DThe Löwen Frankfurt won their opening game in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg 5:2 (1:2/1:0/3:0) on Friday evening. Before the kick-off, Frankfurt coach Gerry Fleming announced that he wants to finish in the top six teams with the promoted team at the end of the season.
The Wolfsburg team showed that they have been there for years, taking the lead with two goals from Beaudin outnumbered and Mingoia (both 5th minute). Just before the first third break, after exactly 18 minutes and ten seconds, Nathan Burns scored the first DEL goal for the lions.
Both teams took the second half much slower. But when Wolfsburg was already preparing for the break, Burns (38th) scored for the lions for the second time with a well-placed shot. In the final section, Burns (50′), Brett Breitkreuz (55′) and Brendan Ranford (60′) scored again for Frankfurt.
Title candidate Adler Mannheim, on the other hand, started the new season with a narrow defeat. The former champion lost 1:2 (0:1, 0:1, 1:0) against the Schwenninger Wild Wings. The Straubing Tigers managed a 5:2 (1:0, 1:0, 3:2) against the Nürnberg Ice Tigers at the start.
The Düsseldorfer EG got a 4:3 (0:0, 3:0, 0:3, 1:0) home win against ERC Ingolstadt after extra time. The Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven started with a 3:1 (0:0, 2:1, 1:0) against the Bietigheim Steelers, the Iserlohn Roosters defeated the Augsburg Panthers 2:1 (0:0:, 0:0, 2nd :1). The Kölner Haie opened the season the night before with a 6:3 (1:1, 2:0, 3:2) coup against Red Bull Munich. Defending champions Eisbären Berlin start the new season on Sunday in Nuremberg.
