Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf (born January 24, 1981) is a German former professional ice hockey forward who played with the Iserlohn Roosters and EHC München in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Playing career Wolf began his hockey career with EV Füssen. He spent his junior career there, before earning a spot on the professional roster in 1998 as a 17-year-old. Wolf went on to play two more years in Füssen and moved up with his team to the Oberliga in 2000. In 2001 Wolf signed with SC Bietigheim-Bissingen in the 2nd Bundesliga. He established as a solid scorer over three years. In 2004 Wolf signed with the Essen Mosquitoes. With a breakthrough performance he led all German players in scoring at the end of the season, with many clubs from the Deutsche Eishockey Liga competing to sign him to their roster. Wolf eventually signed a contract with the Iserlohn Roosters over one year with a club option to extend it for one year. At the beginning of the 2005–06 season, Wolf showed his goal scoring instinct and was competing for the top scoring position. In October 2005 he scored his first DEL-hat-trick against the current champions at the time, Eisbären Berlin. He was named DEL Rookie of the Year and the Roosters extended his contract for two years. For the next season Robert Hock, the highest German scoring player the previous season, came to Iserlohn. Roosters coach Geoff Ward put them together with David Sulkovsky and the three formed the most dangerous native line in the DEL. Nevertheless, Iserlohn missed the playoffs again. In the 2007–08 season Wolf and Hock went on to dominate the league in all offensive categories. Wolf was leading the league in goals and powerplay goals, while Hock was leading in points, assists and powerplay assists. Canadian players like Brad Tapper, Pat Kavanagh, Tyler Beechey, Jimmy Roy, Ryan Ready, and Bob Wren also performed unexpectedly well, so that the Roosters finished fifth in the league and Iserlohn reached their first playoffs in almost 20 years. In game 2 of the quarterfinal series against the Frankfurt Lions, Wolf scored the game-winning goal in the third overtime. The game was the longest in German hockey history. After the Roosters were defeated by Frankfurt Wolf was named DEL MVP, best native player, and best winger.