003-04 season. But dressing for a single game in 2002-03 spoiled his rookie status according to the odd statutes of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

As a defensive defenseman, he does not impress with flashy coast-to-coast rushes or hard point shots. Walter only recorded nine assists in 51 regular season games, but he ranked among the league's top-ten players in the plus/minus category (+17). Moreover, he was among the DEL's least-penalized players with only 12 penalty minutes.

Walter was born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia October 23, 1983. The Walters emigrated to the German border town of Waldkraiburg when he was seven years old. There he started playing hockey in school. Walter is a product of the "Deutsche Nachwuchs-Liga" (DNL), a national junior league that was founded four years ago. He became the first DNL player to earn a regular DEL roster spot.

Walter was signed to a two-year deal by the München Barons in the spring of 2002. Just a couple of weeks later, the ownership surprised players and fans with a sudden off-season relocation from Munich to Hamburg. Head coach Sean Simpson and his team went through a lot of adversity. Several key players left. Moreover, the Freezers had to start the season with an 18-game road trip as their new home was still being built. A situation that did not help Martin Walter's cause.

"The team really stunk early in the season," said Walter. "We lost a lot of games and there was a lot of pressure on everybody. I had six veteran defensemen ahead of me. It was not an easy situation. I think that as a young player, you are a lot more likely to get ice time on a good team than on a slumping one."

Walter requested his demotion to the minors and played for EV Landshut and EHC Freiburg of the "2. Bundesliga" (Div-2). He truly blossomed in Freiburg where he became an integral part of the team's surprising championship run.

A new coach had taken reins when Walter returned to Hamburg in the summer of 2003. But his outlook was not brighter: "I almost fainted when I learned that we had eight defensemen on the roster," he said. "But I knew I could battle through it."

And the time and confidence that Hamburg's new skipper, former NHL and Team Canada head coach Dave King, gave to his young players, paid off quickly. Walter earned himself a spot on the opening day roster and appeared in all but one regular season game and all playoff games.

King is very fond of the 20-year-old defender: "Martin's a very good hockey player," he said. "He's very mobile, a good skater and has a lot of poise. His game sense is very strong."

On the downside, Walter has a tendency to play the puck instead of the body. According to King, he also has to get stronger physically. But the veteran coach is confident that Walter can make it to the NHL: "Martin's got all the assets. He always shows a lot of effort and is willing to work on his weaknesses."

Walter not only impressed King. In February, he got a call from Hans Zach and made his international debut with Team Germany in an invitational tournament. However, Walter knows that his chances of playing in the World Championship in late April are rather slim: "The February tournament was a try-out. A lot of veterans will be returning for the Worlds."

But even if he doesn't get the chance to showcase his talent in Prague: Walter's play has not gone unnoticed by NHL scouts and his name might pop up in the late rounds of this year's draft.