Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Reporting from Germany
and
across Europe 2006-07
German Hockey League (DEL) Preview 06/07
SEPT
9, 2006 -- On September 7th a new
hockey-era is starting in Germany. It will be the 13th DEL
season with 14 clubs – but although it’s a mystic number of seasons
(“13”) the changes will make the DEL more interesting and better to plan
for teams & sponsors.
The most important change is that from the beginning of this season, no team will be required to step down into the second division because they had the worst ranking of all teams. In previous seasons, the last two teams after the regular season had to play the “Play-Down’s” in a best-of-7 format, with the loser slipping into the second league. (The Kassel Huskies had the questionable honor to be the last team who had to step down after losing the play downs to Duisburg Foxes with 4-2) The DEL has installed a new playoff format. The first six teams are set in the playoffs, while the next 4 teams (No. 7 – 10) are fighting for the last two free spots.
This year’s season opener pits the Cologne Sharks vs. the Hanover Scorpions. It will be a very special game, because former Sharks coach Hans Zach has joined Hanover and is very eager to beat his former team.
1.
Mannheim Eagles (www.adler-mannheim.de):
After 11 successful years the Eagles had a crash last season: No play offs! So they decided to make a cut and start a new beginning. Coach Greg Poss as well as GM Markus Kuhl bought a nearly perfect team. Although Yannick Tremblay & Peter Ratchuk followed the late call of the NHL.
GOALTENDING: Although national goalkeeper Robert Mueller had the choice to pick a team, Poss & Kuhl convinced Mueller to choose Mannheim. Together with Ilpo Kauhanen – who will give him the opportunity to rest some games – they are building one of the best goalie tandems of the league.
DEFENSE: Only Stephan Retzer and Nico Pyka made it into the new Eagles Defense. They hired German-based Sven Butenschon (Vancouver/NHL & Manitoba/AHL), Canadians Pascal Trepanier (Former Anaheim Mighty Duck, and SUI) & Francois Bouchard (Lions), German national Players Felix Petermann (Ice Tigers) Martin Ancicka (2. League). When they are playing like they are supposed to do it will be a terrific defense.
OFFENSE: Seven newcomers {three from the AHL, four from DEL rivals} are completing this section. Nathan Robinson (Providence/AHL – 29g/31a), Jason Jaspers (Springlield/AHL 29/37), Colin Forbes (Calder Cup Winner Hershey Bears 26/39) from across the Atlantic combined with DEL-cracks Edi Lewandowski (drafted by Phoenix, Cologne Sharks), Tomas Martinec, Francois Methot (both Ice Tigers) & Rick Girad (Augsburg) are adding so much gun power to the team that everything else than reaching the finals would be a surprise.
Predicted Finish:1st place
2.
Düsseldorf Metro Stars (www.deg-metro-stars.de):
The success of the “Metro Stars” has a name: Lance Nethery! The former player & championship coach knows the player market overseas and in Europe very well and understands how to create a very successful team. Last season (his first in Düsseldorf) his Metro Stars lost in the finals.
GOALTENDING: Between the pipes there is a new tandem: GM Nethery engaged NHL goalie Jamie Storr and behind him youngster Jochen Reimer. This position won’t be a problem – because in front of the goalie the GM strengthened the defense!
DEFENSE: Only three defenders from last season got a new contract and the GM started to rebuild the defense. From the NHL Devils he hired the highly experienced Sean Brown and from Rochester (AHL), David Cullen found the way to Duesseldorf. From other DEL rivals also came highly regarded defenders: Jean-Luc Grand Pierre (Duisburg Foxes) & Darren van Impe (Hamburg Freezers). The goal seems to be as save as Fort Knox!
OFFENSE: The offense became faster and more technical. Although the forwards had been very dangerous, they added two Americans (Jeff Panzer (Switzerland) & Craig Johnson (Hamburg Freezers) as well as two Canadians ( Charlie Stephens & Rob Collins {both AHL}. With Nils Antons, Benjamin Barz and Nils Liesegang he completed the offense. You don’t have to be a prophet to say that this club is a candidate for the title in 2007!
