After eleven long years of waiting and withstanding, the Cologne sharks are back in a final series for the German championship. The surprising success against Bremerhaven was followed by an unexpected victory over Ingolstadt. The sharks each won in the sixth game and are led by a captain that makes physical pain less than the mental: Moritz Müller.
He knew from these lines that are now following that he would immediately request their deletion. Moritz Müller does not like to be turned out of an ice hockey team, especially not in the middle of the playoffs. But the “Eternal Mo”, which has been named a championship in the Cologne Haie jersey for almost 20 years, has grown into a physical synonym in this April weeks: for resistance and steadfastness.
Service provider At 38 years
When Müller in the last regular section of the sixth semi-final encounter against Ingolstadt after an unfortunate and unsuspected foul by Wojciech Stachowiak with the already damaged shoulder had slipped into the gang, then hardly got up and then banged on the bench for a long time, when fans were banged in the full hall. Without the captain, who is in a amazing constitution at the age of 38, it would perhaps be an impossibility against this rapid group from Ingolstadt to win the victory.
But Moritz Müller, whom all the world can only call “Mo”, came back. Maybe the adrenaline had driven him back onto the ice. He had already made the important goal for 1: 2, was at least involved in the compensation by McLeod and wanted to, no, now, no, as a captain in this swearing playoff semi-final on deck.
After the game, Moritz Müller was remarkably quiet. He knew what the professional questions would want to know from him. They would inquire about his three-point game, about his injured shoulder and an evening that there might have never existed in his bubbling lack of condition in this hall.
So Mo Müller, whom his fans have long since ranked an ice hockey saint, replied in the playoff stakkato: “Special evening … great success … not stop … glad that I could help the team … and no: no worries about the shoulder.” The fact that Müller bit on his teeth to hide his pain should only be mentioned here. Because there are only pain or injuries during the playoffs.
Sportschau, April 15th, 2025 10:29 a.m.
From the reporter to Managing Director
Philipp Walter, the managing director of the Haie, in whose aegis of the KEC with targeted, individualized marketing, set up one spectator record after another. Walter celebrated the Cologne’s last championship more than 20 years ago as a reporter on the microphone. He was then a press officer for many years, switched to the SC Freiburg media department and finally came back to the Rhine as managing director.
“We can finally give something back to people,” said Walter. “The fans have invested so much time, love, money, passion and nerves. Keep setbacks. And now we can finally give something back.” Walter’s relief was literally punched into every word. Incidentally, the club’s sporting misery is also quite well summarized. The association, which the former federal and sharks trainer Hans Zach described as “FC Bayern des Ice Hockey”, had to endure a sporty thirst route of almost biblical extent in order to allow an almost forgotten feeling of happiness.
Sportschau, April 15th, 2025 10:29 a.m.
Against Berlin again outsiders
And now the final series against the almost overwhelming Berliners. The Cologne team are outsiders again. But, if you have prevailed against the main round in Ingolstadt and the third from Bremerhaven, you will continue to hope for your own championship. Especially since the attacker has now also met Justin Schütz, whose natural carefree has been pushed out of his face by deep worry folds in the past few weeks.
But now Justin Schütz, who will switch to Mannheim in the summer, has finally achieved his first playoff goal. It was the winning goal in extra time. A counterattack. Schütz or goalkeeper Heljanko. Schütz met through the legs of the goalkeeper, and then the large hall in the Deutz district of Köln had to prove its static fortificance.
Sharks “an unpleasant opponent”
Now there is of course ahead. About opportunities and dangers against these scary Berliners. “We are now outsiders again,” explains Justin Schütz. “But we know that we are an unpleasant opponent. We are a very structured team, always have a great match plan and are great for every opponent by coach Kari Jalons.”
Sportschau, April 15th, 2025 10:29 a.m.
Maybe the long wait for the ninth championship title in Cologne will soon come to an end. The KEC recently won this trophy 23 years ago, which is a bit reminiscent of the Henkelpott in the Champions League. At that time also after a sixth place in the main round. In any case, all of these thoughts and memories now have their place in this experience of hungry ice hockey city. Finally, there could be a word game of dubious kindness, but it is quite quite accuracy: All of Cologne is really “shark” at the moment.