For Colorado Springs’ German, donning ‘C’ in 2024-25 for NAHL’s Grit ‘a great honor’ for Rampage grad
Alex German came home in 2023 to play his second season of junior hockey with the NAHL’s Colorado Grit, then a first-year program.
This season, the Colorado Springs native is back for his final season of junior eligibility and was recently chosen to serve as the Grit’s captain for the 2024-25 campaign.
“It’s a great honor being able to represent this team as a captain,” said German. “Everyone is committed to getting better and pushing each other every day, and we all are ready to make a push for playoffs.”
After playing the 2022-23 season out east for the NCDC’s Northern Cyclones, where he also played AAA hockey for the previous two seasons, German decided to see what the Grit was all about.
“I was at a camp in the summer trying to find a new place to play,” German said. “I got a few tender offers and was lucky enough to get one from Colorado. Being a new team and close to home, there was no hesitation choosing to come here. Obviously, last year was our first year so there were plenty of ups and downs, but we had a great group of guys and it was a good year.
“It’s awesome being close to home for juniors. My family can come to games easier and I can go home for holidays very easy as well. Before the Grit was an option, I was in New Hampshire playing, so that was very difficult for my family to see me play.”
Some 16 years ago, hockey became a part of German’s life and he hasn’t looked back.
“My dad is from Canada and my mom is from Minnesota, so I was definitely born into it,” said German. “I started skating at three years old and playing hockey at four. I played for the Colorado Rampage growing up until I was 15 and then I moved away. The highlights I had playing there were getting the extra practice in the mornings before school and going to showcases with the boys. Andrew Sherman has a good relationship with my family, so he definitely was the coach that had the best impact on me.”
Going forward, German has reachable goals, both on the ice and off the ice.
“My short-term goals in hockey for this year are to make a run at the playoffs with this group of guys and commit to play hockey in college,” German said. “In school, I’m going to take either kinesiology or exercise science classes and go to physical therapy school after.”
Photo/Kristy Lourance/@kristylourancephotography
— Matt Mackinder
(October 31, 2024)