Predicted order of finish: 2nd place
3.
Berlin Polarbears (www.eisbaeren.de):
Three championship members of 2006 followed the Call of the NHL and left big holes in the defense. Goalie Tomas Poepperle went to the Blue Jackets, defender Micki DuPont became a teammate of Sydney Crosby for the Penguins. Derrik Walser joins the Stanley Cup champion Carolina.
GOALTENDING: The Polarbears are starting the new season with three very young and inexperienced goalies. Daniar Dshunussow and Youri Ziffer are 20 years old and have played 15 matches in the DEL each. Sebastian Stefaniszin just turned 19 and can look back onto 7 games. But coach Pierre Page (champion with Berlin 2005 & 2006) hopes that his goalies deliver the same luck he enjoyed with the now-departed Tomas Poepperle in the net last season.
DEFENSE: Also the defense is not as good as it has been the last two years. Three key players left the team and substitutes Andy Roach, Cole Jarret and Chris Heid have to show that they can defend.
OFFENSE: Denis Pederson left the offense but the Polarbears are in the situation to have a whole bunch of very good young players. Coach Pierre Page knows how to promote these young diamonds and if they go on to develop like before the offense will be the smallest problem.
Predicted order of finish: 3rd place.
4.
Cologne Sharks (www.haie.de):
With Doug Mason and Clayton Beddoes as coaches, the Sharks are trying to play a more aggressive hockey and would like to become DEL champion again after 2002. The new coaches & GM Rodion Pauels made eight changes in the team.
GOALTENDING: The most important move. While No.1 & national goalie Thomas Greiss (20) was offered an NHL contract with the SJ Sharks GM Rodion Pauels had to get a substitute. It was very difficult but at least Adam Hauser (Manchester Monarchs/AHL) got the one-year-contract. Hauser has to fight for the No.1 while there is a rival: former national goalie Oliver Jonas. It will be a hard fight which hopefully inspires both to great performances.
DEFENSE: This part of the team is excellent. Mirko Luedemann, Stephane Julien, Lasse Kopitz, youngster Torsten Ankert (18), Andreas Renz and the new additions Norwegian Mats Trygg (Roosters) & Jason Marshall (NHL) should guarantee security in front of their own goal and a lot of fear on the other side. It seems to be a bulwark.
OFFENSE: The Sharks lost some power (Adduono, Alinc, Hicks, Mondt, Lewandowski, Souza) and “only” added the 32 year old Swedish center Daniel Rudslatt and Sean Tallaire who are very speedy and dangerous. Canadian Bryan Adams already showed in the preseason games that he will be very important for the goal scoring machinery. Last year GM Pauels hired during the season NHL-Oldie Bill Lindsay (35) – and did a very good job! Now many fans are expecting a similar move. The best scorer has been since years Dave McLlwain (39 years young!). With all the power in front, Doug Mason is able to do as he wants to do. Ivan Ciernik is a goalgetter, center Tino Boos is one of the best defensive forwards, youngster Philip Gogulla (19) is a great scorer. Kai Hospelt (21), Sebastian Furchner (24), Henry Martens (19) & Moritz Müller (19) are still developing - there is a lot of power to come out.
Predicted Finish:4th place
5.
ERC Inolstadt (www.ercingolstadt.de):
Last season the Ingolstadt Panthers had been the league leader for most of the year and they had to fear no opponent. But then came the Olympic break and they lost their capability and lost the quarter finals to Hanover. This time they want to do a better job.
GOALTENDING: The Panthers goal is occupied by No. 29, a former NHLer who has been one of the best goalies in the league since he appeared in 2001 – Jimmy Waite. In the playoffs he hadn’t been the big support – but you although can be sure that his back ups Sebastian Vogl (20) und Patrick Ashton (22) won’t get much ice time. This 37 year old played in 109 NHL games {NHL: Chi, SJ, Pho} over 11 years.
