Where Are They Now - Konrad Abeltshauser

Konrad Abeltshauser playoff goal celly with Kevin Young & Chris Crane - photo by Kevin Pyle

Today we continue the "Where Are They Now" Series by catching up with defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser who was a member of the Allen Americans 2015 Kelly Cup championship team. Konrad's time in Allen was brief but very impactful. The 6'5" 225 pound left shot defenseman is from Bad Tolz, Germany and played his junior hockey for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).  He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL draft.

Abeltshauser capped a great junior career by winning the QMJHL championship in his final season in Halifax (2012-13) and went on to win the Memorial Cup which is contested between the three top junior leagues in Canada (QMJHL, OHL & WHL). He was one of five players selected to the Memorial Cup All-Star team. In a story written last year by the Halifax Mooseheads called, "Memorial Cup Memories" they had this to say about Abeltshauser, "Championship teams have a #1 defenseman. He plays the first and last minute of every period. He is on the power play and kills penalties. He plays against the opponent's top line. He can play over 30 minutes if called upon. In 2012-13 that player was Konrad Abeltshauser."

The article went on to say, "Abeltshauser was one of the most affable players on the Mooseheads. Raised on a small dairy farm 50 kilometers from Munich he took an immediate liking to Halifax. He so immersed himself in the Mooseheads' charitable activities that he was named the QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year in his final season. He remains the only European player in the history of the QMJHL to be so honored."


Konrad turned pro for the 2013-14 season and was assigned to the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. How did he end up in Allen at the tail end of the 2014-15 season? Here is what coach Steve Martinson told me, "He had been sitting out some games in Worcester as a healthy scratch so he asked San Jose if he could come to Allen for the playoffs. He saw the value of playing in the playoffs."  He arrived in Allen the end of March and played the last six regular season games. He had an immediate impact scoring in five of the six games. His booming shot from the point ignited the power play. Konrad had four power play goals in the six regular season games. His regular season totals for six games was seven points (5G, 2A) and included a hat trick against Brampton on April 3, 2015.


- Abeltshauser led Allen defensemen in scoring in the playoffs playing in all 25 games with 16 points (5G, 11A). Maybe his most memorable game in the playoffs was in the opening round against Tulsa. Allen opened at home and handily beat the Oilers in game one by a score 6-2. However in game two Tulsa had a 4-0 lead midway thorough the second period before the Americans staged one of their patented comebacks. Konrad played a major role in the comeback with two goals including the goal that tied the game 4-4 with less than five minutes remaining. Here is how I described the game winning overtime goal.

- Sudden death overtime goals are always great but the one last night was extra special. The most important part of the play was made by a guy that got no credit in the box score. Justin Baker blocked a shot in front of Joel Rumpel which created an odd man rush for the Americans. A pretty tic tac toe pass from Konrad Abeltshauser to Dyson Stevenson  to Greger Hanson who put the puck in the net with his league leading tenth game winning goal this year.

 Abeltshauser to Stevenson to Hanson for the game winner - photo by scenebykimberly.com

Instead of heading to Tulsa tied 1-1 Allen took a 2-0 series lead and closed out the Oilers in five games on the way to their first Kelly Cup championship. Konrad finished that game with two goals and an assist.

Raising the Kelly Cup

Abeltshauser, Steffes & Gens take a knee to give thanks after 2015 championship - photo by JJ Grillette

During the summer of 2015 Konrad was traded to the St. Louis Blues by the San Jose Sharks and he spent the early part of the 2015-16 season with the Chicago Wolves, the Blues AHL affiliate. However, in January he and the Blues mutually agreed to terminate his NHL contract and he returned home to Germany and signed with Red Bull Munich in the top German league (DEL). He once again was on a championship team. His team has won three DEL championships in a row and are trying for a fourth title this season. In 2016-17 Abeltshauser was selected as the DEL Defenseman of the Year.


To recap what Konrad has accomplished since the 2012-13 season it includes a QMJHL championship, a Memorial Cup championship, a Kelly Cup championship and three DEL championships. Not bad for six years of hockey. Steve Martinson said this about Abeltshauser, "I am not surprised he has been on so many winning teams. He is a big guy that makes big plays."


 Here is an update from Konrad Abeltshauser in his own words.

Can you give us an update on your family and hockey team?
The summer after I left Allen I got engaged to my now wife, Erica. She is from Halifax and we met while I was playing for the Mooseheads. We have a dog named Luna, She is a Shiba Inu and almost three years old. We love Luna so much and enjoy taking her hiking in the Alps. Erica made Luna bandanas when she was a little puppy and since then has turned it into a little business. She has an Etsy Shop (an e-commerce website focused on handmade items) and makes dogs all over the world happy.

Konrad, Erica & Luna

After my time in Allen I spent a few months in Chicago playing for the Wolves (AHL). I moved to Munich (January 2015) to play for the Red Bull Munich and was fortunate to be part of the team that won their first DEL championship in franchise history and we have now added two more. I play for a team that really knows how to win, just like the Americans.

I really love playing here as I have some awesome teammates, great coaches and Munich is a beautiful city to live in. Another great thing about Munich is that it is only one hour away from my parents farm where I grew up and all of my family still lives. I feel truly blessed to be able to have my friends and family so close and them being able to watch my games.


Can you share something about your experience playing in Allen?
There are so many unforgettable moments that I fondly remember about my time in Allen. Winning my first professional championship and scoring my first and only hat trick ever. That Kelly Cup playoff run and how close the team was when we faced adversity was the most memorable. Going to a game seven showdown twice (Ontario and South Carolina), it doesn't get more exciting than that.


Who was your favorite/closest teammate in Allen?
It is really hard to single out someone as I am happy to have met so many amazing players, coaches and staff. I get to see former Allen teammates Chad Costello, Greger Hanson and Rylan Schwartz who also play in the DEL. 

Abeltshauser celebrating DEL 2017 championship