When the Eisbären Berlin gave Eric Hördler a professional contract in May, a dream came true for him and his father Frank: fighting for the title together on the ice. With the start of the season on Sunday, the time has now come. By Friedrich Roessler
Unreal – that’s how the 18-year-old ice hockey professional Eric Hördler describes his feelings when he dreams of playing with the polar bears in the final for the 2023 championship. Unreal because the Berliner would not be on the ice with anyone, but with his father.
“If that worked, it would be a huge moment for both of us,” says the striker with the long, dark blonde hair. In May 2022, the Eisbären Berlin signed their long-time youth player as a professional. Since then it was clear that the Hördlers in the Ice hockey season 2022/23 will run together.
With his two sons Eric and Jonas, polar bear captain Frank Hördler had been rehearsing for this emergency in a playful manner for the past few years. With hockey sticks and softballs on cobblestones in the yard. Back then, the record player had to look for the missed balls in the hedge, so this season it could be the opposing goalkeeper who has to dig out the puck – threw it into the net by striker Eric Hördler.
“Big thing!”
While Hördler senior plays in defense for the polar bears, his son Eric is used in the attack line. Both have already trained together in the pre-season. A remarkable entry into the professional team for Hördler junior. “It feels very good, the lads have given me a great welcome and it’s great fun,” says the 18-year-old. He could learn a lot from the old hands. And of course one of these warhorses is particularly pleased. “Of course, your heart opens up, it’s a really great thing,” says 37-year-old Frank Hördler.
Father Hördler followed his son for years and noticed how much Eric put his energy into ice hockey. Now his older son has been rewarded for all his efforts with a professional contract. He doesn’t even know what to say if he were to play for the championship with Eric. “That would be a crazy thing,” says the polar bear defender. However, he should not be distracted by it and think about it all the time. “That’s exactly what I have to avoid and, as always, just think game by game.”
Hördler ice hockey family
Frank Hördler has already won nine titles with the polar bears. After the first championship celebration in 2005, his older son was eight months old and, as a toddler, tried to wake his father the next morning. “I can remember it,” says Hördler senior, “he wanted to wake me up, but couldn’t.” Hördler junior says he can’t remember, but then adds with a smile: “But I can imagine that my dad didn’t get up.”
The number 17 has already experienced what a championship feels like in the storm of the polar bears. In 2022, Eric Hördler won the title with the Eisbären U20 juniors. Now the pros should also go on a title hunt.
Two Hördler generations in one team, that has happened before. As a teenager, Frank Hördler began his professional career in the Oberliga, at ERC Selb in Bavaria. His teammates back then: father Jochen and brother David.
