Dominik Bittner has not had an easy time.
He was injured for many weeks and only saw the games of his Wolfsburg Grizzlys as a spectator.
But now there are two positive pieces of news for him.
Peißenberg / Wolfsburg
- In this unusual season in the DEL, which only started on December 17th last year, Dominik Bittner has not yet played a game.
The Peißenberger, who goes on the ice for the Wolfsburg Grizzlys, sustained a muscle injury in the last preparation game.
After a three-month break, the suffering of the 28-year-old defender is over: In Wolfsburg's 3-2 win after extra time at Eisbären Berlin last Monday, Bittner was in a DEL game for the first time this season.
He was used in the second row and was on the ice for a total of 14:36 minutes.
In Thursday's duel against the Krefeld Pinguine, Bittner played for the first time this season in the local “Ice Arena”.
He started training two weeks ago.
Ice hockey: Bittner extends his contract in Wolfsburg for another two years
Bittner was made fit in the "Rehabilitation World" of VfB Stuttgart.
"The rehab was very good," reports the Peißenberger, who recently not only worked on his fitness.
The defender, who played nine times for the German national team and who now has 332 DEL games in his résumé, negotiated with his employer about a contract extension - which then came about.
Bittner will remain a "grizzly" for two more years, until 2023.
"The negotiations were actually quite normal as always, only that we talked more in video meetings," said Bittner, who is happy about the extension of his contract with the current third in the DEL North Group.
“I am very happy to stay in Wolfsburg for various reasons.
There is great potential in the team and the organization.
All the prerequisites that are needed to be successful and develop yourself are given here, ”said the Peißenberger, explaining the decision to stay at the Autostadt.
“The way the grizzlies deal with the pandemic and how they supported me during my injury also played a role.
I would like to expand the role that I have developed here and take on more responsibility in the next two years, ”says Bittner, who has quite ambitious goals.
Ice hockey: Wolfsburg's sports director Charly Fliegauf finds words of praise for Bittner
Words of praise about the defender also come from Wolfsburg's sports director and managing director, Charly Fliegauf from Peiting.
"We are very happy that we can continue to plan for the long term with Bits," said the Peitinger.
"There are not very many German defenders of his caliber on the free player market." He is very versatile in the special teams, fully identifies with the club and embodies the attributes that are needed in the team to be successful be.
"He already showed last season that he is an enormous reinforcement," said Fliegauf, praising the Peißenberg defensive player.
“Of course, we wish him in particular that he remains injury-free and that he can again show his strengths on and off the ice,” said Fliegauf.
