Jan Schroeder was born on February 14, 2001, in the town of Schiltach, in the family of an engineer and a schoolteacher. From childhood, his red hair made him a target for teasing ("Feuerkopf!"). As a kid, he loved catching rabbits in the forest with his friends and building huts out of sticks. His mother instilled a love for literature, reading him the Brothers Grimm at night or on rainy days. When he turned 10, his father, after much persuasion of his mother, sent him to a Schwarzwald team for hockey. Now, at 25 (turning 26 in May), he plays for the same Schwarzwald team – "Schwarzwald Wölfe". Wolves of the Black Forest. They came up with this name when they entered their first tournament at age 15. This pompous name stuck with them.