- NHL-bound: National Athlete Stachowiak Leaves Ingolstadt for New Hockey Venture
German Ice Hockey Stalwart Stachowiak Transfers to NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning
Wojciech Stachowiak, a national ice hockey player for Germany, has opted to depart from ERC Ingolstadt and join the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old forward has inked a one-year contract with the Lightning, orchestrating a significant milestone in his career as he pursues his dream of playing in the NHL.
"I've been given a distinctive opportunity to realize my biggest ambition—to play in the NHL," Stachowiak stated. "I aspire to capitalize on this chance and make it count."
Stachowiak's exceptional tenure with Ingolstadt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) spans back to 2020, where he has featured in 281 games. Recognized for his skill and precision as an attacker, the versatile forward has also garnered a consistent presence in the national team, under the guidance of coach Harold Kreis, since 2023.
In spite of Team Germany's disappointing elimination in the initial stages of the recently held World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, Stachowiak emerged as one of the tournament's bright spots, tallying three goals and three assists.
With Stachowiak's addition, he joins the ranks of other national players who have made the leap to the NHL this year, namely Joshua Samanski (Edmonton Oilers) and Arno Tiefensee (Dallas Stars).
Drawing from the provided enrichment data, Stachowiak has amassed impressive statistics in his DEL career, playing all 239 games with ERC Ingolstadt. In the 2022-23 season alone, he scored 10 goals and amassed 30 points, with a commendable plus-15 rating. In the playoffs, Stachowiak led his team in goals and points, scoring six goals and 11 points in 12 games.
At the 2025 IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championship, Stachowiak represented Team Germany, excelling with three goals and two game-winning tallies, ranking second in points on the team. In May 2025, he signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 6-foot-1, 187-pound forward hailing from Gdańsk, Poland. Prior to his stint in the DEL, Stachowiak showcased his talent in the USHL and NCAA, spending time with the Central Illinois Flying Aces and Michigan State University.
This transition to the Tampa Bay Lightning signals an exciting new chapter in Stachowiak's career, as the highly skilled forward sets his sights on competing at the highest level of professional ice hockey.
The Commission, with the adoption of a proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, has paved the way for players like Wojciech Stachowiak to chase their dreams beyond European leagues, as he now joins the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning, leaving behind his successful career in German hockey. Despite his passion for German ice hockey, Stachowiak's focus now shifts from DEL sports to the thrill of NHL hockey, much like the way he shifted his focus from hockey in the USHL and NCAA to a prosperous career in Europe.
