2023-09-15 21:18:00
The Kölner Haie started the new season of the German Ice Hockey League with a clear victory. However, there was a defeat at the start for the Adler Mannheim.
On Friday (September 15th, 2023), the Eagles, who have been waiting for a title since 2019, lost 1:2 (1:1, 0:0, 0:0) to the Schwenninger Wild Wings after a penalty shootout. Max Görtz converted the decisive penalty.
Secret favorite Kölner Haie, on the other hand, started the new season strongly and outclassed the Nuremberg Ice Tigers 5:1 (2:0, 3:0, 0:1). The new signings Justin Schütz, Alexandre Grenier and ex-Nuremberg player Gregor MacLeod scored four goals together for the upgraded Sharks, who have a chance of winning their ninth championship title.
Runner-up ERC Ingolstadt lost at the start to the Eisbären Berlin 1:2 (0:0, 1:1, 0:0) after a penalty shootout. In regular time, the two German runners-up, Wojciech Stachowiak for Ingolstadt and Marcel Noebels for the Eisbären, scored. Blaine Byron converted the decisive penalty for the Eisbären, who had recently failed to reach the playoffs.
Champion Red Bull Munich wins the opening game
On Thursday, champions EHC Red Bull Munich started with a 4:2 (2:0, 0:0, 2:2) against Düsseldorfer EG. In the opening game of the 30th DEL season, former national coach Toni Söderholm’s home team initially lost a 2-0 lead in the final third before two EHC strikers secured victory.
Before the game started, the Munich team had pulled their championship banner under the stadium roof in a small ceremony – the flags for the DEL titles 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023 are now hanging there. The Red Bulls started their last season in the venerable Olympic ice rink before A new multifunctional arena is to be moved into for the 2024/25 season.
Title favorite Munich secured a narrow victory at the start of the season.
Söderholm’s successful premiere
For coach Söderholm it was the first league game as coach of the EHC – and it was a successful premiere. Söderholm, national coach from 2019 to 2022 and then unsuccessful head coach at SC Bern, inherited the successful coach Don Jackson for the new season in Munich.
The top duel between the two financially strongest teams from Mannheim and Munich will take place on the second match day on Sunday.
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