DEL's lead remains unchanged: Bremerhaven rescues first place late on

Bremerhaven turns its home game around in the German Ice Hockey League with two late goals. Eisbären Berlin is also celebrating the comeback victory. The Rhine derby goes to Cologne.

Surprise outfit Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven remain at the top of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) table. With two late goals scored by Jan Urbas (54') and Philipp Bruggiser (57'), Bremerhaven turned their home match against runners-up ERC Ingolstadt on Thursday (28 December 2023) and won 2-1 (0-0, 0-1, 2:0). Brandon Cozon (35) offers the visitors.

Berlin's polar bears still lurk beyond Bremerhaven. Thanks to the 5:2 (0:2, 3:0, 2:0) result at Lewin Frankfurt, the defending champions remain in second place, one point behind. After leading 2-0 after the first third, Berlin turned things around in the second half and increased the gap to 3 within 49 seconds thanks to Eric Milk (27) and a double shot from Yannick Fillot (39) and Tobias Eder (39). Forty: 2- Leadership.

A brace from Zak Boychuk (45', 58') meant the decision and Berlin's 11th consecutive away win. Along with Bremerhaven (67 points), Izbaren (66 points) form the leading duo with a clear lead over Straubing (57).

Cologne takes revenge on Dusseldorf

Düsseldorfer EG suffered a double defeat at the hands of arch rivals Kölner Hai. Three and a half weeks after the 1:7 Düsseldorf match, the High avenged their worst ever derby defeat with a scoreline of 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0).

Goals from Andreas Thoresson (22nd minute), Louis-Marc Aubry (47th minute) and Tim Wohlgemuth (60th minute) against an empty Düsseldorf goal secured Cologne's first win in the prestigious third encounter of the season between their Rhine rivals. Only Alexander Blank (35) scored for DEG.

DEG fans were also disappointed

DEG was already thwarted before the match. The Düsseldorfers planned with the rock band “Die Toten Hosen” to rig the Sharks' entry show. For this purpose, projectors were actually smuggled into the arena, which were supposed to throw Pacmans bearing the DEG logo onto the ice before the 241st derby, which were then supposed to eat small images of sharks.

DEG's battle cry of “Toten Hosen” should also have been part of the campaign. However, security personnel discovered the projectors in a box and they were removed.