Seven months without competition mode is more than enough. The women's Bundesliga starts the new season next weekend, October 17th and 18th.
The field of participants consists of seven teams. For the Düsseldorfer EG, who withdrew last season, is the Cologne EC's starter this season. The other teams are like last year: ESC Planegg ECDC Memmingen Indians, the ERC Ingolstadt, the Eisbären Juniors Berlin, the Maddogs Mannheim and the EC Bergkamener Bären. In the main round a double round is played. The four best-placed teams then compete against each other in the play-offs in a best-of-three format. The three remaining teams play a placement round.
Women's national coach Christian Künast is looking forward to the start of the season: “I think everyone is happy that things are finally starting again. The players will be highly motivated. I expect exciting and interesting games.”
In the following, deb-online.de introduces each team and Künast assesses them briefly and concisely.
ESC Planegg
The club was founded in 1991 and made it to the top German league in 1994. They have been a member of this club without interruption since then and are the most successful club with seven championship titles. In addition to the championships, they also won four times DEB-Cup, as well as the Elite Women's Hockey League (EWHL).
There is no venue in Planegg because it does not have its own artificial ice stadium. The team therefore plays its home games in Grafing or Bad Tölz.
There is little change in the squad for the new season. Tabea Botthof is taking a semester off at Yale University due to the corona pandemic and is joining ESC Planegg during this time. Kristin Schmid and Sybille Kretzschmar – who is not available for professional reasons at the moment – came from the league rivals ERC Ingolstadt. There is another alternative available in the goalkeeper position in Paula Weber, who is also eligible to play for ESC Geretsried's U17 team. U18 national player Celine Mayer is also eligible to play with a dual license. Planegg has already suffered two long-term injuries, Sarah Kubiczek and Sarah Hoyer.
The games in the EWHL Cup served as preparation for the season. Planegg won all three games and was group winner. After a narrow 3:2 in Neuchâtel, the home wins against Bratislava 5:1 and Salzburg 6:0 were clear. Participation in the final of the EWHL Supercup is therefore secured.
Christian Künast: “ESC Planegg is definitely the favorite for the championship again. The team has changed little compared to last year and has actually become a bit stronger.”
EC Bergkamen
The EC Bergkamen women's team was founded in 1983 and took part in the NRW league for the first time in the 1983/84 season. With the exception of a relegation in 1997/98, which was immediately promoted again the following year, EC Bergkamen has played in the top German league since the women's Bundesliga was founded. In addition to a championship in 2005, the “Bears” also won two cups in the following years.
In the 2020/2021 season, a female head coach will be behind the bench for the first time in the club's history. Claudia Weltermann, a former player, is in this position. There have been few changes to the squad. The latest signing is import player Danielle Butler - she previously played in Austria and Canada. Natascha Mensch returned from the 1b of the Dinslaken Kobras. Julia Kohberg also has a dual license, the 16-year-old can also play for the U17 of the Iserlohner EC. A perceived new addition is goalkeeper Sarah Körber, who had to take a two-year break due to knee injuries.
Christian Künast: “They are trying to bring in a lot of young players. It's not easy with such a young squad. But I trust the team can pull off a surprise.”
Eisbären Juniors Berlin
Until the women's team moved to the Eisbären Juniors in June 2017, the team played for the OSC Berlin – under the name “OSC Eisladies”. The BerlinThey have been represented in the women's Bundesliga since its inception and have won five championships and four DEB-Look back on cup victories – all in the name of the OSC.
For the new season, the Eisbären Juniors team will be accompanied by a new coaching team. Daniel Bartell is now head coach after being assistant coach last season. He is assisted by Kathrin Fring, who played until the season before last. Anne Bartsch and Elisa Matschke have left the Eisbären. However, a young player, Hanna Amort, came back Berlin. There is also an import point Berlinoccupied by the American Stephanie Keryluk.
