After the Eisbären Berlin did not make it into the playoffs, a new champion is being sought in the DEL. The favorite role has been taken, but one is lurking in the Rhineland in particular.
Only 16 points separated the seven teams in places two to eight after 56 games in the main round of the DEL. However, the league is not quite balanced, because with EHC Munich there was a team that clearly surpassed everyone. Last year’s finalist had a 19-point lead over second-placed ERC Ingolstadt.
The favorite role for the successor to the Eisbären Berlin, who missed the playoffs as champions, is correspondingly clear. On Wednesday (March 15, 2023), the Munich team will start their quarter-final series (best of 7) against the Fischtown Pinguins. “We might go into the race as favourites, yes. But there is still a lot of ice hockey to be played“said sports director Christoph Winkler. But in the end, the wait for the first title in five years should definitely be over.
“Actually, we can only beat ourselves”
With the penguins from Bremerhaven, however, the first hurdle could be a difficult one. The outsider was able to win two of the four duels in the main round, giving the EHC two of only twelve defeats this season. Nevertheless, Munich’s national player Konrad Abeltshauser says: “Actually, we can almost only beat ourselves. The depth in the squad is definitely an advantage. Everyone can score goals, everyone pulls together. And we have a top team in the goalkeeper position.“
When looking for the biggest competitors in the fight for the title, you could quickly end up with a former goalkeeper from Munich. Henrik Haukeland was voted the best keeper in the DEL immediately before the start of the playoffs and wants to top the success of the past season with Düsseldorfer EG, when there was a narrow 1:3 series defeat against Munich. “We’re definitely ready“, announced Haukeland, whose team meets Ingolstadt on Wednesday.
Exciting series between Cologne and Mannheim
The big DEG rivals Kölner Haie could also play an important role in the decisive phase of the season. “I go in with high expectations and am optimistic for the series against Mannheim“said coach Uwe Krupp, who will start the playoffs with his team on Tuesday (March 14, 2023).”When we play our ice hockey, it’s very difficult to calculate and we can hold our own against any opponent.“
The 57-year-old apparently sees the fact that up to seven games will be played in one round in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 as an opportunity. “I don’t want to downplay the performance of the teams that were in the finals recently. But it’s different when you have to play best-of-seven. It’s just part of hockey that you have to win four games‘ said Krup.
DEL managing director Gernot Tripcke is perhaps looking forward to the Cologne series against Mannheim. Because this duel has the potential to make for seven exciting games. “The duel between Mannheim and Cologne will be an unbelievable series, these are two big traditional locations, they will be ice hockey festivals in the quarterfinalssaid Tripcke.It’s going to be extremely exciting, and whoever prevails is a very good candidate for the championship. I don’t think the winner of the Mannheim series wins the title against Cologne, I wouldn’t be surprised.“
Does Straubing surprise?
However, the 55-year-old also has an outsider high on his list: the Straubing Tigers. “It’s not a big city, but it’s a big region where hockey is all the rage, the support is huge. They have done very serious work in recent years, qualified for the Champions League and advanced to the play-offs, beating the Swedish champions. They’re a team that’s very difficult to beat, especially at home“, said Tripcke. In the quarter-finals – the first game takes place on Tuesday – Straubing meets the Grizzlys Wolfsburg.