1017 main round games in the German Ice Hockey League: Daniel Pietta breaks a DEL record in the ERC Ingolstadt game against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg in front of a home crowd. An emotional affair for the center.
The Ingolstadt attacker Daniel Pietta ran into the fan corner of his club ERC Ingolstadt with his two children holding his hand and was celebrated. The 39-year-old ice hockey star had just played his 1017th main round game in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), breaking Mirko Lüdemann’s record for the most appearances in main round games in the German upper house.
Pietta role model Lüdemann continues to hold the record in the main round plus play-offs
With play-off games, Pietta has a total of 1,095 games and is fifth in the all-time rankings. Pietta’s role model Lüdemann still holds the record there with 1197 games. But Pietta has already announced that he still wants to play ice hockey in the highest German league at the age of 40 and his Ingolstadt team, second in the table, are in such good shape this year that they could go far in the play-offs, he is likely to get even closer.
“I grew up seeing Mirko Lüdemann on the ice as a fan in Cologne and then in Krefeld. Now to be up there with him is something special,” said the center, who has been playing for Ingolstadt for five years, to “Magenta Sport”. Pietta and his Ingolstadt team had previously won 2-1 after a penalty shootout against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg.
Separation in Krefeld in a dispute – and move to Ingolstadt
It has been more than 22 years since he made his DEL debut in the Krefeld Pinguine jersey in November 2003 at the age of 16. After a short interlude with Füchse Duisburg in the 2nd Bundesliga, he played for his youth club from Krefeld for 15 years from 2005/06, and once even signed a ten-year contract there.
The left-handed shooter only left the Penguins in 2020 after an unpleasant legal dispute as part of a change in ownership and management. Since then he has been hunting for goals in Ingolstadt, where he has now become a loyal soul. ERC sports director Tim Regan once called him “a playing legend”.
Pietta is also the best preparer in DEL history
And one that continues to pose a great goal threat: In addition to the record for the most main round games in the DEL, he is also the best preparer in league history and the second best scorer behind long-time Nuremberg player Patrick Reimer.
If Pietta stays healthy, he should expand on his existing records. As mentioned, the DEL legend would like to continue his career for at least one more year beyond the current season, even though his contract in Ingolstadt is currently expiring at the end of the season.
In audio: BR24Sport block from December 29th, 9:55 a.m
Source: BR24 Radio December 29, 2025 – 9:55 a.m
