The Grizzlys Wolfsburg from the German Ice Hockey League surprisingly parted ways with head coach Mike Stewart shortly before the end of the main round. This is the club’s reaction to the recent sporting downturn, and assistant coach Gary Shuchuk also has to leave.
The club wants to inform “shortly” about a successor for the remaining five games of the regular season and possible playoffs.
“There is no apportionment of blame, but we are of the opinion that in the current situation a new impetus is necessary for the team,” said Klaus Mohrs, chairman of the Grizzly supervisory board, in a club statement on Tuesday.
The Lower Saxony team didn’t get going at all after the Olympic break. There were defeats against the Schwenninger Wild Wings (2:4), at the Straubing Tigers (0:4) and most recently against the Löwen Frankfurt (2:3 nV). Instead of targeting sixth place and direct playoff qualification, even the minimum goal of the pre-playoffs is currently at risk.
The lead in eleventh place and the Augsburg Panthers is nine points. However, on the last matchday there will be a direct duel between the two teams. The next task for Wolfsburg is the duel with ERC Ingolstadt on Wednesday evening (7:30 p.m.), who almost certainly have their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Stewart’s contract expires at the end of the season. The 53-year-old took over the team in 2021 and led them to the semi-finals in each of his first two years (2021/22 and 2022/23) and to the quarter-finals in 2023/24. Last year the Grizzlys missed the hot phase of the season.
