David Wolf (ice hockey)

David Wolf (born 15 September 1989) is a German professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He played five seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for the Hannover Scorpions and Hamburg Freezers between 2009 and 2014 before moving over to North America. Internationally, Wolf has represented Germany at both the junior and senior levels.[1]

David Wolf
Born (1989-09-15) 15 September 1989 (age 34)
Düsseldorf, West Germany
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
PositionLeft wing
ShootsLeft
DEL team
Former teams
Free Agent
Hannover Scorpions
Hamburg Freezers
Calgary Flames
Adler Mannheim
National team Germany
NHL draftUndrafted
Playing career2007–present

Playing career

Wolf's first full season of professional hockey was the 2007–08 season. He appeared in 46 games for ETC Crimmitschau in the 2nd Bundesliga, the second level of German hockey.[2] Following a 9-point season, Wolf returned to ETC Crimmitschau for the 2008–09 season, where he scored 8 points and recorded 120 penalty minutes in 36 games.[2] Wolf was a member of the German national junior team at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He scored one goal in the tournament against Canada,[3] and recorded 53 penalty minutes in six games.[4]

In 2009–10, Wolf moved up to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and joined the Hannover Scorpions. He played two seasons with Hannover before moving to the Hamburg Freezers in 2011.[5] He earned a place on Hamburg's top line and enjoyed a dramatic increase in his offensive production; Wolf scored 35 points in 46 games in 2011–12 after recording only 6 in 51 games the year before.[2][6] He also led the DEL with 167 penalty minutes.[7] The National Hockey League's (NHL) Toronto Maple Leafs offered Wolf a try-out at their 2012 summer camp but he failed to stick with the team.[8]

Wolf returned to Hamburg for the 2012–13 season, scoring a career-high 17 goals and adding 19 assists. He improved to 40 points the following season and again led the DEL in penalties with 152 minutes.[5][8] Wolf also played with the German national team in that country's failed attempt to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics.[8] Following the 2013–14 DEL season, Wolf left Germany intending to try to make the NHL. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames.[6] The Flames assigned him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Adirondack Flames to begin the 2014–15 season. He scored 12 goals and added nine assists in his first 35 games with Adirondack before earning his first recall to Calgary on 26 Jan. 2015.[9] Wolf made his NHL debut on 31 Jan., a 4–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.[10] He suffered a laceration to this thigh during the game and missed the next three games due to the injury.[11]

Wolf turned down offers to remain in North America and returned to Germany for the 2015-16 season, again signing with the Hamburg Freezers.[12] Following the 2015-16 campaign, he was traded to fellow DEL side Adler Mannheim in exchange for Martin Buchwieser. Wolf signed a seven-year deal with the Adler organization.[13]

Personal life

Wolf is a second-generation hockey player. His father, Manfred, was born in Canada but played professionally in Germany and twice represented West Germany at the Winter Olympics.[6]

Career statistics

Wolf with Adler Mannheim in 2022

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2005–06Jungadler MannheimDNL33115168763364
2006–07Jungadler MannheimDNL2714223693521340
2006–07Heilbronner FalkenGER.310000
2007–08ETC CrimmitschauGER.2467294060116
2008–09ETC CrimmitschauGER.236268120
2009–10Hannover ScorpionsDEL544711401130312
2009–10Fischtown PinguinsGER.2722433
2010–11Hannover ScorpionsDEL5124697411252
2010–11Hannover IndiansGER.210334
2011–12Hamburg FreezersDEL4612233516750002
2012–13Hamburg FreezersDEL4917193696613426
2013–14Hamburg FreezersDEL4814264015210481247
2014–15Adirondack FlamesAHL59201838168
2014–15Calgary FlamesNHL3000210000
2015–16Hamburg FreezersDEL3610122282
2016–17Adler MannheimDEL48142337137704439
2017–18Adler MannheimDEL301081871104268
2018–19Adler MannheimDEL45152035701426820
2019–20Adler MannheimDEL4019143360
2020–21Adler MannheimDEL381321344210000
2021–22Adler MannheimDEL33661243918912
2022–23Adler MannheimDEL4413162949944813
2023–24Adler MannheimDEL45129216773146
DEL totals607161208369117393233760237
NHL totals3000210000
Medal record
Representing  Germany
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
2018 Pyeongchang

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2007GermanyWJC188th10000
2009GermanyWJC9th610153
2013GermanyOGQDNQ32130
2016GermanyOGQQ30004
2017GermanyWC8th510118
2018GermanyOG 70222
2022GermanyOG10th300031
Junior totals710153
Senior totals2133655

Awards and honours

AwardYear
DEL
Champion (Hannover Scorpions)2010
Champion (Adler Mannheim)2019[14]

References