The Krefeld Pinguine, a Champions Hockey League A-license holder, have signed forward Daniel Pietta to a 10-year contract – the longest for any hockey player outside the National Hockey League.
by Derek O'Brien
KREFELD – While the Champions Hockey League was in the midst of its semi-finals, one of its A-license clubs has made history this past week by signing a player to the longest professional hockey contract outside the National Hockey League.
The Krefeld Pinguine of the German DEL have signed 28-year-old forward Daniel Pietta to a 10-year contract. Pietta was born in Krefeld and has played his entire hockey career with the club, coming up through its youth program. This new contract makes it seem likely that he will remain a “Penguin” for the rest of his career as well.
“The Pinguine are the team of my heart. I’ve always played for Krefeld and it’s here where I want to end my career. That has always been my goal,” Pietta said, according to DEL.org and IIHF.com.
“I have great confidence in the management that they do not only secure the continuation of the team in the DEL but that they will also make sure we’ll have good teams with which I can achieve something. (To win) a championship with Krefeld is my dream.”
In their history which dates back to 1936, Krefeld have twice won the German championship. Their most recent title 2003, when Pietta played for the club's U18 team. Since Pietta began playing for the A-team full-time in 2005–06, the team has two league semi-final appearances, coming in 2011 and 2013. Last season, they finished second in the DEL regular season but were ousted in the quarter-finals by eventual champion ERC Ingolstadt. After 40 games in 2014–15 they are 11th out of 14 teams.
Pietta had a career year in 2013–14, registering 48 points (16+32) in 41 games. With 42 points in his first 41 games this season, he's not producing at quite the same pace but with still 12 regular season games to play, he will likely establish a new career high in points. He recorded a goal and three assists in four CHL games this season.
While Krefeld only won once and finished fourth in Group J, Pietta's new long-term contract means he'll have many more opportunities to help them advance further, and hockey fans around Europe will get many more chances to see him in a Krefeld jersey.