The BCHL Trail Smoke Eaters made a significant move on Wednesday, Jan. 8, adding a member of the German National U20 team to its roster.
Trail signed 18-year-old defenceman Max Hense, a six-foot-two defenceman from Dusseldorf, Germany.
Hense played in the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa for Team Germany, and was on the blue line that came a goal away from making the quarterfinals.
Germany fell 4-3 to Latvia in the qualifying round despite outshooting them 40-22. Team Canada also had a hard time against the Germans, scoring two late goals to eke out a 3-0 win to the underrated team.
“Max is a big, strong defender that has huge upside to his game," said Smoke Eaters GM and head coach Tim Fragle. "He has junior experience at the highest levels on the international stage with Team Germany at the World Junior Championships and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup."
Prior to the World Juniors, Hense played with Kolner Junghaie in the German Development League ((DNL) U20. In 26 games, Hense scored six goals and added 19 assists for 25 points.
He is expected to join the Smoke Eaters this week.
"He will definitely add to our defence group for the second half of the season,” said Fragle.
The Smoke Eaters lost two players over the holidays when defenceman Noah Ziskie and forward Aidan Castle left for other opportunities.
Ziskie is a solid player and second in scoring for Smokies defencemen tallying three goals and 14 points in 30 games. Castle contributed six goals and 12 points in 28 games as a Smoke Eater forward.
The Smoke Eaters, however, may have improved despite losing the two players.
Trail added Zach Coutu to the active roster, a 19 year old, six-foot-two forward from Edmonton, AB, who was a top forward for the Canmore Eagles in the AJHL before coming to Trail.
Coutu was selected to play for Canada West in the 2024 World Junior A Challenge and scored 29 points in 28 games for the Eagles this season.
The talented forward has contributed two assists in three games for the Smoke Eaters.
Trail is at home this weekend and take on the Cranbrook Bucks on Friday, Jan. 10 and the Okotoks Oilers on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Cominco Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
