Eisbären Berlin are crowned DEL anniversary champions

With the 2:1 (1:1, 1:0, 0:0) in the decisive third playoff final against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg, the former series champions completed their eighth title since 1995. Mark Olver (2nd minute) and Leo Pföderl (24th) scored for coach Serge Aubin's team. Wolfsburg was only successful thanks to Mathis Olimb (3rd) and also came away empty-handed in their fourth final appearance in the German Ice Hockey League. Coach Pat Cortina's team (he had already coached Asiago and Italy in his career) had only won the first playoff final last Sunday (3-2 after extra time). As in the quarter and semi-finals, the Eisbären came back with two wins in the final and won their first championship title in eight years. Last year, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the season was canceled after the main round without a master's freestyle. An irregular goal The Eisbären, who were slightly favored in the final by two outsiders, had already triumphed 4-1 in Wolfsburg on Wednesday. The deciding match on Friday started intensely and was largely even. Wolfsburg initially pressed, but Berlin scored. Olver gave the Eisbären the lead with Berlin's first ever shot on goal, but the Grizzlys equalized again just 25 seconds later. However, Olimb's first playoff goal shouldn't have counted. Wolfsburg's Valentin Busch had previously lost his helmet, but continued to play the puck illegally. The referee team Andre Schrader and Marian Rohatsch did not recognize the violation of the rules and allowed play to continue. The game continued intensely and at eye level. Wolfsburg had bad luck shortly before the first period break when ex-national player Garrett Festerling was injured and did not initially return to the ice. In addition, in the important duel between the two goalkeepers, Berlin's national goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger once again made a slightly better impression. In the middle section, the Eisbären took the lead again through national striker Pföderl and then continued to play with concentration and discipline. In the final third, the Grizzlys tried everything again and tried to finish quicker. However, the strong Niederberger in the Berlin goal ruined everything. The end of a special season This marked the end of a completely unusual season under special circumstances. The DEL postponed the start of the season twice last year because the clubs initially could not afford to forego spectator revenue. Only after the players had given up a large part of their salaries did the season begin a week before Christmas, which was significantly shortened and the format changed. Ice hockey was played almost every day in two groups (North and South) without spectators. The preliminary round and playoffs were shortened: only two wins instead of four were necessary to win the title and advance to the playoffs. This also benefited Berlin and Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg eliminated the top favorites Adler Mannheim with two wins in the semi-finals. The other DEL top team, EHC Red Bull Munich, had already been eliminated in the quarter-finals against Ingolstadt. It is still unclear whether the season can start again under normal conditions in September as planned.

OF Germany	SP	TV	P
1. Bremerhaven	51	160:115	104
2. Eisbären Berlin	51	180:132	102
3. Straubing Tigers	51	161:127	91
4. Grizzly's Wolfsburg	51	149:139	87
5. EHC Munich	51	152:129	86
6. Schwenningen	51	154:142	82
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Eisbären Berlin are crowned DEL anniversary champions

The Eisbären Berlin have clinched the ice hockey anniversary title and been crowned the 100th German champions.

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