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Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Reporting from Germany
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Two Canadian Goalies Shuffle between Russia and Germany
January 4, 2007 -- Cologne, GERMANY -- Two of the best Canadian goalies to ever play in the Russian Super League started the 07/08 season in Germany’s DEL: TRAVIS SCOTT (32, went from Metallurg Magnitogorsk to Cologne to become a Shark) and NORM MARACLE (33, left Avangard Omsk, bound for Iserlohn Roosters).
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| NORM MARACLE Photo by Dirk Unverferth |
NORM MARACLE
Maracle’s NHL career was a typical “wrong place at the wrong time” scenario.
The NHL’s Red Wings had the likes of Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood between the pipes during their 1996-98 Cup runs. In Atlanta, Maracle was somehow jettisoned in favor of Damian Rhodes, Pasi Nurminen, Byron Dafoe and Milan Hnilinka. After 66 games played over the course of nine seasons in the world´s best league plus 333 in the AHL, this Ontario native, a former 5th round pick by the Red Wings (1993), decided to go East. He signed with Magnitogorsk Metallurg in 2003-04, then Omsk Avangard in 2004-05.
“I went to Russia because a whole pile of dollars was offered to me – much more than I could earn in the leagues at home,” Maracle says frankly. “It also has been something new for me. I decided to follow the call of the money combined with a thirst for adventure.”
Maracle then moved on, signing a three-year deal with Omsk.
“(Omsk) was much bigger and we could do much more over there than in Magnitogorsk, and the team had more success,” he says.
Maracle also liked the more fluid, less physical RSL game.
“There is no hitting, a lot of passing, no traffic in front of the goalies – they are just playing straight!”
With Omsk he became IIHF Champions Cup Winner in 2005 and honoured as the tournament’s best goalie. He earned a lot of money but his wife didn’t feel comfortable there, and became unhappy due to differences in language and the fact that few Russians speak English.
Maracle decided to return to his homeland of Canada, but on the way, signed a deal to play for the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL this season. Maracle hopes to help the Roosters advance to the playoffs the first time.
Now he is showing his skills as a Rooster in the DEL, often stealing victories by himself!
The Roosters fans are celebrating Maracle, who’s become their “miracle” between the posts and chanting – full of admiration – songs about their 5’8”, 227lb. netminder.
Norm is feeling very comfortable in this beautiful part of Germany and signed a contract extension through 2010 (after only three months in Iserlohn).
He earned more in Russia but is completely happy in Iserlohn.
TRAVIS SCOTT
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| TRAVIS SCOTT PHOTO BY IVO JASCHICK |
Travis Scott had a solid AHL and ECHL career, but was limited to one appearance in the NHL for the LA Kings, and just twenty-five minutes at that.
With little chance of playing regularly in the NHL, the 32 year-old netminder, followed the call of the second best league and took a pay increase to move to the RSL, signing a contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2005-06.
He left his family at home.
“It had been hard enough for me although I had (experience traveling between) a lot of arenas and on the road,” Scott says. “What would have been the effect on my family?”
It was also a different kind of hockey, says Scott.
“Almost all players are very skilled and are good skaters but there is not as much traffic in front of the goalies as in America or here in the DEL (German Hockey League),” says the Roosters’ goalie. “But when you get used to it, it´s also very good hockey. It´s only a little bit slower!”
After two years and a Russian Super League Championship in 2007 with Metallurg, Scott packed his suitcase, and in a decision similar to Maracle’s, he decided to stop in Germany on his way home to Canada.
He became a Cologne Shark and was happily reunited with his family, who joined him in Germany, where the cultural differences with North America are not as severe as in Russia.
With his skills impressed his new teammates and fans, posting three shutouts (including two 1-0 victories). The Sharks were trying to tie him to the club with a new contract, the same as the Roosters already did with Maracle.
At the time, Scott was happy with the situation.
“It´s nice coming closer to home again,” Scott said at the time of his arrival in Cologne. The arena in Cologne impressed him. “It could be in the NHL,” he exlclaimed. “(It’s) a good organization…and a real nice city!”
But then the call of the Russian money (millions of dollars) became louder and louder. Magnitogorsk had some problems between the posts and wanted to bring back their championship goalie.
Although Scott had signed a contract with the Sharks for this season and was happily reunited with his family, Russian oil money convinced Scott ($1.3M/year) to return and the Cologne Sharks obliged, the gears greased by a $800,000 transfer fee.
The Sharks signed Robert Mueller--the goalkeeper of the national team--as substitute and also have some money available for new signings.
In today’s Europe, and sometimes in North America, Russian money reigns supremely attractive.
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Eye on Europe:
2007-08
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German Elite League (DEL) Preview 07-08
