Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

If a German fan were to hear the name Paul Weismann, he'd most likely ask, "Where's he?" - "What happened to him?" The 20 year old guy from around Rosenheim, Germany is a former junior national team member and a current defensive prospect. Weismann went to the USA in the summer of 2000 to study at the Bowling Green State University in Ohio. And he changed the residence at the beginning of January as he went to the Geneseo College, New York. As to whether the reason for this was that he didn't like the food there or to play hockey for the university team, the Ice Knights, just take a moment to read this interview with him:

PW: Pretty good. My new competitors are very nice and I enjoy the daily training sessions.

PW: Yes, I was in Germany for three months. I worked two months for my parents' firm and I spent some time with my family and girlfriend on vacation in South Africa for two and a half weeks. I was on the ice in Rosenheim for three weeks in August and did some summer training with a few players from Bad Aibling, Christian Gegenfurtner from Bad Tölz, Patrick Senger (Berlin Capitals) and Robert Müller (Adler Mannheim, 2001 Draft Pick).

PW: Yes, with Markus Busch (Schwenningen), Daniel Hilpert (Landshut), Georg Rainer Köttsdorfer (Valley/USA), Thomas Brandstädter (Bayreuth), Robert Müller (Mannheim) and Andreas Paderhuber (Bad Aibling).

PW: As much as possible. I look in the internet to check the standings sometimes.

PW: I was five years old.

PW: I kind of found it myself. I just wanted to play hockey.

PW: Ron Fischer, from the past of Rosenheim.

HF: You played for the all-Bavarian team at the age of ten. You then played your first game at the pro level for Bad Aibling at the age of 17. We also saw your name on the roster of the DEL-Team Star Bulls Rosenheim in the season 1999-2000. You didn't quite break through though - why?

PW: I was the youngest of ten defenders in Bad Aibling and did not have the experience necessary. I just wasn't as cool as the older players. The DEL is one of the best leagues in the world and I wasn't ready, but I did profit from the training sessions very much.

PW: I had a very good time in Rosenheim. And the time helped me get to where I am right now.

PW: I've wanted to play in the USA since I started playing hockey. Besides, I wanted to develop myself in school stuff, since I may not be fortunate enough to make a big career out of ice hockey. There are better possibilities to play high-level ice hockey in the USA while also getting the chance to study things. Such a combination of school and hockey is just impossible in Germany.

HF: What were your first impressions about the Bowling Green State University?

PW: Big! Everything is bigger than at home.

PW: I was accepted pretty quickly and I never felt alone. In my opinion, they have a better team than last year - the offense is much better than last year's offense. Based on potential alone, they have the ability to be in the top five of the league without any problems.

PW: Actually, I get along well with everyone, but especially with Neil Schmitz from the baseball team, Brian Escobedo, Roger Leonard, Erik Eaton and Mark Wires.

PW: We had nine defensemen and only six are played per game. I had to adapt to the smaller ice rink where you have to do everything more quickly. Plus, I wasn't directly recruited by the coaches. One can say I was a walk on. Curtis Fry, a Bowling Green graduate and former player of the Star Bulls Rosenheim, introduced me to the program at Bowling Green. I know, that I won't get much ice time in the first two years.

HF: You watched the first few games from the stands as the season 2001-2002 had been started.

PW: I watched two games from the stands and dressed the next two games. I had a disadvantage in comparison to my competitors. They've been skating on the ice for about eleven months. I sat out three months due to my time in Germany, since there wasn't an opportunity to skate on ice during the summer there.

PW: Brian Hills, the head coach from Geneseo was our assistant coach last year (at Bowling Green). And Hills was the man who recruted me to Bowling Green. As I didn't get the ice time I wanted - i get in contact with Brian Hills and I decide to change the University after a visit at Geneseo. Besides, Geneso provides a better education.

PW: For sure, the SUNYAC hockey isn't as good as the hockey in Bowling Green - but i play very often, in Power Play's and in Penalty Killing situations. I play a bigger role in a game than in Bowling Green.

PW: My development will be the same as in Bowling Green, I think. Maybe, the steps forward will be bigger than there. The training sessions were on a high level, but that doesn't help if you don't play. My offensive skills will be better within the ice time here in Geneso. Ice time that I won't see in Bowling Green.

PW: I can't really estimate our chances, because i played in just two games. We aren't the favourite this year, I think. But, we all know that everything can happen in the Play-Off's.

PW: Kevin is a really good defensive and offensive player. He'll play in the NHL in the future. Bieksa controls the game and has pretty good positional play.

PW: I often play street hockey for the WSV Oberaudorf during the summer. In my few free moments, I often visit the sauna, play Playstation, watch movies and hang out with my buddies.

PW: American History X and American Pie 2

PW: Actually all.

PW: I kept in touch with Georg Rainer Köttsdorfer last season.

PW: Yes, that's the goal. But first, I want to know how good I can do in my hockey career.

PW: Let's see what happens here and how good I develop. Maybe I can make the jump straight into the DEL or my dream to make it to the NHL will come true, who knows.

PW: I don't think Zach really knows me. No, I don't expect a call up in the next three years.

PW: I want to play in Germany at some point, for sure. Maybe I'll stay here for a few years after I graduate in order to get experience in the minor leagues.

PW: My strengths are my hard slapshot und naturally the one-on-one situations where I can use my height and range. Besides that, I have a good eye ... I think so anyways. I have to work on the stick handling and taking on passes better than I currently do. I need to pass faster too - I shouldn't have to look before I pass. Also, I could improve my skating to make it more fluent. That will give me the ability to make faster moves or something else like that.

PW: That's not easy. I'm not a offensive defender, I'm a stay-at-home guy. Maybe I would compare myself to Cory Cross, he's a big guy and played for Toronto last year.

PW: The San Jose Sharks.

PW: Hard to say. Highlights were the championship in the German juniors, my first goal in the 2.Liga Süd for Bad Aibling and being captain of the all-Bavarian team.

PW: I can only advise it to every talented German player. You have the possibility here to develop at many levels, to become a responsible and independent person. Besides, the training and the coaching is amazing here. It's easier to be discovered in the USA. The games are watched by scouts from the NHL and other pro leagues.

PW: "Paul Weismann signs a ten year contract with the San Jose Sharks".

PW: I miss the beer for sure since I'm just twenty years old and not allowed to drink beer here. I certainly miss typical Bavarian things like a good baker or Bavarian cuisine.

HF: Thanks for taking the time and I wish you all the best.