These will be cracking playoff duels. On Wednesday (7:30 p.m. Magentasport), the polar bears meet Mannheim in the first of a maximum of five semi-final games in the MB Arena.
The most dangerous opponent is Adler trainer Bill “Kill Bill” Stewart (63). The Canadian took over from the fired Pavel Gross (53) in March and breathed new life into the team.
“Kill Bill” is notorious for bully attacks. In March 2001, Stewart triggered a mass brawl in Mannheim in the quarter-finals game between the Adler and Berlin’s Preussen (4:3). After the end of the first third he stormed the Preussen-Bank and hit Berlin’s coach Pavel Gross.
He was injured with a laceration on his left ear. The Mannheimers claimed that Stewart himself had previously been attacked. The Prussians demanded that the league ban Stewart from his profession, who was also injured. At that time he was banned for two games and fined 15,000 DM.
Another Stewart incident: In the 2001 final against Munich he faked a circulatory collapse, later admitting: “Sometimes you need an unconventional break.” Apparently he wanted to give a player time to sharpen the runners.
The eagles became champions.
