This Wednesday, the polar bears want to celebrate their ninth championship title with a win in Munich. It’s an extremely stressful final series: the teams meet for the fourth time in six days.
But the playoffs don’t just mean high pressure for the players. Because while the players commute by plane between Berlin and Munich, the two Eisbären material waiters Dirk Perschau (56) and Oliver Lange (47) spend the route on the A9.
According to Google Maps, the two venues are 592 kilometers apart. And when the polar bears play twice within 24 hours, as they did last time, the two have to be faster than the team with the plane. “When the game is over, we immediately pack all the material into the van and drive off so that the things are in the dressing room when the team arrives,” Perschau describes his everyday playoff life.
The white VW transporter (3.5 tons) is stuffed to the roof. And that as quickly as possible. And it’s always amazing to watch how Perschau and Lange stow the huge mountain of material in the car in record time. Reminds me a bit of the video game Tetris.
Because the equipment is much more extensive than that of a football, handball or basketball team. 22 stuffed player bags (jerseys, pads, hockey boots, etc.), more than 100 hockey sticks, three goalie kits.
And there is even space in the transporter for a grinding machine and various hair dryers. They aren’t there to style hairdos, but run at full speed during the breaks and dry the players’ gloves.
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“It’s the most stressful playoffs of all time,” admits Perschau, who has been doing the job for over 20 years and used to defend for the polar bears himself.
And even if you win a title in Munich, you can’t celebrate. “We have to drive the material home,” says Perschau dutifully.