DEFENSE: Jakub Ficenec, Jason Holland and Daniel Hilpert got new defenders next to them. Jeff Tory came from the Metro Stars and adds a lot of scoring power (14G-32A-46p). The other newcomers (Michael Bakos & Lukas Slavetinsky are also standing for solid work. Together with Jimmy Waite they are building something like a wall in their zone.
OFFENSE: Coach Ron Kennedy and the management were able to hold the top-scorers (Doug Ast, Cameron Mann & Rob Valicevic) in Ingolstadt. They lost four forwards but replaced them with power forwards Brad Tutschek (Uni of Alberta), Michael Waginger (Foxes Duisburg) and the Canadian Matt Higgins (Roosters). When they will play as well as expected they will be an enrichment for the Panthers.
Predicted Finish: 5th place
6.
Frankfurt Lions (www.frankfurt-lions.de):
Coach Rich Chernomaz will lead the Lions back into the top three of the league after missing the playoffs last season.
GOALTENDING: The No.1 back in the goal is Ian Gordon who would like to make every game. The role of the backup are sharing the young and talented Boris Ackers & Dennis Endras. If “No.1” Ian Gordon is hurt they could face a problem.
DEFENSE: The defense was renewed (6 new defenders) and among them some really good blueliners (Shane Peacock – got a German passport -, Chris Armstrong, Slovakians Peter Podhradsky & Peter Smrek).
OFFENSE: The leader in the offense is Pat Lebeau, who is one of the best centers. Next to him are Dwayne Norris, Jason Young, Michael Hackert (who came back during last season after trying to get an NHL contract), Steve Kelly and the new sharpened “carnassials” Chris Taylor (Rochester/AHL) and Jeff Ulmer (Hamburg Freezers). Together with some young talented players they are very dangerous in front of the goal.
Under these conditions and without injuries you can be sure to find the Lions at the end on one of the first three spots!
Predicted order of finish: 6th place
7.
Hamburg Freezers (www.hamburg-freezers.de):
At the start of the DEL in 1994 this club was located in Landshut, Bavaria (EV Landshut). In 1999 financial problems made them move to Munich as the “Barons.” 2002 the Barons changed one last time and became “Freezers” at the other (northern) end of Germany. The Anschutz-group helped the financially weakened Barons and also built the Color-Line Arena. The Freezers once lost the semi finals and three times the quarter finals had been thier end. This year, Canadian coach Mike Schmidt (a very successful former defender) is starting a new stage to establish hockey in Hamburg with good and successful performances. Therefore he has replenished the team with some special players.
GOALTENDING: Schmidt had been satisfied with the goalies. Last season, former NHL goalkeeper Roman Cechmanek came over the Atlantic to do his job as goalie while No.1 Boris Rousson & back up Steffen Karg were injured. But now they are healthy again and Cechmanek moved to Linkoping (Sweden).
DEFENSE: Here you realize that Mike Schmidt is an Canadian – six of eight defenders are coming from his home land. Four players didn’t get a contract and therefore he installed Patrick Boileau (Frankfurt Lions) for more offensive power and Rob Leask (Polarbears) as well as Cory Cross (Edmonton, NHL) mainly for the defense.
OFFENSE: The DEL league’s version of Buffalo’s famous “French Connection” line (Bennoit Gratton, Marc Beaucage & Francois Fortier) got a new contract – they scored more than a third of all Freezers goals last season. But they added some more dangerous power to spread the scoring abilities. Big hopes are placed on Christoph Brandner who played a few games for the Minnesota Wild (NHL) and Houston Aeros (AHL) before returning to Europe (Sodertalje {SWE}, Freezers). Before trying to become an NHL player he was the top scorer in the DEL. But there are also new players with the chance to become superstars: Vitalij Aab (Roosters), Greg Classen (Milwaukee, AHL) and Brad Smyth (Manchester, AHL).
Predicted Finish: 7th place.
8.
Hannover Scorpions (www.hannoverscorpions.de):
After four years without reaching the playoffs, the Scorpions advanced to the semi finals last year. Nevertheless, they hired one of the most popular coaches in Germany: former national & championship coach Hans Zach. His job will be difficult because now the fans place great demands on him –they want to at least reach the semi finals.
GOALTENDING: Former NHL goalie Trevor Kidd left the team and Alex Jung from the Metro Stars arrived. Back up is still Christian Kunast who has been No.2 most of his hockey life – but also Alex Jung is coming as No.2 – who will became the number one?
DEFENSE: Shawn Heins changed from Scorpions to Dragons in Basel (SUI). It is a loss but coach Zach brought Brad Schlegel to Hanover from Cologne. Stephane Robitaille (Foxes Duisburg) has been one of the best defenders last year and Patrick Koppchen & Sascha Goc are also very important players for national team. Canadian Dan Lambert is also an impressive defender and scorer. Hopefully the defense can block most of the scoring attempts.
OFFENSE: This part of the team was nearly renewed. Eight stayed and nine came. These new artists on ice can make the fans smile while they (Rob Hisey (Assat Pori/FIN), Eric Nickulas (Providence/AHL) & Derek Bekar (Basel/SUI) are technically very good and excellent skaters. Guys like Martin Hlinka (Kassel Huskies, 2. league), Niki Mondt (Cologne Sharks), Jason Ulmer (Kassel Huskies, 2. league), Andreas Morczinietz, Todd Warriner, Eric Schneider (Bietigheim, 2. league*), Jonas Lanier, Bjorn Bombis, Thomas Dolak & Matthias Forster (Hamburg Freezers) are guaranteeing powerful fireworks on ice.
* 2. league = one level down from the DEL
Predicted Finish: 8th place.
9.
Iserlohn Roosters (www.iec.de):
After seven years in the highest German League (DEL) the Roosters are planning to take part in the play offs for the first time. For this job GM Karsten Mende hired the development coach of the Edmonton Oilers Geoff Ward.
GOALTENDING: In goal they are trusting the German National goalie Dimitrij Kotschnew as well as Leonardo Conti. It is a proven tandem and in the event injury to either, management gave Hendrik Sirringhaus a contract – but he will still play for the second Roosters team.
DEFENSE: The offensive defender Mats Trygg left the club and left a big hole in front of not only the own goal. Paul Traynor arrived from Cologne – where he had been spectator’s darling because of his hard checking and way of playing – and will stabilize the defence. 35 year old Brad Tiley (AHL) is very experienced and is able to give the game good impulses. Martin Knold--who is healthy again (played in only 32 games last year) – will be very important for the team.
OFFENSE: GM Mende & coach Geoff Ward created a great mixture of goal scorers, technical players and workers. Jimmy Roy came from Manitoba (AHL) and high regarded Jens Karlsson from Sweden (Linkoping). A lot depends on how they are playing in Iserlohn. The best German scorer from the Scorpions signed a contract, Jeremy Adduono starts a new beginning as a Rooster and don’t forget national center Michael Wolf & Mark Greig.
Predicted Finish: 9th place
10.
Krefeld Penguins (www.krefeld-pinguine.de):
After becoming DEL-champion in 2003 the team was struggling – last year they reached the play offs, but the first round was the end. Now they are having a new attempt with the Czech coach Jiri Ehrenberger.
GOALTENDING: Here they are putting their trust in Reto Pavoni after national goalie Robert Mueller left the Penguins. But the Swiss goaltender has a lot of experience and the best suppositions to become the No.1.
DEFENSE: After Richard Pavlikovsky the Penguins hired another Slovakian: Dusan Milo. Daniel Kunce and Rainer Koettstorfer are very important. The management also added Sasa Martinovic (Freezers) and Ray DiLauro (Cleveland Barons/AHL) to Alexander Dueck. We have to wait if the new defenders are playing well – because with the exception of Pavlikovsky there seems to be not a big offensive power.
