Gustav Jaenecke

While modern fans will know the name of Erich Kuhnhackl, many hockey historians will tell you Gustav Jaenecke is the greatest German hockey player of all time.


That is Gustav Jaenecke above. He's talking to Norway's Sonja Henie, the three time Olympic champion figure skater and arguably the greatest skater of all time.

Jaenecke was a pretty good skater in his own right. He enjoyed a lengthy career from 1924 through 1951. In that time he played for Berliner SC (Germany) and SC Riessersee. He established himself as a good all-round player who played both as a forward and, in later years, as a defenseman.

Jaenecke, along with sidekick Rudi Ball, carried the German National team from 1927 through 1939. He participated in three Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 1932, and at eight World championships, winning silver in 1930 and bronze in 1932 and 1934. He also won gold at the European Championships in 1930 and 1934, and bronze in 1927, 1933, 1936, a1938 and 1939. He scored 43 goals in 82 international games, which represented one quarter of his team's output.

Also an excellent tennis player, represented Germany in the Davis Cup five times and won the German tennis title in 1932.