Top favourite Red Bull Munich has won the 25th season of the German Ice Hockey League, whereas their big rival Adler Mannheim failed.
The defending champion won 4:2 (1:0, 1:2, 2:0) in the new edition of the last final series of “Vize” Eisbären Berlin and underlined his ambitions to win the fourth title in a row with his success in the top duel. Since the founding of the Bundesliga 60 years ago, only the Düsseldorfer EG (1990-93) had succeeded in doing so.
The allegedly strongest competitor of the champion, however, experienced a disappointing evening. The Mannheim-based team, who had six Pyeongchang Olympic heroes in their ranks, suffered a 1:2 (1:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:1) home collapse after extra time against the Düsseldorf EC.
Norwegian newcomer Ken Andre Olimb scored the winning goal for the eight-time German champion of the Rhine after 3’30” overtime. Previously Alexander Barta (17.) had equalized the Mannheim lead by Chad Kolarik (11.).
Justin Shugg and Konrad Abeltshauser were the match winners of the Munich team in front of 13,030 spectators at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. Among them were centre forward Dominik Kahun and goalscorer Brooks Macek, who both moved to the NHL.
In the 45th minute, left-winger Shugg made the 3-2 lead for the guests, who had already led 2-0. Abeltshauser made everything clear with his second goal of the match (54th). Thomas Oppenheimer (31st) and Florian Kettemer (38th) had previously equalised for the polar bears after goals from Maximilian Kastner (16th) and Abeltshauser (25th).
Not rewarded was the catch-up race of the Cologne sharks at 4:5 (0:3, 3:1, 1:0, 0:1) after extra time in the home game against the Augsburg Panthers. The Swabians had led 3:0 and 4:1 in front of 13,421 spectators in the Lanxess Arena, but the sharks fought back and forced the overtime. There, however, Andrew Leblanc scored after 1’30” for the Panthers.
The Straubing Tigers won the opening match with a 4:2 (0:1, 3:0, 1:1) against the ERC Ingolstadt, the Fischtown Penguins with 4:3 (0:2, 2:0, 1:1, 1:0) after extra time with the Krefeld Penguins, the Schwenninger Wild Wings with 3:2 (0:1, 1:1, 1:0, 1:0, 1:0) after extra time against the Nürnberg Ice Tigers and the Iserlohn Roosters with a 5:2 (2:1, 1:1, 2:0) against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg.