Interview with netminder David-Lee Paton

DRESDEN,Ger – A new netminder follows a new promotion for new Bundesliga outfit Dresden Ice Lions. Joining the newly promoted second division side is Hannover-born David-Lee Paton. The young netminder joins on the back of a successful season in the third-tier Oberliga league with Rote Teufel (Red Devils) Bad Nauheim. Despite being German-born the young shot stopper is of UK descent with family from Cardiff in Wales. Born in 1985 in Hannover, Germany while David-Lee Paton parents were stationed there as his father carried out his military service. Although proud of his German upbringing the 23 year-old netminder hasn’t forgot his families heritage and even follows the on goings of UK Elite league side Cardiff Devils. “I get back to the UK as often as possible, normally always with my parents when we all go to visit family and friends in England and Wales,”

Paton said “I will actually be over in June or July to see my grandparents in Cardiff.” Paton has fond memories of his first trip to see a game of hockey in Cardiff. “I became a Devils’ fan when my parents took me to a game and to get my first Devils jersey,” Paton said “I met Shannon Hope while in the Ice house fan shop.” As many youngsters turned to other sports like football or rugby, a five year-old Paton became mesmerized by an NHL game he saw on the television and stumbled across his sport of choice. “I began playing hockey not long after turning five, i saw an NHL game for the first time on TV and turned to my parents and told them that’s what I wanted to play,” Paton said. “Over the next couple of days they checked out local clubs and it all started from there.” Paton’s junior career didn`t really take off until his father was stationed at the picturesque town of Iserlohn, home to German DEL side the Iserlohn Roosters. En-rolling in the junior program the netminder who was twelve at the time was able to gain and nuture his talents through an exceptional opportunity. “Increased ice time and higher standard of training and opposition saw my learning as a netminder grow very rapidly,”Paton said Hard work and perservance paid off for Lee-Paton as aged just sixteen he finally got the break he was looking for, as back-up for the Roosters. “Being selected as back up for the Roosters was a great learning experience,” Paton said “At the time I was the youngest netminder ever in the DEL, I enjoyed every minute of my time there and will always be grateful to Iserlohn for giving me a chance to learn.” Despite dressing for 52 games over two seasons Paton realized he would need to be a starting netminder to further his career. Taking the decison in 2005 to sign for ECR Revier Löwen in the German third-tier Oberliga. Having started poorly as his goals against grew to a disappointing 5.14, a better second half of the season saw that fall to just 3.50. After a mediocre 2005-06 season rival side Rote Teufel Bad Nauheim showed great interest in the 20 year-old shot stopper, eventually signing him in the summer of 2006. A successful two seasons followed as Paton continued to develop. His goals against fell to 2.92 in the regular season and by the playoffs of 2007-08 Paton was registering a GAA of just 1.61. The short spell in Bad Nauheim left a lasting impression with the shot stopper. “The last two years in Bad Nauheim were great, the fans were really good to me and I will miss them,” Paton said “I also made alot of new friends there who I will miss the most.” As Paton’s GAA went down the interest in the shot stopper went up with many scouts following his career at the latter stages of the 2008 season. “Although I haven’t made it back to the DEL yet I am hopeful of getting there again one day,” Paton said “It does however give me a great feeling of satisfaction to know that all my training and hardwork is noticed by other clubs, even better when it is followed up with an offer to play at a higher level.”   And that is exactly what Dresden Ice Lions did eventually tabling an offer, which was excepted by Paton. Although reports are, it will be once again as a back-up netminder. “The reports are true, I have signed as the back-up for Dresden, but I would like to think that is only a temporary situation,” Paton said ” However I must recognize that our first choice netminder Michal Marik is a top class man who will be very difficult to displace.” Relishing the challenge of securing a starting place is something the young shot stopper thrives on and will look to push Marik all the way. “I have irrespective of where I have played set myself the goal of trying to surpass those netminders ahead of me,”Paton said The push to succeed as a talent Paton became a custom to under the watchful eye of his former team mate and fellow netminder at Iserholn Roosters, Jimmy Waite.
Paton learned alot from Waite while backing him up during his time at the Roosters. Former NHLer Waite now with ERC Ingolstadt Panthers has left a lasting impression on Lee-Paton. “I dont know if I have any heroes but I do look up to alot of netminders and their abilities but the one person i look up to most in Jimmy Waite,” Paton said “Jimmy took me under his wing and taught me alot of what i now know during my time in Iserlohn.” Looking ahead to summer when most players hit the holiday hotspots or the golf course, Paton is leaving nothing to chance. Taking just a short holiday before beginning his own pre-season training schedule Paton is looking to be in good shape ahead of the Ice Lions pre-season warmup games which includes matchups with a number of DEL opposition. “I normally spend the first month of the off season relaxing and spending some very welcome down time with family and friends after which i start with my training program,” Paton said As Patons career flourishes in Germany with one eye on the top flight DEL, the dual national hasn`t ruled out the prospect of playing in the U.K. “Given the opportunity I would definitely consider playing in the UK and at one point we even looked at the option but were informed although I hold a full UK passport , I would only under English Ice Hockey Association rules having not played in the UK before, I would be considered as an import,” Paton said. “Which would then make me less of an attractive option for a lot of clubs.”   Prohockeynews would like to thank David-Lee Paton for taking time out from his busy schedule to talk to Prohockeynews.com. Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com Photo: Dresden Ice Lions, David-Lee Paton