OFFENSE: No big deals have taken part in this part of the team. Big gun power left the Penguins with the departure of Robert Guillet (Graz 99ers/AUT) and Chris Herperger (Kloten Flyers/SUI) and only the fast and technically brilliant Czech Jan Alinc was added. Together with former NHL stars Alexander Selivanov (TB, Edm, CBJ) and Ted Drury (Cgy, Hfd, Ott, Ana, NYI, CBJ) they might be dangerous.
Predicted Finish:10th place
11.
Sinupret Ice Tigers (www.icetigers.de):
Looking onto a map you wouldn’t find Sinupret. It is the first time in German hockey history that a town’s name (Nuremberg) is substituted by a product name. It has became necessary because the club needed money and that was the way to prevent the team for becoming bankrupt.
GOALTENDING: Goalie Jean-Francois Labbe was starting in 49 of 52 games. Maybe that has been the reason he made some mistakes in the first playoff round. When talent Lukas Lang will get more chances to play it also will be better for Labbe.
DEFENSE: There was no need to make big changes in the defense. Last year Nuremberg/Sinupret tied Ingolstadt for the least number of goals against. But Felix Petermann went to the Eagles and Sinupret got from them in a deal David Cespiva. It will be no big problem.
OFFENSE: The Ice Tiger had the best defense but also one of the worst offenses. Now the team lost three of the four best goalgetters (Tomas Martinec 14g/32p; Robert Doeme 14g/35p; Francois Methot 14g/43p) and you don’t have to be a prophet to say that the goal production would not increase.
Predicted Finish:11th place
12.
Augsburger Panthers (www.aev-panther.de):
Although the Panthers played a horrific last season some of the players stayed in Augsburg – but they now have 10 new faces who have to be installed. In the middle of last year’s terrible season the Panthers hired with Paulin Boudeleau as new coach. The management was satisfied with his work, so he gets a new chance to start the season with a team formed by himself.
GOALTENDING: Between the pipes there is still the Swedish goalie Rolf Wanhainen who did his best. The back ups are from the third and second leagues. If Wanhainen is staying healthy this position wouldn’t be a problem.
DEFENSE: At the moment the defense seems to be average although they added Jesper Damgaard, a 31 year old Danish defender who has a lot of experience from playing in the Swedish Elite League and the Danish National Team. Rekis Arvids from Latvia seems to be top and the others have to show their talent.
OFFENSE: Half of the offense is new. Craig Darby (196 NHL games), Mark Murphy and Travis Brigley are key players. If these players are not coming out as the management hopes they will have a big problem.
Predicted Finish: 12th place.
13.
Foxes Duisburg (www.ev-duisburg.de):
GM Uli Egen and Coach Didi Hegen (one of the best former German goalgetters) built a team that stayed in the DEL and now they can’t go down into the second league thanks to the new league rule. But they already had problems with the attendance (worst average in the league) and with the new team it will be difficult to win new spectators!
GOALTENDING: The first Hungarian goalie in the DEL is Levente Szuper who comes from the Italian club A&O Asiago. With national goalkeeper Szuper there is Christian Rohde fighting for the starting position in the goal. If they are staying healthy the “Foxes” goal will be safe.
DEFENSE: In the defense everybody is expecting a lot of the national defender Anton Bader, the Swedish Calle Bergstrom and the Russian Andrej Sapozhinikov. The success in front of the goalies depends on if they can fulfil the great expectations.
OFFENSE: Nearly the whole offense was replaced. Three forwards got a new contract (Francz, Vit, Schmidt) and eight were added. It depends a lot on coach Didi Hegen if they will play as a unit on the ice although the key players never played together. They came from Russia, Slovakia, France & Germany).
Predicted order of finish: The “Foxes” can book their vacation at the end of the regular season! 13th place.
14.
Straubing Tigers (www.straubing-tigers.de):
Coach & showpiece Erich Kuehnhackl (the best German forward for many years) is now coaching the Tigers, who entered the DEL as the last team in Germany's highest league. When their entry to the DEL was assured, they directly hired Kuehnhackl, known as the "German Hockey Player of the Century".
