EC Bad Nauheim expects seven games in 17 days around Christmas and the turn of the year. The game kicks off on Friday against the existentially threatened Blue Devils Weiden.
(mn). 17 days, seven games: The EC Bad Nauheim starts the traditionally challenging main round program of the German Ice Hockey League 2 with the games against the Blue Devils Weiden (Friday, 7.30 p.m.) and the Krefeld Pinguinen (Sunday, 5 p.m.). around Christmas and the New Year. »We do our job to play. “And the boys would rather be competing than training,” says Mike Pellegrims, the Red Devils’ coach.
This is the initial situation: Two goalkeepers, six defenders, 13 strikers! 13 strikers? Yes! Hannu Tripcke from Löwen Frankfurt is currently revitalizing the offensive competition in the twelfth-placed squad. How and to what extent the young attacker rotates in, whether Marc El-Sayed might move into the defense as an all-rounder – a variety of options are conceivable. Licensed player Edwin Tropmann (U20 World Cup in Canada) is missing from the permanent staff.
The coach warns against Weiden, their home game opponent, who has been worried about their existence for a good four weeks, with a view to their latest results. »Either a team collapses in such a situation, or it grows together. In the end, everyone is playing for their own personal future. And people in Weiden seem to be stepping on the gas at the moment.”
Weiden – uncertainty in the Upper Palatinate: Four weeks after the shock of the main sponsor's bankruptcy filing, there is of course uncertainty in Upper Palatinate. There is a shortfall of 1.1 million euros in the second division's budget, while a gap of 200,000 euros needs to be compensated for in the parent club, the youth team. It remains to be seen whether – and if so, with which personnel – the season can be ended. Managing director Franz Vodermeier has repeatedly publicly stated that he is very confident that he will be able to avert impending insolvency. One thing is clear: the latest standards have flown. Approvals for bills of exchange for economic reasons will not be granted. The departures of goalkeeper Daniel Allavena (Nuremberg) and Mads Larsen (Klagenfurt) are in a different context.
Marco Wölfl, the remaining goalkeeper with DEL2 format, seems to be doing well in his role as the clear number one, the team appears unimpressed on the ice and plays aggressively at the upper limit. Striking: Eleven of the Blue Devils' last twelve games were decided by a maximum difference of two goals. Just as noticeable: There are only two contingent players in coach Sebastian Buchwieser's squad: defender Tommy Muck and striker Tyler Ward. Top scorer Tomas Rubes – born in the Czech Republic – received a German passport before the start of the season. Fabian Ribnitzky (injured) and shooting star Eilas Pul (U20 World Cup) will miss the game in Wetterau.
Krefeld – at the top of the table: The statistics are impressive: For example, there is the series of 13 wins in a row, stopped last Friday (by Landshut). The Rhinelanders lead the table, tied on points with Dresden, who have played two more games. There are four penguins in places one to four in the DEL2 scorer list. Max Newton (came from Slovakia, first time in the DEL2), Jon Matsumoto, Matt Marcinew and defender Davis Vandane together scored 55 of the Black and Yellows' 108 goals (most dangerous offensive in the league). Only two teams have conceded fewer goals. The euphoria of being able to get promoted back to the DEL in the third year is great. More than 5,400 spectators come to the home games. The architects of success are Peter Draisaitl as sports director and Thomas Popiesch as coach.
