The Corona-related forced break for the Tölzer Löwen continues: Because some players are still struggling with their illness, the two weekend games against Kaufbeuren and Dresden have been postponed.
Bad Tölz
- Even the ghost games slowed down the enthusiasm of ice hockey fans for their sport to a considerable extent.
Follow the Tölzer Löwen matches on the internet livestream - this is currently the only way to indulge in passion.
Alone: This option has also been suspended for over two weeks.
And it will remain so for at least one more game weekend: Contrary to all expectations, the DEL2 games against Kaufbeuren and Dresden were canceled and moved to February next year.
Corona hit the lions fully
An alternative measure that reveals the whole dilemma: Corona has by no means only grazed the lions, but is flying around the ears of the townspeople with full bandwidth.
The Tölzer team was still a long way from having a playable team this week.
"No sport is as important as the health of the players", Christian Donbeck affirmed again and again.
From the beginning of the season, the TEG managing director was the hardliner on Corona issues, and he does not deviate an iota from his restrictive line.
Any risk, no matter how minimal, is too high for Donbeck to return to everyday life in the league.
Sure: the quarantine margin set by the health department ended last Saturday.
The time of suffering is not over.
On the part of the actors concerned, a certain risk of infection cannot be ruled out.
The all-clear is only given after a further examination of the inflammation values.
Also for the safety of the active.
With Jeke Laaksonen (Landshut) and Janik Möser (Wolfsburg), Donbeck names two examples of ice hockey players who have suffered an inflammation of the myocardium as a consequence of a corona disease.
Such incidents can be avoided with the Lions.
Five first team players were identified as positive two days after the allegedly decisive home game against Weißwasser;
four more followed in the course of the second series of tests.
"Seven of them with a moderate or difficult course," emphasizes Donbeck.
As of today, three cracks are still burdened with signs of the disease.
Cardiac and neurological examinations
A suitable time for the TEG functionary to emphasize the seriousness of the situation once again.
He sought contact with the affected players almost every day.
With an undisputed opinion: “The whole thing is not for fun.” Coach Kevin Gaudet currently only trains with a limited group of symptom-free actors.
For the rest of the squad, the "Return to Sport" protocol is meticulously carried out.
Means: Cardiological and neurological examinations should provide information about the resilience.
If the findings allow competitive sport from a medical point of view, these players are allowed to participate in training again.
"Probably from Monday," says Donbeck of the current timetable.
Of course, without guarantee - and without the more seriously affected trio.
The restart is likely on December 18th
The TEG boss estimates the re-start of the lions cautiously on Friday, December 18 in Ravensburg, but at the same time names the restrictions: "But only with those who are healthy and resilient." That would also mean the home game against Bad Nauheim on Wednesday, December 16, obsolete.
Donbeck does not dispute that at some point the point could come when one has to discuss the question of whether the continuation of the season still makes sense.
But the 48-year-old is still confident.
They knew in advance about the "economic risk" and the inevitability of postponements.
This is a "predictable thing".
Nevertheless, he could not predict whether the current season could be handled reasonably seriously.
Donbeck speaks of a "responsibility" towards fans and sponsors that must be met.
However, if the moment comes when the DEL2 game operations can no longer be represented in total, they will sit down within the league.
The schedule and time factor still allowed a continuation.
However, these factors cannot be stressed indefinitely.
Donbeck: "We're trying to pull it off, but not at any price."
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