6-foot-7 Bau looking to make big impression in Hershey offense

When you look at Mathias Bau on the ice during Bears practice, he stands out in more ways than one. The Danish rookie is listed at 6-foot-7, 11-inches taller than his opening night linemate Dustin Gazley.

But more than a big body, Bau is an offensive weapon for Hershey. Unlike the stereotype that larger bodies in hockey aren’t puck handlers, the 24-year-old clearly enjoys playing with the puck.

“Since I was little I practiced a lot with puck,” said Bau. “I had a lot of great coaches at home. My size – I can protect the puck. I want to have the puck.”

Bau signed a one-year AHL contract with Hershey in June after being spotted by Capitals scouts during the IIHF World Championships. A lack of draft selections arriving in Hershey over the last two seasons allowed the franchise to start looking for some more free agent talent to have in Chocolate Town.

“When you don’t have a lot of draft picks the last couple of years, you’re trying to find the type of diamonds in the rough that maybe was overlooks at certain points in their career,” said head coach Troy Mann. “The Caps scouts see something in him and now it’s our chance to evolve him into a North American style of play. All you can really do is evaluate him based on practice and based on some video and try to get him going on that team concept that we’re trying to build.”

Bau will make the transition to a North American style of play, which could be tough for a guy of his size on a much smaller rink. “Over here, you don’t have so much time,” he said. “I have to get used to go faster to the net. I can’t go so much in the corners because there will be a lot of people.

“It’s a big ice at home. There’s more time and space. It’s a lot of players on not so much space here. Everything is faster. I have to get used to it. I think it’s good for me.”

Mann believes once he finds a good rhythm in Hershey, he could be a key contributor to the Chocolate and White. “He can make small plays in those areas, whether it’s off the rush or down tight in o-zone play. He’s got a great reach too.

“We think that over the long haul here, once he gets comfortable with the league, you go from our preseason to all of our practices last week then into the first game, certainly it’s an adjustment. I know he was a little bit nervous for his first game as well. I think that he could be a big part of the offense here moving forward. He’s just got to get comfortable.”

For now, Bau is looking forward to making his Chocolate Town debut. “I’m really happy to be here. It’s been good so far. I haven’t played at home yet so that’s a thing I am looking forward to.”