The Kölner Haie have consolidated their place in the top six of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
Coach Kari Jalonen’s team celebrated a 4:1 (0:0, 2:1, 2:1) win at Adler Mannheim and extended their lead over the Straubing Tigers in seventh place to four points. The club from Bavaria can only follow suit after a short break on January 15, 2025 against runner-up Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven.
Success after a dry spell
It was the 14th win of the season for Cologne and the first in four league games. From the start, an intense game developed with many tough but fair duels and body checks. After a goalless first third, Cologne’s Maximilian Kammerer (26th) took the lead.
For a long time, Mannheim did not let this unsettle them in their own hall. Daniel Fischbuch equalized just five minutes later. Four seconds before the end of the third, Alexandre Grenier put the Haie back in front in the power play (40th), Kammerer then increased the score with his second goal (46th). Frederik Storm (55th) finally made everything clear with Cologne’s fourth goal.
Eisbären confidently against Schwenningen
The Eisbären Berlin celebrated their second victory in a row. On Saturday, the German champions won against the Schwenninger Wild Wings 7:3 (5:1, 2:1, 0:1) and thus consolidated second place in the table. Liam Kirk contributed four goals to the undisputed success, while Ty Ronning, Blaine Byron and Olivier Galipeau also scored for the capital.
In front of 14,200 spectators in the sold-out arena at Ostbahnhof, the home team controlled the game from the start and repeatedly found gaps in the Schwenningen defense. Ronning took the lead in the ninth minute, and Byron increased a little later. Because Kirk scored a hat trick within five minutes, the Berliners moved ahead 5-0 before Mirko Höfflin scored for the guests in the power play just before the first break.
After the strong opening third, success is no longer in danger
After the restart, the Black Forest team also did more on the offensive. Nevertheless, Galipeau extended the hosts’ lead with a powerplay goal (32′). Alexander Karachun also shortened the score for Schwenninger in the power play (34′), but Kirk restored the old gap with his fourth goal (36′).
In the final period both teams continued to play forward, but only the guests scored. Arkadiusz Dziambor made the final score (43′).