•
To
The
Max
Israeli hockey star hopes to
make it big in America.
PHILLIP AND ELIZABETH
APPLEBAUM
Q: I seem to remember
some time ago that a Jewish
hockey player had been
drafted by an American
team. Whatever hap-
pened to him?
A: Max Birbraer
was the first Israeli
-
In a program of the jo/mj Mimes Michigan Chapter ofAmerican
Red if
Davidfir Is7-ael heel-s and blankets inr made by children
Ill tingly) Del-twit, then sent to frmilies wounded in tertynist attaCks in
Israel
Several days bijbre the war in Iraq bean„ the John J Mantes
aapter quickly shipped some 780 bears to Arad, including Alyn
Hospital, where this photo was taken.
7b make a donation to Operation Bear/Blanket, call (248) 353--
043
4/25
2003
96
to be drafted by the
National Hockey League. In
2000, he was the sixth draft pick of the New Jersey
Devils; today, he plays with the Devils' top farm
team, the Albany River Rats.
Born in 1980 and a native of Kazakstan (of the
Former Soviet Union), Birbraer moved with his fami-
ly to Rishon Letzion, a suburb of Tel Aviv, and then
to Canada. He always loved playing hockey, and
developed his talents while living in Israel. He quickly
became the country's leading goal scorer, and played
on the Israeli ice hockey team for the World
Championships.
Among those watching Birbraer at the World
Championships was Canadian Paul Rosen, who sug-
gested he move to Toronto to improve his skills.
Birbraer, a left wing, did just that, and played for a
Newmarket, Ontario, junior team, before comings to
the River Rats.
Birbraer still identifies as an Israeli, though he has
had a few confrontations with the government after
he failed to show up for military duty. (Apparently
the matter was settled when Birbraer was said to be
exempt for "health reasons.")
For more on Birbraer, visit the Website of the
National Hockey League, www.nhl.com