Geretsried - It's like before the home games of the Geretsried ice hockey team: the captain is the last man on the ice. Thus, Bayern league club ESC Geretsried has announced the contract extension with Martin Köhler as the last person for the coming season. The 33-year-old winger, who scored 11 goals and 14 assists with 12 penalty minutes in 33 games in the 2019/20 season, is a model of loyalty to the club. He took his first steps on the ice at TuS Geretsried and stayed with his home club even after the stadium roof was dismantled and the ESC was re-established in 2006.
"Martl is considered playful, goal-oriented and down-to-earth," praised ESC spokesman Tom Kinzel.
And Peter Holdschik is also happy about the contract extension: "I already know Martl from my time as a junior coach, where he was already a top performer with his style of play and his running skills," reports the second chairman.
Köhler is a "very intelligent player with enormous technical qualities and wit".
As captain, the striker takes responsibility on and off the ice.
Holdschik: "He always thinks with heart and soul in terms of ice sports in Geretsried."
In an interview with press spokesman Kinzel, the 33-year-old answered questions about himself, the River Rats and the future of the ESC.
After all these years, is it unusual to train so early on your own ice?
In any case, it's unfamiliar.
But currently we still have a mixture of ice and summer training.
We go on the ice once or twice a week, plus there are two summer training sessions.
At the end of August we lace our skates three times a week.
And that at normal times.
We have missed that a lot in the past few years in preparation.
Now we are looking forward to the preparation games in our own ice rink.
How is the mood within the team?
The mood is good, the driving around like in previous years has come to an end.
With two newcomers, the face of the team hasn't changed that much.
We lost a few players, but the upheaval is limited.
I'm going into the new season positively.
Also in the coming season, the Bayern League will have top-class teams. How do you rate the overall quality of the league?
The league will be very strong again.
The Corona period has weakened a few clubs, but the level will still remain very high.
What is your goal as a team?
We got off to a good start last year and I'm sure we would have ended up in the top eight in the end.
We have set ourselves the same goal for the new season.
The former open-air stadium has now become a real gem. How do you like the "new" home of the ESC?
The stadium brings life back to Geretsried ice hockey.
I like it very much and I am sure of our fans too.
What changes have you made?
We were able to do our summer training in the stadium.
When it rained, we were still dry.
That was difficult in the past few years because we always had to look for ice rinks where we could train.
Unfortunately, the weight room is still missing here, but that will probably work for the next year.
During your long career you only played in Geretsried - first at TuS, then at ESC. In all that time, did you never have the idea of gaining experience at another club?
When my teammates Korbinian Holzer and Michael Endraß went to Bad Tölz in the school area, I thought about going with them.
But I decided against it at the time and never felt the need to leave the club afterwards.
That was my club, and I wanted to get back to the top with the club even after starting over in the district league.
And now we have established ourselves in the Bayern League.
The promotion to the Bayernliga was very dear to my heart.
Captain Martin Köhler, co-trainer at the time due to injury
What were the best moments of your career?
There were quite a few.
The rise with the juniors back then.
And with the first team, of course, the promotion from the district league to the Bayern league.
The promotion to the Bayernliga was very dear to my heart because I had to sit out due to an injury but was able to help as a coach.
What prospects do you see for ice sports in general and also for Geretsried ice hockey?
I think ice sports in general are on the right track.
I hope that spectators can come to the stadiums again and that the clubs don't have to give up.
After the roofing, the prospects for the Geretsried site are very good.
I hope we can train good young players again over the next few years so that we can see them play in higher-class clubs or at the River Rats.
And if we do well, hopefully more viewers will come again.
I miss that a little in Geretsried.
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