The Eisbären Berlin have crowned themselves champions.

For the 10th time: Eisbären Berlin are German champions

The Eisbären Berlin are champions again after a year's break and are well on their way to a new era in the German Ice Hockey League.

26 April 2024

From: dpa/det

On Friday evening, coach Serge Aubin's team secured their tenth championship and third title within four years with a 2-0 win over the Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven. A late goal from Leo Pföderl, who was outstanding in the final series (44th minute), put Berlin on course.

For the 2018 Olympic silver medalist, it was already the eleventh points scorer in the final series, which only lasted five games. Manuel Wiederer (49th) secured the fourth win of the series five minutes later in a nerve-wracking and exciting fifth final game, which Berlin won 4-1.

The dominator par excellence

The Eisbären, who did not make it into the playoffs after the 2021 and 2022 championships last year, have been champions in the DEL more often than any other team since its founding 30 years ago. In the entire master list of German ice hockey, the Berliners caught up with SC Riessersee in terms of number of titles. Between 2005 and 2013, the Berliners won seven championships. Since the beginning of this decade they have been the dominant DEL team again.

Bremerhaven was in the final series for the first time ever. The runner-up is the best result in the club's history. For Thomas Popiesch it was probably the last game as Penguins coach. The East Berlin native is set to move to the Krefeld Pinguinen in the second division next season.