GERMANY – At least three franchises in serious danger due to financial troubles, final standings that stand only because three teams did not make use of their right to protest and fans that are on the barricades because they feel the league is digging the sport’s grave: The DEL has undoubtedly seen better times.
It’s the three Ks that give league officials and fans the biggest headache right now. Kassel, Krefeld and Köln (Cologne) all have admitted to financial difficulties, with rumored deficits of anything between €500,000 and €1,500,000 ($675,000 to $2,000,000). Whether these three will still be members of the DEL next season? Who knows? Depends on what sources you trust. But beware: The very same source can spread the exact opposite information the very next day …
On March 14th the Kassel Huskies defeated the DEG Metro Stars 3-2. In Kassel’s lineup was Jean-Philippe Côté, even though because of his third 10-minute-major of the season in the game before he actually was suspended. Düsseldorf was not aware of this fact and therefore did not protest within the required 24 hours. The whole affair came to light two days after the season ended. Indeed the result would have to be turned into a 5-0 win for the Metro Stars, bringing them to 93 points and improving to fifth place ahead of the Nürnberg Ice Tigers. In consequence they would not meet third-placed Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals, but fourth-placed Hannover Scorpions. Just because all teams involved did not make use of any legal means it remains just an embarrassment for the league, but not a big-time scandal.
But all of this is not even what last week accumulated into a league-wide choreographed fan protest. On game day 58 all fans were asked to attend the day’s games completely dressed in black. Fittingly the protest’s organizers had created an obituary, since they feel their beloved sport has finally passed away after a long time of suffering. According to them the symptoms were: the missing of one of the most vital functions in European sports tradition, relegation and promotion; rules that turned the former most dynamic team sport into a lame and DEL version in which any body contact almost inevitably is penalized; inconsistent refereeing – just to name a few.
Not to be forgotten: The DEL did produce some sport-related headlines as well. Qualified for the playoff quarterfinals are Eisbären Berlin (123 pts.), Frankfurt Lions (98), Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (97), Hannover Scorpions (94), Nürnberg Ice Tigers (91) and DEG Metro Stars (90). Seventh-placed Ingolstadt Panthers (89) are currently trailing the tenth-place Kölner Haie (74), who last Wednesday won the first game of the best-of-three pre-playoff series 6-1. In the other matchup, eighth-placed Augsburg Panthers (87) are up 1-0 with a 4-1 win over the Adler Mannheim (84).
Watch this space….!
Contact: carsten.vanzanten@prohockeynews.com
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