The Düsseldorfer EG from the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) has reacted to the sporting crisis and made a change in the position of assistant coach.
As the penultimate team announced on Wednesday, the Rhinelanders are parting ways with club icon Daniel Kreutzer, but Mike Pellegrims is returning. The Belgian worked as a player at DEG between 2001 and 2006 and as head coach from 2017 to 2018.
“I have come to the conclusion that we need a new, external impulse for the team,” sports director Niki Mondt is quoted in the press release: “In this context, it is with a heavy heart that we are parting ways with Daniel Kreutzer, for whose work I would like to thank him very much However, we have come to the conclusion that in this situation we should rely on more experience in the coaching team.”
With 780 games, 217 goals and 425 assists, Kreutzer is Düsseldorf’s record holder in almost all important categories. The homegrown product stood on the ice for DEG for 20 years. After retiring in 2017, the 43-year-old was initially active in sponsorship before returning to the gang as an assistant coach before last season.
After eleven games of the season in the DEL, DEG is still waiting for its first win after regular playing time. With seven points, the eight-time champions are in 13th place, level on points with bottom-placed Iserlohn Roosters. Before the season, the club had set the goal of reaching the play-off semi-finals.