Tölzer Löwen: The last test match against championship favorite Löwen Frankfurt could say a lot about where the journey in the DEL2 is going.
Bad Tölz - It has been a long time since people flocked to the Tölz ice rink.
The past season in DEL 2 ran off without audience participation.
Now the Tölzer Löwen's hygiene concept has not only been developed and adapted, but also accepted.
The safety of the spectators is to be guaranteed through admission controls (3G rule) and various regulations as well as mask requirements in the stadium.
The preparation time is coming to an end, the start of the new season in the second-highest German ice hockey league is getting closer.
So it is a good thing that the team in the last preparatory game (Sunday, 6.30 p.m.) after the heavily strengthened EV Landshut with the Löwen Frankfurt once again set the right standard: The Hessians are the number one championship favorite for Kevin Gaudet.
The Frankfurt Lions are a good benchmark for the Tölzer Lions
"Compared to the previous season, when they already had a top team, the Frankfurt team has strengthened itself again," says the Tölz coach. Not only did Hessen bring Dylan Wruck, the best German in the league two years ago, from Heilbronn. But with the Canadian Bobby Raymond also a DEL-experienced defender from Iserlohn and the German-Canadian Ryon Moser from arch rival Kassel Huskies. Gaudet: "With the three they got even better."
This only applies to a limited extent to the Tölzer Löwen.
Nevertheless, Gaudet would like to use the last test before the point games to bring progress to his team.
"We are not allowed to take so many penalties anymore, with such a small squad it is even more difficult to be outnumbered than it is already." He also wants to see more speed in the game, faster passes and more goal danger.
"But first and foremost, it is important that nobody gets injured," says Gaudet.
Nevertheless, he also calls for a defensive improvement.
And he would like to continue to see an improvement in the teamwork.
After all, 8 out of 16 players are new to the team.
All players on the ice
At least almost all players are available to him.
Only Cam Spiro continues to fail with groin problems.
And Niklas Hörmann is also injured.
Otherwise, Gaudet sends all players on the ice - including Marcus Götz, even if he is still behind in training, and the young Anton Engel.
Gaudet is looking forward to a game that will tell him a lot about where his Tölzer lions are.