Dutch team makes history in the Oberliga: The Tilburg Trappers won the final series of the Oberliga against EHC Bayreuth “the Tigers” 3-0 and are therefore the first Dutch team ever to be champions of the third highest German league.
Even though the series clearly went to Tilburgers, they had to put in more than their all into the sweep against strong Bayreuthers. While an impressive 23 goals were scored in the first two games, yesterday's game wasn't quite as goal-rich. Nevertheless, the Trappers ultimately prevailed against the Tigers 2.850:4 (2:0; 0:0; 1:4) in front of 1 spectators in the sold-out Tilburg Ice Sports Center.
Marc Hindelang, Vice President of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund, congratulates the two teams after the end of the final series: “Congratulations to the Trappers, who crowned a strong season with the championship title. Congratulations also to EHC Bayreuth, whom I wish all the best as they set the course towards DEL2. The final showed once again what importance and sporting power Oberliga ice hockey has.”
Following the restructuring of the Oberliga Nord, the Tilburg Trappers were included in the game at the beginning of this season. This was the right way to create a more competitive league, says Hindelang: “With the Trappers’ first participation, we expected to strengthen the Oberliga structure in the north – and that is exactly what we got. What’s more: In addition to an opponent who challenged our German teams in sporting terms, Tilburg has also established itself as an ice hockey city with a positive Fanculture presented.”
The Vice President sees even more potential here for the future: “Overall, the restructuring of the Oberliga Nord be described as a complete success. Because the experiment with opening up to a team from a neighboring country was successful, we may have to think about opening up in the south too - if it is appropriate - in order to further strengthen the structure there too.