Ice hockey Germany in mourning: 18-year-old dies after a tough duel

Created: 12/24/2021, 06:18 AM

By: Patrick Huljina

A young ice hockey player of the Löwen Frankfurt has died after a tough duel.

(Symbolic picture) © Horn / Eibner-Pressefoto / IMAGO

Ice hockey Germany is shaken.

An 18-year-old fell unhappy during a youth game.

A few days later he succumbed to his head injuries.

Frankfurt - A tragic accident occurred during an ice hockey game in the DNL III junior league.

A young player from the second division ice hockey club Löwen Frankfurt fell into the gang and fell so unhappy that he sustained severe head injuries.

Five days after the tough duel, the 18-year-old succumbed to his injuries and died on Thursday (December 23).

This was announced by the DEL2 club.

Ice hockey Germany in deep mourning: 18-year-old dies after a tough duel

"After long and intensive efforts by the doctors and carers in the last few days, the news puts us in a state of shock and deep sadness," said Patrick Steingraf, head of sport at the Frankfurt Lions' offspring.

"For the family, after days of hope and fear, this is the worst thing that can be imagined," he said.

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) and the DEL2 expressed their condolences in a joint message.

One is "stunned by the tragic news" and expresses "deeply felt condolences and sympathy" to the relatives and those affected.

In the stadiums of the DEL, the DEL2 and the major leagues, a minute's silence was set nationwide for the games on Thursday and Boxing Day.

Ice hockey Germany in deep mourning: Brother had to watch the misfortune

The duel in the game against the Rote Teufel Bad Nauheim was tough, but "something that belongs to ice hockey as well as to many other sports," said Steingraf.

The player was operated on directly, the doctors had exhausted all medically available options.

"Sports operations are suspended until further notice, as it should be in this situation," said Steingraf.

The player's brother also plays for the U20s of the DEL2 club and has to witness the tragic accident.

"And we are also thinking of the opponent of the Red Devils Bad Nauheim, for whom the whole thing will certainly be difficult to cope with," said Steingraf.

An ice hockey goalkeeper also tragically died in July.

At that time, however, the accident did not take place on the ice.