Christian Künast: “The Polar Bears lost a few players. You will start the season with a young team. It will be interesting to see whether and how the young players manage to take on responsibility.”
ECDC Memmingen
Women's ice hockey in Memmingen experienced some ups and downs in its early days - with promotions and financially-related relegations. The ECDC has been playing in Germany's top division since 1997 and has had its greatest successes in the recent past. In total, Memmingen won three German championships, four times DEBCup and the EWHL Supercup once.
There was little change in personnel. National player Anne Bartsch came from the Eisbären Juniors Berlin to Memmingen. Savannah Rennie from Syracuse University (NCAA) is intended to compensate for the departure of last year's import player Lenka Serdar.
Christian Künast: “It remains to be seen whether the team will be as strong as last year. It depends on the impact of the personnel changes, even if they were minor.”
ERC Ingolstadt
At the ERC Ingolstadt The women's team was founded in 1999. With the Bavarian Championship in 2012, we were promoted to the first league. The biggest success there was the runner-up in 2017.
There were some changes in coach Christian Sohlmann's squad. Kristin Schmid and Sybille Kretzschmar moved to Planegg Berlin Hanna Amort said. On the other hand, the ERCI women were able to secure the services of national player Marie Delarbre. Elisa Matschke returned after two years Berlin back to the Doanu townspeople. Jule Schiefer and Lena Düsterhöft, both of whom have already gained experience overseas, completed the new additions.
Ingolstadt played a friendly against the Black Bears Freising U20 team and won 8-3.
Christian Künast: “For me, Ingolstadt is the secret favorite in the race for the German championship. They put in a lot of effort to finally achieve the big success. But it remains exciting to see whether they manage to implement that on the ice.”
Maddogs Mannheim
The team has been competing in the women's Bundesliga under the name “Maddogs” since 2014. The team also played in the Bundesliga before that, but under the name “Kurpfalz Ladies”.
The Maddogs underwent a number of changes in the summer. Seven departures were offset by eight arrivals. The departure of import player Theresa Knutson, who has now moved to the NWHL, the highest league in North America, was particularly painful. This loss is to be compensated for by two new import players: Mathilde de Serres from Canada and the American Alex Woken, who has already won two World Cup gold medals with the U18 USA, are to fill the gap. In addition, Sarah Weyand, a 111-time national player, was signed. Like Weyand, Laura Brückmann also played for the Düsseldorfer EG. Equipped with a dual license, goalkeeper Svenja Laue can play for both the U17s in Krefeld and the Maddogs in the coming season.
Christian Künast: “The Maddogs got off to a very good start last year. Unfortunately, in the end they ran out of steam. This year I definitely believe they can play in the play-offs.”
KEC “The Sharks”
Women's ice hockey in Cologne developed in 1995 with the founding of the Cologne Brownies, which took part in the game from 1997. The team has been competing in the colors of the KEC since January 1, 2017. In the first year in the KEC uniform, we immediately won the championship of the 2nd Northern League. This was successful again last season, whereupon Cologne was promoted after Düsseldorf was eliminated. In total, the KEC has four teams playing – in the Bundesliga, the 2nd League North, the State League NRW and the District League NRW.
Christian Künast: “The newcomer is the big unknown in the league. It will be interesting to see how the team manages to integrate into the league and adapt to the game.”
The games on the first weekend:
17.10.2020: ERC Ingolstadt – KEC “The Sharks”
17.10.2020: Mad Dogs Mannheim – ESC Planegg (cancelled)
October 17.10.2020, XNUMX: EC Bergkamen – ECDC Memmingen
18.10.2020: ERC Ingolstadt – KEC “The Sharks”
18.10.2020: Mad Dogs Mannheim – ESC Planegg (cancelled)
October 18.10.2020, XNUMX: EC Bergkamen – ECDC Memmingen
The games of Mad Dogs Mannheim – ESC Planegg was canceled at short notice.
Photo: Dominic Pencz