Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Ivo Jaschick Reports from
Germany
DEUTSCH
Photos by
Mathias Lehmann
Cologne
Sharks Tops
in DEL this Season
The
Cologne Sharks are the best team in the German DEL - at the moment.
After a slow start at the beginning of the season, the Shark rattled off
thirteen consecutive victories.
On
October 16 they began to roll up the standings after beginning the
season in eighth place. Over the course of the next 13 games, they won
four after a shoot out, similar
to the NHL’s new system
whereby is no more tie. If a game is tied after 60 minutes there is
directly a shoot out and the winner only gets two points instead
of three; the loser, one. Cologne earned 35 points out of 39 possible
during this streak. Reasons for the streak include many fine
performers.
Coach HANS ZACH, former coach of
the German National Team is giving the young players confidence, he
gives them a lot ice time and they are paying it back with goals and
assists or solid play{“I‘m not looking at stats! The way they are
playing counts!”}
Hard to believe, but the 38 year-old
DAVE McLLWAIN, who played over 500 games in the NHL for Pittsburgh,
Winnipeg, Buffalo, Islanders, Toronto & Ottawa is the leader of the
Cologne Sharks and is leading the DEL in points (5G-30A-35P). This year,
he and his beautiful wife Lise adopted a son, Nathan, and it seems like
McLlwain is becoming younger and better while being dad.
PHOTO: DAVE McLLWAIN SALUTES THE CROWD IN GERMANY by Mathias Lehmann
MIRKO LÜDEMANN is playing at a higher level then last year - although he already was playing very good at that time. Brad Schlegel is back and is becoming more and more his old self.
From the blueline, defensemen ANDREAS RENZ and PAUL TRAYNOR defend the goal and cleaning the area around it in nearly perfect style.
Canadian STEPHANE JULIEN
is the best offensive
defenseman in Germany and a feared blueliner (has a shot like a
canonball) who is leading in powerplay goals of all DEL defenceman.
At the start of the season another forward with an NHL pedigree came to Cologne – IVAN CIERNIK. He played 91 matches for Ottawa and Washington but played most of the time in the North American minor leagues, so he decided to go to Germany. Now in Cologne he is leading the league with 16 goals and is third in the scorer list with 30 points.
GM RODION PAUELS made a top move with
hiring right wing BILL LINDSAY (777 regular season games with Quebec,
Florida, Calgary, San Jose, Montreal and Atlanta; the lockout season he
spent in California with the Long Beach Ice Dogs). At 34 years old, Bill
and his wife Kari enjoy being in Cologne – Bill made in his first 9
games 9 points (4G-5A) and he turned to one favourite players of the
Shark fans.
JEREMY ADDUONO has not been very lucky, having been injured several times during his stay in the shark aquarium but now he is back and better than ever.
EDI LEWANDOWSKI, drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes, is hard checking and scoring a lot. GM Pauels is trying to give him a new contract – but maybe he will follow the call of the NHL.
SEBASTIAN FURCHNER is a speedy, young forward who is becoming better every year and could also be a choice for the NHL.
TINO BOOS at the moment is the Sharks best Shutout scorer and the man for important goals.
The youngsters PHILIP GOGULLA (18), KAI HOSPELT (20) – very cool when scoring penaltys – and MORITZ MUELLER (18) are improving their game while coach Hans Zach gives them a lot of confidence by letting them play in all situations.
Last but not least there is a giant
between the pipes: 19 year old
THOMAS GREISS.
When being in goal the
giant is spreading calmness & security. He already is drafted by the
name relatives of NHL’s San Jose Sharks. He became national goalkeeper &
it would be no surprise if San Jose would ask him to come over the
Atlantic.
All photos by Mathias Lehmann
HOME
COPYRIGHT 2005
WESTERN HOCKEY NETWORK
Also by Ivo Jaschick
2005-06:
DEL Preview
Cologne
Sharks' Brad Schlegel
TUI Nations
Cup
