From now on every game is a final for Erding

Created: 01/21/2022, 10:00 am

By: Wolfgang Krzizok

Welcome to Erding: Gladiators coach Thomas Vogl (left) with newcomer Tom Callaghan.

© Erding Gladiators

The Erding Gladiators have to deal with two unpleasant opponents at the start of the Bayernliga relegation round.

Erding – "We're starting now - albeit in the wrong round," says Erding's coach Thomas Vogl, who makes no secret of his disappointment that he missed the championship round with the Gladiators. But he also knows: "From now on we have to play every game in playoff mode." And it's going to be full for his team: Tonight (8 p.m.) ERV Schweinfurt will come to the Stadtwerke Erding Arena, on Sunday (5:30 p.m pm) the Gladiators will be guests at ESC Geretsried.

Canadian Tom Callaghan surprisingly joined the Gladiators during the week. The Erding Gladiators now have three contingent players under contract: After the Finn Roni Rukajärvi and the Czech David Hrazdira now also the Canadian Tom Callaghan. The 22-year-old striker, who hails from Montreal, had been scoring goals in Sweden's Division 2 at Trollhättans HC until the end of December - when the league was abandoned. After his return to Montreal, he contacted Erding's coach Thomas Vogl, offered his services - and has now received a tryout contract. "He wanted to stay in Europe after his guest performance in Sweden, offered himself and we are now giving him the chance to show himself here," explains Erding's gang boss. When the 22-year-old striker was promisedwith Roni Rukajärvi and David Hrazdira "something was open, but that has now been settled," says Vogl without going into details.

But since only two foreigners can be used: who has to go to the stands at the weekend? "Roni is seeded," says the coach. The Finn is fit again after his recent injury-related absence and has made himself indispensable in defence. Which striker gets the preference, "that will be a short-term decision, but actually I would like to give everyone a game," announces the coach.

In any case, Hrazdira has done the best advertising for himself so far, has already scored eight times in his four games in the green and white jersey, four times in the derby alone against his ex-club ESC Dorfen.

"He was outstanding in the last few games," admits Vogl, who emphasizes "that we always played David with open cards.

He knew Tom was coming, accepted it and is ready to take on the challenge."

But he also wanted to give Callghan a chance, who had contacted Erding himself and had written to Vogl.

"He wants to show himself," explains the Gladiators coach.

Vogl was also very satisfied with the participation in training this week.

Gradually, all players come back.

"I had 20 men on the ice, almost the whole team was there all the time," he enthuses, but warns: "Of course, something can always come up," he says, looking at the schedule.

In the championship round, two out of four games had to be canceled due to Corona tonight, in the relegation round one out of three matches was canceled.

As for today's opponents Schweinfurt, Vogl praises the Mighty Dogs, "who blossomed towards the end".

On the weekend of the season opener, the Gladiators had beaten Schweinfurt 6:2, but then lost 3:6 in the Icedome.

There were five points for the Gladiators this season against Sunday opponents Geretsried: a 6:3 away and a 5:4 at home after extra time.

"It's a two-faced team," says Erding's coach.

"A lot of them depend on keeper Morczinietz and top striker Horvath." Vogl also expects the team to get a boost in motivation from new coach Randy Neal: "He'll definitely make them hot." And Vogl knows: "It's possible all starting from zero.

That means we have to go full throttle right from the start.”