Exact since his first game in Pasau: Liam Blackburn scored 18 goals in 17 matches and wore the number 26, which reminds him of his idol Martin St. Louis (46 former Canadian NHL players and 2014 Olympic medalists). −Photo: Michael Sigal

Exact since his first game in Pasau: Liam Blackburn scored 18 goals in 17 matches and wore the number 26, which reminds him of his idol Martin St. Louis (46 former Canadian NHL players and 2014 Olympic medalists). −Photo: Michael Sigal

He calls managers and coaches in sports a stroke of luck: Liam Blackburn, a young professional ice hockey player from Canada. In December, the Pasau Black Hawks signed the unknown striker. They have since been able to place in the Oberliga pseud. The 24-year-old made his debut in European ice hockey headlines within a few weeks. Pasau is likely to make a move for him.

Christian Jacek, sports director at Black Hawk, says that Blackburn is like a snake. It is only positively meant. “He winds around the opponent,” Zešac explains. With the puck on the bat, the 1.78-meter-long striker allows the defenders of the third division to stand in rows. Out of a total of 55 goals, he scored 18 runs and prepared 14 from his 17 matches. Top Mann at the level of ex-national player Thomas Grelinger (39), who plays for Degendorfer SC. That’s why manager Zsac suspects: “We probably won’t be able to keep him.”

After Sunday’s fiery return to Memmingen, Blackburn scored four goals in a 7: 6 win, with several clubs stating they wanted to hunt down the striker. The Black Hawks have already presented Canadians with a contract offer for next season. Asked about this, Blackburn said: “It’s too early to decide, I want to play at as high a level as possible, but right now I’m just focusing on this season.” It seems that someone is aware that their journey has not ended in Pasau.

The small town of Prince George, a three-river town, Blackburn was not the first destination of either. He last played in the highest varsity league in North America for four years. Last year he was with his New Hampshire Wildcats team in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “I came to know the other world,” he recalls. Young Canadians wanted to see more of it.

It has been fantastic in terms of sports, but personally it is difficult

In July, he signed a contract with Bayern Division ERSC Umber. Not knowing that the season will be only seven games for the Upper Palatinate. In early November, politics stopped amateur sports. Since then Blackburn was sitting idle in his apartment. This is not the best time to break into ice hockey, travel impossible new country.

In terms of sports, things are moving brilliantly for Down-to-Earth Canada. In private, however, the situation is difficult. Exceptions of contact with the team are exceptions, and the arrival time from home has also been postponed.

You can read the full article in the Sports section of the PNP on Wednesday, 10 February (Online kiosk) – or here As a registered customer.