“The title will go over Berlin”

Record scorer Patrick Reimer believes that the defending title Eisbären Berlin also has the best prospects in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) season. “The title will go to Berlin again – they have continued to improve,” said the 2018 silver medalist before the start of the 31st season. On the very first match day on Friday (7.30 p.m./MagentaSport), the record champions can expect “a cracker, a first-class assessment of their position” at the Kölner Haie, said Reimer.

The traditional Rhineland club, which last won the championship in 2002, believed the current U18 national coach would play a strong role – especially because of the new Finnish head coach: “Kari Jalonen knows how to win.” The new Haie coach won six championship titles in his home country and in Switzerland and also led Finland to World Cup silver.

Among the title contenders is Reimer, who analyzed the first matchday as an expert at MagentaSport, but also others: “Mannheim is always exciting when they bring their quality onto the ice.” Among other things, the Eagles have brought national player Marc Michaelis to the DEL and back to his hometown after ten years in North America and Switzerland.

Red Bull Munich has a similarly prominent new signing in the form of long-time NHL striker Tobias Rieder. “That speaks for the DEL,” says Reimer: “This league has become so strong and is therefore incredibly close again.” He also has runner-up Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven “on his list.” There, former national player Alexander Sulzer has taken over the head coach position from Thomas Popiesch.