The season for junior ice hockey starts this weekend.
EC Peiting is starting the season with good squads, but is always looking for new players.
Peiting
- While the adults have to be patient, the junior ice hockey division is again about points.
“We don't have to rely on spectators and we don't ask for admission,” says full-time junior coordinator Markus Gleich.
The two oldest youth teams of EC Peiting, U17 and U20, start the season this weekend.
Both teams are part of the performance area at the ECP.
The U17s play in Germany's second-highest league, the U20s in the third-highest division.
“We want to train players for the big leagues here,” says Gleich.
Whereas the younger youth teams are part of popular sport.
There is also no ascent or descent from the U7 to the U15.
“In these age groups, our main goal is to develop all players,” explains Gleich.
"And they can only get better if they play too."
Latvian goalkeeper for the U20
As far as the number of young players is concerned, the EC Peiting is well positioned.
There is only a shortage of players in the U15.
“It depends on the age group and is the same for every club,” says Gleich.
He emphasizes: “Basically we are always looking for new players.” Therefore, there should be a try-out day between Christmas and New Year, on which foreign players can prove themselves.
The trial training was actually planned for last April, before the corona pandemic paralyzed sport.
"At that time we already had 25 registrations," says the junior coordinator.
The U20 got four new ones in the summer.
Among them is a Latvian goalkeeper who contacted the ECP to come to Germany.
The future of his club in Latvia is uncertain as a result of the Corona crisis, reports Gleich.
He rates this year's U20 as one of the best in recent years.
The aim is therefore to land in the upper third of the table.
At the same time, however, it is also expected that Division III, in which Weiden, Deggendorf, Landsberg and Mannheim play, could be one of the best in years.
"Since the games in the senior sector do not begin until November, all good youth players will be used in the youngsters until then," says Gleich.
"That pushes the level up." Who is used in which team usually makes the youngsters so confused, according to the U20 coach.
In the ECP there are five players who are also licensed for the major league.
Two new ones for the U17
The Peitinger U17 team has added two new players, including a goalkeeper from Kaufbeuren.
“The team should play at the top and achieve a good result for the season,” is Gleichs requirement.
The opponents in Division II are Augsburg, Landsberg, Deggendorf, Mannheim, Weiden and Munich.
The preparation for the Peitinger offspring went differently than usual, as the community had decided to postpone ice making from August to September due to the pandemic.
Since most of the opposing teams were able to train normally, the Peitinger Eiszeiten booked in Füssen in order not to have a competitive disadvantage.
U17 and U20 trained seven times at the federal performance center.
Offspring dependent on the first team
When it comes to games and training, it is of course important to adhere to the existing hygiene concepts.
It is an organizational effort, says Gleich.
The cabin situation in Peiting is advantageous.
In addition to the seven changing rooms, two containers will soon be added so that the minimum distance can be maintained without any problems.
The people of Peitingen take the effort to ensure that the next generation of ice hockey players does not die out.
Because if there is no play, there are no children and there is a risk that others will lose interest in ice hockey.
The junior division is primarily dependent on the adults.
Because it cannot be financed from membership fees alone.
For this, the income from sponsors and entrance fees of the first team, which will have their first test match on October 16, are required, explains Gleich.
In addition to their own start to the season, the youth ice hockey team is eagerly watching developments in the senior sector.
Because the future seasons depend on it.
At the start of the season
The U20 will play this Saturday at 6 p.m. at EHC 80 Nuremberg.
The U17 will be guests at EHC Munich at 5 p.m.
The U15 lost 4:17 to Kaufbeuren and 3:14 to Füssen at the start of the Bayernliga.
