The Israeli iceman: New Jersey farm hand Max Birbraer's path to stardom has been marked with michegas, but he remains confident he'll reach the promised land of the NHL

Hockey Digest, Jan, 2003 by Chuck O'Donnell

"[The upturn in violence] bothered me. That's why I have to get them out quick," says Birbraer, who is fluent in English, Hebrew, Russian, and Kazakhstani. "There was a part of last year where I was upset all the time and always worried about them. I don't have to do that right now. They're nice and safe. It's all for the better. Canada is a great country. Hopefully they've found a new home because they've already moved once.

"[Violence] is an everyday thing for the Israeli people. They're not that worded. I mean, you never know. What are you going to do, stay in your house? You still have to go to work and do your everyday thing. It seems actually worse here watching it on the news than it is there because it's an everyday thing there. It's just part of living there."

On the ice, an abdominal injury limited him to 40 games last season. He finished with just six goals. After undergoing offseason surgery, Birbraer says it will take some time to get his timing back.

"I'm sure I have talent, and the scouts know I have talent, and I have been told I have talent all the time, the biggest thing for me right now is to get confident and that's when everything's going to turn around," Birbraer says. "That's when my game will turn into more of a shooting game. My [offensive] abilities are more passing. I'm going to try to shoot more this year. The more you shoot, the more goals you're going to get."

Birbraer was impressive in training camp with the Devils. In a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in September, he threw three monster hits. That kind of effort made him an instant favorite among some of the team's veterans.

"All of them are nice," Birbraer says. "[Scott] Stevens and [Ken] Daneyko have been unbelievable to the young guys, especially me. They talk to you like a normal person, like you're their friend. They help you with stuff. Every time you ask them for a favor, they'll give you a stick for a friend. They're like, `Yeah, here you go. No problem. Anything you want.' They make you feel really comfortable."

They should--Birbraer may well be their teammate sooner than later.

Jews in the NHL

WHILE MAX BIRBRAER LOOKS TO BE THE first Israeli to play in the NHL, he won't be the league's first Jewish player. Yet unlike baseball, with Hall-of-Famers Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax and contemporary superstar Shawn Green; football, with Jay Fielder leading the high-powered Miami Dolphins offense; or basketball, with Halt-of-Famer Dolph Schayes; hockey has yet to have a truly high-profile Jewish star, which is something Birbraer would like to change. Here's a look at some of the Jewish players in the NHL over the years.

CURRENT PLAYERS Jeff Halpern, Washington

The fourth-year center from Princeton University anchors the Caps' fourth line and grew up just outside Washington in Potomac, Md. He scored a career-high 21 goals and 42 points in 2000-01.

Mathieu Schneider, Los Angeles

The 33-year-old blueliner broke into the league with Montreal in t989. He won a Cup with the Habs in 1993 and has since made stops with the Islanders (where he served as captain), the Leafs, the Rangers (his hometown team), and now the Kings. Career highlights include a trip to the 1996 Ali-Star Game and a spot on the 1998 U.S. Olympic Team.