Claimed:From Vaduz with Love

[InciteHysteria 68]

From Vaduz with Love

By Timo Haas

 

 

 

Name: Kai Abendroth

Position: RW/LW
Height: 6'3"

Weight: 210

Birthplace: Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Handed: Right

 

Early Life

 

Kai Alec Abendroth was born February 19th, 1999 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein to Hannah and Mats Abendroth. His childhood was one of comfortable living. His father Mats, an electrical engineer, provided a stable life for Kai, his sister Joana and his mother. Kai spent his formative years attending Primarschule in Vaduz. His earliest memories are those of football and hockey games on the television in his house. His father was a huge fan of HC Davos; which was a mere hour drive away from the family home in Vaduz. Kai played football first before becoming involved in hockey. He excelled as a striker on his teams. Youth leagues usually result in players playing out of position and becoming a jumble on the field. Young Kai didn't seem to follow this path. His play at such a young age showcased to his parents that the young boy was a gifted athlete and a quick learner. Upon realizing his talents on the pitch, Mats made the investment to get Kai into playing hockey. Hockey in Liechtenstein was not as developed as in neighboring Switzerland. The trek to take Kai to practice multiple times a week was not one made lightly. But Mats felt that the talent Kai had displayed in football and hockey since switching; the trips were worth it. Playing in youth leagues in Davos, Kai showcased once again his extreme athleticism and drive. Becoming the youngest member of the 10-12 year old team at only the age of 8. 

 

 

Oberschule

 

 

Oberschule would be likened to Middle School for the young adults of Liechtenstein. While attending Oberschule, Kai continued his hard work in the ice hockey world. Having moved up to playing for the young adult team in Davos at this point. His assault on teams continued as his talent for scoring only continued to improve as he worked harder. His skill with the puck was dazzling and he outshone nearly every player on his youth team. Kai was a star already. At the age of 14, Kai joined the Bern Marmots. The Marmots were a team focused on development of players with pro-level talent and the cultivate a culture of winning. Kai moved away from his family at this point and was put up in a special dormitory with other members of the Marmots. They attended school in the Swiss city of Bern. Kai flourished in this environment; his skills began to fully blossom. While playing for the Marmots Kai earned a nickname; "Mitternacht". Which when translated to english this means, "Midnight", which symbolizes the closer spirit that Abendroth had begun to show in Bern. He was the man in the clutch. Always ready to turn on the juices when the team needed it most. Always ready to put a closer on the night when the zero hour approached. His first season saw him score 65 goals and show of his scoring talent. His moves with the puck showed he is a wizard. His ability to dance through defenders and create space where there was none was second-to-none in the league. Taking the league by storm, Abendroth quickly earned top minutes and played against other teams top players on a nightly basis. Even playing against the best of the best, Abendroth continued to produce at an outstanding rate. His second season with the Marmots was even more dominant as he was now paired with a Swiss dynamo center named Florian Tribolet. Despite the broken english the two used to communicate off the ice; Tribolet and Abendroth became inseperable. Tribolet was the strong defensive pass first center that Abendroth needed to produce at a stellar rate. The passes would hit him in stride and set Kai up for some of the most beautiful goals the entire youth league had ever seen.

 

 

Abendroth spent two years playing for the Marmots and ended dominating the league. Finishing with the 2nd most points ever recorded over a two year period in the history of the league,with a staggering 227 points, and became the all-time record holder for plus/minus with a +53 in his two seasons. His time spent with Tribolet allowed him to close in on one of the greatest seasons the league had ever seen. The duo project to be together for a long time as they will play on the Swiss National U18 team in again next season and for the pro team for years after. 

 

 

VHLM and Beyond

 

After his spectacular seasons with Bern, Kai took to the ice internationally playing for Switzerland in the U18 International Tournament. His tournament was short as Switzerland got knocked out in the Group Stage; but during his time in the U18 tournament Kai showed off his scoring touch. He was reunited with his former roommate and linemate Florian Tribolet for the tournament and the two picked up where they left off. Single handedly being the driving factor between any offense the Swiss team would manufacture during it's international play. After the tournament Abendroth was approached by mutliple general managers for the VHLM. From Ottawa to Bratislava, managers wanted Kai to play for their team. Having his choice of multiple teams and multiple different situations; Kai decided to take his time in choosing where he'd be the next few year. As Abendroth was finishing up with deciding where he would spend the next few seasons; he was contacted by Shawn Muller, GM of the Oslo Storm. Muller told Kai that he would be getting top minutes on the Oslo Storm, who were currently the top team in the VHLM, and that he'd be given the best training available to a player. The choice became easy for Abendroth. He was going to Norway. His future is uncertain but with his worth ethic and natural talents; the sky is the limit for Kai. 

 

Abendroth aims to put work into continuing the growth of hockey in the small country of Liechtenstein; as well as open the doorway to more Swiss and Austrian players. He plans to start with the help of other Swiss, Austrian and German players the "Mitteleuropäische Eishockey-Stiftung", focused on the growth of hockey in European countries in which have seen lower than usual excitement for the sport. The foundation will help fund children including purchasing equipment, paying travel fares and providing scholarships to programs, such as the Bern Marmots, to children who cannot afford to play the sport. Along with the foundation for assisting unpriviledged kids participate in ice hockey, Abendroth continues to be an active part in his local community and country. He has quickly become one of the most prolific and notable people to come from the country in recent memory. With his continued development and obvious trajectory to the VHL; Abendroth could easily become the hero of Liechtenstein and inspire more children to follow the path.

 

 

 

(1135 Words)

 

[Jericho 917]

Claimed