Bremerhaven turns its home game in the German Ice Hockey League with two late goals. The Eisbären Berlin are also celebrating a comeback victory. The Rhenish derby goes to Cologne.
The surprise team from the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven remains at the top of the table in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). With two late goals from Jan Urbas (54th) and Phillip Bruggisser (57th), Bremerhaven turned its home game against runner-up ERC Ingolstadt on Thursday (December 28th, 2023) and won 2-1 (0-0, 0-1, 2: 0). Brandon Kozun (35th) took the lead for the guests.
The polar bears of Berlin are still lurking behind Bremerhaven. Thanks to a 5:2 (0:2, 3:0, 2:0) at the Löwen Frankfurt, the record champions remain second, one point behind. After a 0-2 lead after the first third, Berlin turned things around in the second half and turned the deficit into a 3 within 49 seconds thanks to Erik Milk (27th) and a double strike from Yannick Veilleux (39th) and Tobias Eder (40th): 2-leadership.
A brace from Zach Boychuk (45th, 58th) meant the decision. Together with Bremerhaven (67 points), the Eisbären (66 points) form the leading duo with a clear lead over Straubing (57).
Cologne takes revenge against Düsseldorf
The Düsseldorfer EG suffered a double defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Kölner Haie. Three and a half weeks after the 1:7 in Düsseldorf, the Haie took revenge for their worst derby defeat ever with 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0).
Goals from Andreas Thuresson (22nd minute), Louis-Marc Aubry (47th) and Tim Wohlgemuth (60th) into the empty Düsseldorf goal ensured Cologne’s first victory in the third prestigious duel of the season between their Rhenish rivals. Only Alexander Blank (35th) scored for DEG.
DEG fans were also thwarted
DEG had already been thwarted before the game. The Düsseldorfers, together with the rock band “Die Toten Hosen”, planned to manipulate the sharks’ entrance show. For this purpose, projectors had already been smuggled into the arena, which were supposed to throw Pacmans with the DEG logo onto the ice before the 241st derby, which were then supposed to eat small portraits of sharks.
A DEG battle cry from the “Toten Hosen” should also have been part of the campaign. However, the projectors were discovered by security personnel in a box and removed.