Men also play for third place
The women’s semi-finals are Mannheimer HC against Harvestehuder THC and defending champion Düsseldorfer HC against the Club an der Alster. This means that the city of Hamburg is represented in every semi-final.
On Sunday at 11.30 a.m. the men will play for third place – and thus the third German starting place for the Euro Hockey League (EHL). This regulation is new. Because the women’s Bundesliga only has two European starting places, these go to the finalists. Third place is not played.
The Schedule
Saturday June 4th
11.45 a.m., men, semi-finals: Rot-Weiss Cologne – Harvestehuder THC
2 p.m., men, semi-finals: Mannheimer HC – Hamburger Polo-Club
4.15 p.m., women, semi-finals: Mannheimer HC – Harvestehuder THC
6.30 p.m., women, semi-finals: Düsseldorfer HC – Club an der Alster
Sunday June 5th
11:30 Men, Third place play-off
1.45 p.m., men, finals
4.30 p.m., women, finals
Rot-Weiss Köln see themselves as favorites
“If you look at the Bundesliga season, then we’re the big favourites. But there are four strong squads, that’s not a sure-fire success,” said Pasha Gademan, men’s coach at Rot-Weiss Cologne, the WDR. The Cologne team ended the regular season in Bundesliga season A in first place. The advantage over the Hamburger Polo Club was only two points, but the goal difference with only 15 goals in 16 games was impressive.
Mannheimer HC, winner of Season B, can boast of penalty corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat. The 29-year-old Argentinian has been playing for the German national team since March 2022 and leads the scorer list with 36 goals.
Mannheim’s women’s best main round team
The women of Mannheimer HC, with 43 points the best main round team, are confident in their semi-final against Harvestehude. “I think our experience means we’re a bit of a favourite. If we can play up our quality, we’re confident of reaching the final,” said MHC coach Nicklas Benecke.