Separation from the coach and personal bloodletting: After the disappointing end in the semifinals of the German ice hockey championship, the Adler Mannheim have drawn consequences.
The eight-time German champion will not continue working with his coach Bill Stewart, the 65-year-old Canadian will now end his career.
At the same time, the Kurpfälzer separate from 17 players. The club announced this on Friday evening.
The Eagles won the league title with Coach Stewart in 2001. It is not yet clear who will succeed him. In the meantime, talks are still being held with Jochen Hecht about the future. Marcel Goc, like Hecht assistant coach under Stewart, still has a valid employment contract for the 2023/24 season.
“Bill and the Adler have a special relationship. Mannheim has a big place in Bill’s heart and vice versa,” explained Adler Managing Director Matthias Binder: “We are very grateful to him for the work he has done, his commitment, his lifeblood and his success. He never hesitated to help the organization in any way.”
During the season David Wolf, Matthias Plachta, Denis Reul, Jordan Szwarz, Korbinian Holzer, Arkadiusz Dziambor and Florian Mnich had their contracts renewed. Discussions are still being held with attacker Ryan MacInnis about a possible stay in Mannheim.
Co-favorite Adler Mannheim failed in the semifinals of the current playoff series of the German Ice Hockey League with 2:4 at ERC Ingolstadt.