photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
Carlos Handel is the present and future of German hockey. The defender is tall (6’2”/188cm), but at 176 lbs/80kg he has plenty of room for growth and physical development. He first played internationally at the U18 Division I-A in 2024, helping the team earn promotion to the top division for the following year.
Last year, he captained that U18 team and also played at his first World Junior Championship. This year, he is an assistant captain in Minneapolis and after three games he has led the team in ice time each game. That trend will no doubt continue all tournament.
In the team’s opener against the United States, he had a modest 21:08 TOI, and against Slovakia a whopping 27:41. Most recently, against Sweden, he logged another 22:58. His 23:55 average is second among all players to Adam Jiricek (CZE, 24:32).
The team has some ten players from last year’s U18, a clear connection between the two levels of junior development in Germany.
“This is a short tournament, so it's great that we already have a connection, like a big family,” Handel explained. “I would say that we have all known each other since the under-16 program, so that's a big thing for us. On USA, for instance, there are some players who have never played together before, but for us that's a big advantage.”
Some players who wear a letter lead by example, or say a quiet word at just the right time. Not Handel, who wears the “A” this year with the same vocal presence as the “C” last year.
“I think my role stays the same,” he continued. “Here I have the "A", so I'm here to support the captain. I'm loud on the bench, and I like to talk to the players one on one more than in a big group. But if it's noisy, I'll step up as well.”
Handel’s goal from a young age has always been to make the NHL. He played early junior in Germany, and then moved to Sweden for two years. But in 2024 he took the leap and joined the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, knowing the influence playing major junior can have on NHL scouts. It worked. After just one season, he was drafted 177th overall by Montreal at last year’s Entry Draft.
“Of course, my goal is to get to the NHL,” he added. “That's everyone's dream. Montreal has the best history in the NHL and it's amazing to play in the rookie camp and you have 20,000 fans watching the two games. It's unreal. But I think my life stays the same. I have to work hard if I want to achieve my dreams. I think I have developed a lot in Halifax. When I played in Sweden, I was more offensive, but now I'm more two way and more responsible in the defensive zone, hitting more. I want to get bigger and stronger every summer.”
Every year is an adjustment, and every year Handel has shown he can move up a level. Tentative at the World Juniors a year ago, he is not only more mature physically, but more confident.
“I feel bigger and stronger here now compared to last year. And we've played a lot of the guys at the U18, like Slovakia and USA. I know the players, so I feel more comfortable.”
The NHL will welcome Handel in due course, but for now he’s giving his all to the national German team. They want to make the quarter-finals, or at least avoid relegation and return to the top for 2027. It’s possible, but not easy.
“We have more returning players than last year and more drafted players now. We need to play like we want it a little more.”
Last year, he captained that U18 team and also played at his first World Junior Championship. This year, he is an assistant captain in Minneapolis and after three games he has led the team in ice time each game. That trend will no doubt continue all tournament.
In the team’s opener against the United States, he had a modest 21:08 TOI, and against Slovakia a whopping 27:41. Most recently, against Sweden, he logged another 22:58. His 23:55 average is second among all players to Adam Jiricek (CZE, 24:32).
The team has some ten players from last year’s U18, a clear connection between the two levels of junior development in Germany.
“This is a short tournament, so it's great that we already have a connection, like a big family,” Handel explained. “I would say that we have all known each other since the under-16 program, so that's a big thing for us. On USA, for instance, there are some players who have never played together before, but for us that's a big advantage.”
Some players who wear a letter lead by example, or say a quiet word at just the right time. Not Handel, who wears the “A” this year with the same vocal presence as the “C” last year.
“I think my role stays the same,” he continued. “Here I have the "A", so I'm here to support the captain. I'm loud on the bench, and I like to talk to the players one on one more than in a big group. But if it's noisy, I'll step up as well.”
Handel’s goal from a young age has always been to make the NHL. He played early junior in Germany, and then moved to Sweden for two years. But in 2024 he took the leap and joined the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, knowing the influence playing major junior can have on NHL scouts. It worked. After just one season, he was drafted 177th overall by Montreal at last year’s Entry Draft.
“Of course, my goal is to get to the NHL,” he added. “That's everyone's dream. Montreal has the best history in the NHL and it's amazing to play in the rookie camp and you have 20,000 fans watching the two games. It's unreal. But I think my life stays the same. I have to work hard if I want to achieve my dreams. I think I have developed a lot in Halifax. When I played in Sweden, I was more offensive, but now I'm more two way and more responsible in the defensive zone, hitting more. I want to get bigger and stronger every summer.”
Every year is an adjustment, and every year Handel has shown he can move up a level. Tentative at the World Juniors a year ago, he is not only more mature physically, but more confident.
“I feel bigger and stronger here now compared to last year. And we've played a lot of the guys at the U18, like Slovakia and USA. I know the players, so I feel more comfortable.”
The NHL will welcome Handel in due course, but for now he’s giving his all to the national German team. They want to make the quarter-finals, or at least avoid relegation and return to the top for 2027. It’s possible, but not easy.
“We have more returning players than last year and more drafted players now. We need to play like we want it a little more.”