It took some getting used to, but Tilburg Trappers is the proud leader in the Oberliga Nord. Last Friday they won against major rival Hannover Scorpions (2-5) and on Sunday afternoon they defeated Füchse Duisburg: 8-2. “We notice that other teams are eager to beat us. This is because we, as a Dutch club, play ice hockey in Germany, but also because we simply have a good team,” says player Kilian van Gorp (29) from Udenhout.
Tilburg Trappers knows what it is like to win the Oberliga, the third level in Germany. Although that title has not been won since 2018. The selection has therefore received a quality injection for this season. Investments have also been made in the youth academy and the second team.
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The team of new coach Todd Warriner is showing good things so far. Halfway through the competition, first place is a fact. “We became champions in the Oberliga for the first three years, but after that we were no longer first for a long time,” says Kilian.
“We were in the top three,” he adds. “This year we notice that we have a strong team, perhaps due to the arrival of a number of boys. And we have also become a closer team. Although the reason doesn’t really matter, things are just going well,” says Kilian in the Omroep Brabant radio program De Zuidtribune.
“Great that we can now beat them.”
Tilburg Trappers is so strong that competitor Hannover Scorpions has already been defeated twice. In recent years, most matches have been lost against this top team. “We will meet each other twice more later in the competition. Hopefully we can continue this trend.”
The competition is still long, as all teams play each other four times. Then the play-offs start, in which the best teams from the Oberliga Nord and Süd play against each other. “You don’t always know what to expect in the play-offs.”
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“Some teams can bring that little bit extra, others play less than in the competition,” says the ice hockey player. “But if you show your worth in the competition, you will certainly be in a good position.” Promotion is not possible, because Germany does not allow foreign clubs at the second ice hockey level.
“The atmosphere is fantastic.”
In any case, Tilburg Trappers has nothing to complain about the public interest in IJssportcentrum Stappegoor. Leading position or not, it is almost full every home game. “The atmosphere is fantastic in Tilburg. There is never any fuss. Ideal to watch with your children.”