Hoffmann drafted by Carolina Hurricane

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm's Jamie Hoffmann made sports history here Sunday morning when he was drafted in the eighth round of the National Hockey League draft by the Carolina Hurricane.

Hoffmann received the call at home at 11:30 Sunday morning.

He is the first New Ulmite to be drafted by the National Hockey League.

"I am pretty excited," said Hoffmann who was the first pick in the eighth round. "I got a phone call from an agent about being drafted before Carolina called to congratulate me. They said that they were glad to get me; I should stay in shape and they will send someone out to CC (Colorado College) to talk to me."

Hoffmann signed a National Letter of Intent to play hockey at nationally-ranked Colorado College.

"This means quite a bit to me to be drafted (by the NHL)," said Hoffmann, who originally was a wrestler in the winter. "I started playing hockey when I was five -- wrestled before that. Billy Fischer, a friend of my dad, talked me into playing hockey. He (Fischer) coached me for a couple of years."

Hoffmann said that hockey and baseball are his loves in sports.

"Being drafted by the NHL is a big boost to show how good New Ulm hockey is," he said.

"This is a big boost to our hockey program," said Tom Macho who coached Hoffmann in hockey at New Ulm High School. "This is kind of like (in 1978) when we had four players drafted in baseball. It is a boost -- now not only the kids but other people know that New Ulm can produce not only quality baseball players but also quality hockey players."

Macho felt that when he first started coaching Hoffmann that there was something special about him. "But then everybody in New Ulm could tell that. He had that drive and determination and the athletic ability to do something like this."

Last year, Hoffmann was named the Minnesota State Class 3A baseball player of the year. He also won the MVP of the Chicago Showcase Hockey Tournament.

"We knew that when he was playing in high school that he was a little bit better than a lot of the people that he was playing against."

Macho said that Hoffmann has " a tremendous work ethic. Every coach that he has had says the same thing."

"He did this through hard work and dedication. he deserves all the success that he gets," said Macho.

Hoffmann will play American Legion and New Ulm Brewer baseball this summer while working out in preparing for hockey at Colorado College next season.

"You dream about being drafted in hockey when you are growing up. It would be sweet to play there and this is just another step to get (to the NHL)."