Now it is time for the ESC puck hunters to show their colors again,
Dorfen - The Bayern League starts the main round this weekend.
The ice pirates are first challenged in Pfaffenhofen on Friday evening at 8 p.m., before the VfE Ulm-Neuulm will show up in the Dr.-Rudolf-Halle on Sunday at 5.30 p.m.
Duplicity of the events: As in the previous year, the Isenstadt-based team will be guests in Pfaffenhofen at the start of this year, after having recently crossed the clubs in two test encounters.
Twice, with 6: 2 in the village and 7: 2 in Pfaffenhofen, the ice pirates got the upper hand.
In the previous year, the ESC was twice successful 3: 2 in the preparatory games, and then promptly lost 4: 7 at the start of the league.
Now they are hoping in the Dorfen camp that the two test game wins do not mean a bad omen, knowing straight away that tonight they will meet a better motivated opponent than in the preliminary skirmishes.
The hosts have now strengthened themselves again, but will have to do without the Canadian Patrick Martens on Friday due to a game penalty in preparation.
Nevertheless, the ice hogs are very compact in width.
The driver in defense is the French-Canadian Jake Fardoe in front of the experienced goalkeeper Philipp Hähl.
The most dangerous attacker is 23-year-old Nick Endress, born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, who was voted the best league player last season.
With the German-Slovak David Felsöci, the ambitious Canadian coach Chris Heid has another top performer in his squad.
In the latest test wins (5: 3 at home against Geretsried and 2: 1 in Grafing against Klostersee), the Ilmstadt team showed a clear improvement in form.
Guest fans are possible in Pfaffenhofen, as 400 visitors are allowed there in the not completely closed stadium.
Orders can be placed at https.://eishogspfaffenhofen.ticket.io/en2enr2w/.
At the ESC, trainer Franz Steer has to do without his sick top scorer Lukas Miculka on the opening weekend.
Nevertheless, the ice pirate coach has four rows available, as there are some U 20 players in the squad.
Andi Marek will be required in goal.
With newcomer Ulm-Neuulm, the first of four newcomers from the state league next to Kempten, Buchloe and Amberg will present in Dorfen on Sunday.
The team from the Bavarian-Württemberg border town impressed with good test results.
Georg Brennauer