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Kolzig Excited To Face Eisbaren

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2008

NEW YORK - When Olie Kolzig traded in the red, white and blue jersey he wore in Washington for 17 seasons for the black and white he now dons, a plethora of thoughts raced through his head?

What's it going to be like playing for another organization? How weird will that first game against the Capitals be? How will I fit into a new locker room with a whole new set of teammates?

But there was one thought that crossed his mind that made him pause in anticipation. That thought will become reality today when Kolzig, 37, suits up in an NHL jersey for the Lightning's preseason game in Berlin.

Not only does Kolzig, who was born in South Africa but lived in Germany for a year, represent Germany in international competition, but he also will be facing Eisbaren Berlin, the team he played for during the 2004-05 lockout season.

"It's great," Kolzig said. "Especially playing for another team besides the Capitals. It still would have been cool if I was with Washington, but the irony of not being with Washington and end up signing with a team that ends up playing against my other old team.

"It's going to be really cool. I'm interested to see what kind of reception the fans give me, but regardless, I'm really looking forward to it."

Kolzig's parents are both German, even though he was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He spent about six months in Germany as a toddler before his family moved to Canada.

It wasn't until 1989, when he was preparing for a training camp with other Canadian junior players, that he realized his passport was German, not Canadian.

He has been representing Germany at international competition since 1996, including the Olympics in 1998 and 2006 and the World Cup of Hockey in 2004.

And while the NHL shut down for a season, Kolzig opted to sign a contract with Eisbaren, and he helped lead the team to a championship.

"I have some great memories, and it was a great group of guys and it's a great city, one of the great cities of the world," Kolzig said.

Kolzig is especially looking forward to enjoying Eisbaren's new arena, which should be a marked improvement on the old stadium.

"The old building ... I mean, it was old, it was old. You would come off the ice and your jersey would smell like smoke, and it was definitely old-school hockey. Now they have their new building and it's going to be a lot of fun."

Today's game will be Kolzig's final tuneup in net before the start of the season. And though Lightning coach Barry Melrose hasn't announced a rotation for next weekend's opening series against the New York Rangers, Kolzig could make his regular-season debut for Tampa Bay in Prague.

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