REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY
Screaming Eagles’ Gawanke to suit up for Germany at world junior championship
Screaming Eagles’ Gawanke to suit up for Germany at WJC.
For Leon Gawanke, representing his country on the national stage is something that never gets old.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles defenceman has suited up for his home country of Germany at three international events to date, including the past two IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
Gawanke will once again wear the German colours when he participates in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship Division I, Group ‘A’ tournament, beginning Sunday in Füssen, Germany.
“It’s always an honour to play for your country and every time these tournaments come around I’m excited to wear that jersey,” said the 19-year-old.
“It makes you feel like you’re playing for 80 million people in Germany — obviously there not all going to watch you, but it still makes me proud for sure.”
Gawanke first appeared on the international stage in 2016, appearing in five games for Germany at the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship Division I. He recorded one assist in the tournament.
Two months later, Gawanke was selected by the Screaming Eagles in round two, No. 96 overall, at the 2016 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
In December of that year, the six-foot-one, 196-pound German participated in the Under-20 Division I tournament, this after Germany was relegated from the top division of the world juniors by Switzerland in January 2017.
Gawanke played in four games for Germany in the tournament, recording one assist and two penalty minutes.
The team failed to be promoted to the main division, despite posting a 3-1 record.
Months later, after finishing his second full season with the Screaming Eagles, Gawanke was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round, No. 136 overall, at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
In December 2017, Gawanke broke out on the international stage, scoring two goals and adding three assists for five points in five games for Germany in his second world junior tournament.
He finished the tournament tied for fifth in points, averaging a point per game, but again Germany’s 3-1-1-0 record was not enough to get the country to the top division — Kazakhstan was promoted.
“It was disappointing for sure,” said Gawanke of not reaching the main division of the 2019 world juniors, which will be hosted by Canada in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. later this month.
“I was hoping I could have played at least once in the real world juniors against Canada, the U.S. and Russia, but unfortunately it never worked out.”
Joining Germany in the tournament is Austria, France and
Latvia as well as Belarus, who was relegated from the top division last year by Denmark, and Norway, a country promoted to the Division A tournament after winning the Group B event last December.
Although this year’s tournament will mark his final appearance in the world juniors, Gawanke has high expectations for the German team.
“I really want to help this team get up to the main division of the world juniors for Germany hockey,” said Gawanke, who considers himself to be an offensive blue-liner in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “We need to be in the top division if German hockey wants to grow, and I hope I can bring leadership to the group and show them what I have and maybe make some offence and score some goals.”
Gawanke, a native of Berlin, Germany, won’t be the only NHL prospect on the German team this year. Dominik Bokk, a St. Louis Blues first-round pick in 2018, will also play in the tournament for Germany.
“I pretty much know everyone there, we’ve been playing together since the U18s,” said Gawanke, who attended the Jets’ rookie and main camps in September. “Playing with these guys, we have built chemistry over the years and that will help us in the tournament.”
Following a weeklong training camp, Germany will open the tournament on Sunday against Austria, before facing Norway on Dec. 10. The Germans will also play Latvia (Dec. 12) and Belarus (Dec. 13), before wrapping up the event on Dec. 15 against France.
The team with the most points will be promoted to the top division of the world juniors for the 2020 tournament, scheduled for Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
This year’s tournament is extra special for Gawanke with the event being held in Germany.
“It would mean a lot to me to win the tournament on home ice,” said Gawanke, whose parents and grandparents will be in attendance for the games. “The tournament is pretty far away from big cities — it’s close to the border to Austria and eight hours away from where I live — so it’s tough to say how many people will come to our games.”
In 145 career games with the Screaming Eagles, Gawanke has recorded 22 goals and 73 assists for 95 points. He has recorded 30plus points in each season to date with Cape Breton.
Gawanke, who flew to Germany last Sunday, will miss at least six games for the Screaming Eagles while attending the tournament.