GOALTENDING: No.1 Mike Bales has already DEL experience (2003/04 in Ingolstadt). After this he signed a contract in Sweden and last year he went into the second league to Straubing. He will adjust to the DEL very soon. His backups Andreas Gegenfurthner & Sinisa Martinovic (Kassel Huskies) won’t get many chances to play. This position won’t be a problem.
DEFENSE: There are a lot of question marks! Will the players from the second league (Vitali Janke, Calvin Elfring {CAN}, Raphael Kapzan & Josef Lehner – many DEL teams wanted to hire him for years) also be good enough for the DEL? They hired two unknown Swedes {Peter Casparsson (SG Cortina, ITA) and Christoffer Norgren, Linkopping,SWE} and Canadian Matt Kinch (Ingolstadt). This position is only average.
OFFENSE: Six players made the step into the DEL and they have to show if they can manage it. All Eyes are on last year Scorers Trevor Gallant, Aaron Fox, Bill Trew, Stefan Mann & Jason Dunham. Management and coach Kuehnhackl decided to hire Markus Jocher (Lions), Gunther Oswald (Ingolstadt), Christian Retzer (Ice Tigers) and brothers Tobias & Peter Abstreiter (Huskies) from rivals of the DEL. But they also added Canadian (Cam Severson) and Swedish (Per Eklund) power.
The inaugural season is the most difficult – they are learning and the fans have to have great patience.
Predicted Finish:14th place
HOMECopyright 2008 Western Hockey Network
FINLAND:
No Joke!
Jokerit is Back
BY IVO JASCHICK
OCT 2, 2006 -- After last season being out of the playoffs the “Jokers”
of Helsinki are back on the road of success.
In the Finnish SM-Liiga (www.sm-liiga.fi) the winning team receives
three points. If there is a tie both teams receive one point and the
winner of the extra-time/penalty shots gets a second.
After six games the team of the Finnish capital leads the league. Five
games were won in regulation time, but last Tuesday the Jokers played
the Espoo Blues and had to go into extra time but got the victory and
second points to remain unbeaten.
Kim Hirschovits is Jokerits top scorer with 8 goals & 2 assists followed
by Jani Rita (4g;3a). Then there is oldie but goldie
Petri Varis [photo above] (#23) also with 7 points (2g; 5a). The
37 year-old Varis was drafted by San Jose (7th choice, 132nd overall in
1993 Entry draft) but now wants to retire after a long successful
career. In Pori where he had his first contract in the SM-Liiga he met
his wife Salla. With their kids Nelli & Kalle the Varis family is
completed. After signing his last contract over two seasons in 2005 he
said: “At the end of my contract with Jokerit I will be nearly 38. All
my life I played hockey and now I have the feeling to rest my body!”
With a smile in his face he continued: “I was earning the money all
those years (but) now my wife will do it, and I will stay at home!”
On October 28th
Ryan Vandenbussche is appearing in his his first games for
Jokerit. This 33 year old Canadian right wing with 291 NHL games under
his belt (PIT, CHI, NYR) will add a lot of power & toughness to the
attack zone. Management expected 10,000 visitors to watch the match vs.
Assat Pori, his first. (Ed. Note: As of Oct 2, he has played 2 games in
the Finnish league)
But there are also some nice surprises in this great league: The final
standings saw the Lahti Pelicans every time on one of the last ranks –
this season they are having an outburst of good performances. An insider
said: “I think the reason is the coach! Former national coach Hannu
Aravirta is now directing the “high flights” of the Pelicans, they have
young talent combined with top names! The financial situation in Lahti
is good, a lot of people are investing in the team. Ex-NHL goalie &
Lahti native
Pasi Nurminen is goalie coach and giving some money to feed
the Pelicans!”
The Espoo Blues also started very strong. Over the last years they were
building a good team and now it seems that everything fits together.
At the moment last years champion HPK Hameenlinna and top team Oulu
(most northern Hockeytown in Finland) are not in the same shape as the
year before – but it`s very early in the season and they will have time
enough to become better & more successful.
Photos by
Jukka-Pekka Tirkkonen
(Jokerit official photographer)
