Getting to Know: Tobias Rieder

By: Shannon Costello

Nicht bereuen! No regrets. That is exactly how the 2010-2011 Kitchener Rangers Rookie of the Year, Tobias Rieder, feels about his choice to move to Kitchener to play hockey this season.

Selected by the Rangers in the first round, 5th overall of the 2010 CHL Import Draft, Tobias has quickly learned how to play on the small rink and managed to stand out in just his first game in the Ontario Hockey League. He scored his first goal and first assist in the opening game of the season against the Saginaw Spirit, and was chosen third star in his official welcome to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Since then, Rieder’s stats have continued to impress. He finished the regular season ranked 9th in scoring among rookies in the OHL with 23 goals, 26 assists and a +9 in 65 games. Tobias has also showcased his speed and one-on-one skills on the penalty kill by scoring a team leading 2 shorthanded goals.

Of course speed is one of the 18 year old’s main strengths, and when he attended the 2011 Top Prospects Skills Competition in January he proved it in the fastest skater competition with a time of 14.068 seconds (just .051 seconds behind first).

Having been born in Landshut, Germany, Tobias grew up in a world surrounded by Bavarian culture, but the sports world focused on soccer. This is why he was set on playing in North America when the opportunity came: “It’s a big difference here with a whole new culture and hockey is much more famous,” he says. “The whole game is different here too.”

So when Rieder chose to come to Kitchener, the town once called Berlin and where the Oktoberfest celebrations should make Germans proud, he knew he was coming to the organization that would definitely help him to reach the NHL: “It will help me learn to be a better all around player, and help me learn the language better,” he said in September. And in the months that have followed, Tobias’ twice a week English classes and full time status in the OHL have helped him excel in both areas.

Last season he played for the Landshut Cannibals of the Second German Professional League, the same team that produced Marco Sturm of the Boston Bruins and Christoph Schubert of the Atlanta Thrashers. In his first and only year with the Cannibals he played with teammates up to 24 years older than he was, but  managed 10 goals and 13 assists in 45 games to rank tenth on the team in scoring –  and he has already seen these numbers improve playing in Kitchener.

But something that really stands out to Rieder about hockey in the OHL is the fans. “I enjoy playing every home game in front of almost 7000 fans,” he says. “It’s always nice, every week.” Of course, the 5’10, 172 pound winger would also like it if three of those in the crowd were his mom, dad and 19 year old sister.

Tobias’ dad taught him to skate when he was 4, and instilled in his son a love for the ice rink as well as the soccer field. So rest assured, his family is just as happy to see him pursuing his hockey dreams: “My family came down a couple months ago and they want to come back for the playoffs. They really like it here.” 

Rieder’s NHL draft is also quickly approaching this year, and he ranked 74th among North American skaters when the Central Scouting idterm rankings were released. His favourite team is Boston, his favourite player Sidney Crosby, and his role model Zach Parise. Clearly Tobias is ready to play anywhere in the NHL and knows he can handle the pressure. He has now won gold medals at the U-18 and U-20 World Championships, and was happy to have earned a spot on Germany’s team at the 2011 World Juniors this past December.

“It was pretty exciting to play against all the good players and the good countries,” he says. “It’s too bad we lost every game, but it very good to be there.” Nevertheless, Rieder did manage one goal and one assist in his first World Junior Championship and he will never forget the experience.

It has already been a big year for Tobias as his first away from home, and it will only get better as he sets his sights on the Memorial Cup in May and his draft in June.  Until then, the playoffs start on Friday and Rieder is ready.