Two endurance tests await the Erding Gladiators.
Erding - "I'm really looking forward to the weekend," enthuses Thomas Vogl.
"We have two teams that don't put them in the back and wait for the counterattack, but want to play along." Opponents are waiting for the gladiators, who are among the favorites in the Bayernliga.
Tonight (8 p.m.) the Erdinger ice hackers will meet the EHC Waldkraiburg in the Stadtwerke Erding Arena, on Sunday (5.30 p.m.) they will go to the undefeated front-runner EHC Klostersee.
Games between the gladiators and the lions always have their special charm. What is more, is the fact that it will often be an "alumni reunion", as it is today. For example, Michael Trox and Timo Borrmann, two strikers who have already worn the Waldkraiburg jersey, play for the Gladiators. On the other hand, Matthias Jeske and Florian Brenninger, two former Erdingers, are now in the Löwen squad. Christian Neuert is also new at Waldkraiburg, who comes from the Erdinger offspring, played for TSV up to U18, and then in Passau, Landsberg, Deggendorf and Hanover (all major leagues) as well as Crimmitschau, Rosenheim, Weißwasser and Freiburg (all DEL2 ) was. In addition, the 29-year-old has already played 38 games in the DEL for the Wolfsburg Grizzlies and also scored one goal.
"The defense actually stayed the same, but they renewed themselves a bit in the storm," says Vogl.
“But nothing will have changed in the way of playing: very aggressive and fast.” Whether it is an advantage or disadvantage for the Waldkraiburger that they did not play last weekend remains to be seen.
At the Gladiators, the personnel situation has relaxed a little, goalkeeper Christoph Schedlbauer and defender Lars Bernhardt are back.
“Schedl and Lars will also play,” announces the gladiators coach.
“We just have to see how long we have enough strength.” Timo Borrmann, who was absent last Sunday due to knee problems, is also back in the squad.
Alex Gantschnig has started training, but it comes too early.
On Sunday it goes to the EHC Klostersee, which is sweeping through the league at the moment and leads the Bayernliga table with a maximum of 18 points from six games.
“They are strong and have found the right goal getter,” says Erding's coach.
Lynnden Pastachak, the Canadian newcomer to Grafinger, leads the scorer list of the Bayernliga with 19 points after six games.
Right on his heels is Erdings newcomer Sebastian Busch, who has so far achieved 16 points.
"Those were always very difficult, hot games against Klostersee, especially in Grafing," says Vogl, who sums up: "This weekend we can show what we can do."
