The Adler Mannheim narrowly won the top game of the second matchday against EHC Munich. Co-favorites for the title Eisbären Berlin also got off to a good start in the new season in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) after a disappointing season and also defeated Düsseldorf.
On Sunday (September 17th, 2023), former national coach Toni Söderholm suffered the first defeat of the season with defending champion Munich. The champions lost the exciting and entertaining prestigious duel in Mannheim 3:4 (1:0, 2:1, 1:1) after a penalty shootout. The decisive goal was scored by the outstanding national player Matthias Plachta, who became Mannheim’s most successful DEL goalscorer with 163 goals for the Adler. Both teams are considered top favorites for the title.
Berlin on course
Like Mannheim, the Eisbären, who were also highly traded, also achieved their second victory in the second game with a 3:2 (1:0, 1:1, 1:1) win against Düsseldorfer EG, who were weakened by substitutes. At the start on Friday, the nine-time champions had already won 2-1 after a penalty shootout against runner-up ERC Ingolstadt.
On the second matchday, in front of 9,925 spectators, Manuel Wiederer (17th minute) scored the goals while outnumbered, former DEG striker Tobias Eder (28th) and Yannick Veilleux (45th) each scored the goals for Berlin, which made the playoffs last season had missed, but now wants to play for the title again.
DEG with great success before the game
Captain Philip Gogulla (30th) and the former Eisbären met for DEG, who had to do without the four top performers Alec McCrea (suspended), Kyle Cumiskey (retraining), Brendan O’Donnell (surgery) and Steven Mac Aulay (torn cruciate ligament). -Professional Bennet Roßmy (51st) On Thursday, DEG lost 2:4 to defending champions EHC Red Bull Munich.
DEG put the exclamation mark on the first weekend of the DEL season off the ice with the multi-year contract extension of top goalie Henrik Haukeland. The current DEL goalkeeper of the year extended his contract, which is valid until 2024, by six more years until 2030.
Cologne sharks in great early form
On the other hand, the start of the season was perfect for the secret favorites Kölner Haie, who, after winning 5-1 at the start on Friday against Nuremberg, defeated the runner-up ERC Ingolstadt 4-1 (0-0, 0-1, 4-0) on Sunday and, above all, on Sunday shone in the final third. “Today we saw what we are made of,” said Haie coach Uwe Krupp, whose upgraded teams many experts also see as title contenders. After two matchdays, Cologne are at the top of the table with six points.
Bremerhaven wins northern duel
The Pinguins Bremerhaven clearly won the northern duel with the Grizzlys Wolfsburg 6-2 and celebrated their first win of the season. The hosts laid the foundation for the deserved success in the first third. After 20 minutes, the Penguins were ahead 4-0 against weak guests. Miha Verlic, Skyler McKenzie, Jan Urbas and Skyler McKenzie again made everything clear early on. The victory for Bremerhaven was no longer in danger after that.
Markus Vikingstad and Ross Mauermann scored the other goals for the Pinguins, who had lost in Straubing after extra time at the start. Spencer Machacek and Chris Wilkie reduced the deficit twice for Wolfsburg, who won 4-3 against Augsburg on matchday one.
