Ivo Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Ivo Jaschick Reports from Germany             DEUTSCH - Ingolstadt

Photos by
Mathias Lehmann

Panthers at
Pole Position:
ERC Ingolstadt

DEC. 15, 2005 -- At the halfway post of the regular season in the German Hockey League (DEL), the Ingolstadt Panthers are in the pole position. They stopped the winning streak of the Cologne Sharks (13 wins) with back to back victories – but the games had been very close {4-2 & 3-2}.

After the Ingolstadt Panthers lost lockout players Marco Sturm (Boston Bruins), Andy McDonald (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) and Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils) not many people thought that they will come out so strong. But their success has many names:

1.     Coach RONALD KENNEDY (Head coach Medicine Hat {WHL – 88-90}, Assistant coach of the Islanders {94/95}, also Polarbears Berlin {96-98}, is domesticating – very successfully – these Panthers since summer 2003 (One year before (2002) the franchise went up to the DEL).

2. Goalie JIMMY WAITE (drafted by Chicago as 8th overall in ‘87) made 112 games for Chicago, San Jose and Phoenix. “The Wall” {nickname} shows no weekness : his reaction in goal is faster than the puck is flying, nearly every time he is standing where the “gumstone” is flying to and he knows how to act with his gloves & stick. If you are looking for his weakness point you maybe find it when he tries to “play” like a defenceman.

3.     GM STEFAN WAGNER kept the most valuable players together since 2003 and is making only some substitutions to make the “Panthers” stronger.

4.    This year the German players are also playing a big part in the team. YANNIC SEIDENBERG seems to be the leader of the Germans. Coming from the Cologne Sharks, where he hasn´t been very lucky, he is showing in the dress of the Panthers what he learned with the Medicine Head Tigers of the WHL {Tigers “Rookie of the year” 87 GP-24 G;61 A}. Up to now he collected 16 points (4 G;12 A) and is plus 14 – that shows that he is also working defensively very good. Before coming to the Bavarian town Ingolstadt his goal was to become more involved offensively – he achieved it. Now he has another dream: “I would like to be part of the German Olympic Team 2006! – But maybe it is to late! – It doesn’t matter, if not I have to keep working hard to become a member of the national team – later!

5.     Forward DOUG AST (pictured here with Team Canada) is fighting with IWAN CIERNIK (Cologne Sharks) for the pole position in scoring goals.

6.    The already strong defence (KEN SUTTON, CHRIS ARMSTRONG, JAKUB FICENEC [photo below]) is also strengthened by JASON HOLLAND (Manchester Monarchs). The offence is more dangeros with the Canadian forward Sean Tallaire and the bunch of Germans: CHRISTOPH HÖHENLEITNER, FLORIAN KELLER, BJORN BARTA and YANNIC SEIDENBERG (his brother Dennis is already playing in the defense for the Philadelphia Flyers).

If the key players stay healthy it is possible that Ingolstadt will win their first DEL championship in 2006.

JAKUB FICENEC

All photos by Mathias Lehmann

Ingolstadt Panthers Site:

(www.ercingolstadt.de)

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WESTERN HOCKEY NETWORK

Also by Ivo Jaschick 2005-06:
Cologne Sharks
DEL Preview
Cologne Sharks' Brad Schlegel
TUI Nations Cup