EC Peiting: upheaval on and off the ice

Created: 04/15/2022, 08:53

By: Roland Halmel

They will direct the fortunes of EC Peiting in the coming season: (from left) coach Anton Saal, managing director Peter Gast and Ty Morris, who will act as assistant coach and team manager in one person.

© Roland Halmel

Big upheaval at EC Peiting: The top division ice hockey club gets new contingent players, three veterans stop.

And a crowd favorite has a new feature.

Peiting – Anton Saal already indicated in his season record after the early end in the play-offs that there could be a major upheaval at EC Peiting.

This is confirmed by the first personnel decisions that the Oberliga club announced two weeks later at a press conference that was also broadcast live on the Internet.

The three most experienced forwards in the team retire or leave the club.

In addition, there will be new players in the quota positions in the coming season.

Everything stays the same, however, on the coaching position.

Saal will continue to coach the ECP.

"During this difficult season, he has shown that he puts his heart and soul into it," reported ECP Managing Director Peter Gast, who attested to the 36-year-old's good work in his debut season.

"I'm glad that Anton is going on," said Gast, relieved.

Otherwise there will be a major change behind the gang.

Markus Keppeler, who worked as an assistant coach for five years, and longtime team manager Gordon Borberg announced their departure for professional reasons.

"These are understandable reasons. We would like to thank both of them for their commitment," says Gast.

Ty Morris now assistant coach and team manager

However, when looking for a suitable successor, the managing director found one relatively quickly – and in his own association at that.

Striker Ty Morris will end his active career and will in future hold the posts of assistant coach and manager.

"He knows the club, he's from the area and he's well connected," Gast said, describing the requirements that the 38-year-old German-Canadian fulfills perfectly.

"It wasn't an easy decision because I still feel fit to continue playing.

But you can't say no to such an opportunity," explained Morris, who also praised the work of coach Anton Saal.

"What he has done is outstanding," said Morris, who looks forward to working with him in the future.

Saal also did not skimp on the praise for his team.

“She has incredible character, so I'm happy to continue.

I'm convinced that if we had been complete, we could have achieved more," said Saal.

He hopes to be spared the numerous and protracted absences of players in the coming season, as happened in the past season.

"Then we can certainly play well," said Saal, who was also quite self-critical.

“I also made mistakes, but I will learn from them,” the ECP coach admitted.

Leaves Peiting: Top scorer Nardo Nagtzaam will probably try his luck in the DEL2 in the future.

© Holger Wieland

Together with Morris, he will be working on the squad for the 2022/23 season in the coming weeks.

The first decisions have already been made.

Defender Maximilian Söll has extended his contract.

"He has developed insanely and will play an even bigger role with us," said Morris, who also announced the first newcomer with Sam Payeur.

The 24-year-old Canadian has stormed for Peiting's league rivals EV Füssen in the past four seasons.

He was always one of the most dangerous players there.

“Sam has had a good career.

Above all, his fighting performance convinced us,” explained Morris, who also reported departures.

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Both Lukas Motloch and Shane Heffernan, who signed the ECP during the season, will not get a new contract.

Nardo Nagtzaam, who is still waiting for a German passport, will switch to DEL2 as things stand.

"He deserves it," said Morris about this year's top scorer in the Oberliga Süd.

However, it is still unclear who will fill the second or possibly even the third contingent position.

Coming to Peiting: striker Sam Payeur, previously in the service of league rivals EV Füssen.

© Roland Halmel

As far as the third immigration office is concerned, Gast rowed back.

He initially rejected the idea of ​​a third foreigner, which had come up at some clubs.

In the meantime, however, he can make friends with this proposal: "If you see what salaries German players are asking, that might be an option for smaller clubs," said Peiting's managing director.

After the ECP, with Simon Maier and Dominic Krabbat, two more veterans and goal guarantors will leave, the people of Peiting may have to go down this path when looking for replacements for the two strikers.

"We are very grateful to both of them, they always gave their all for the club," said Morris, regretting Maier's decision to end his career at the age of 35, after he had been repeatedly plagued by injuries.

Krabbat doesn't want to hang up his skates just yet, but he wants to reduce the load.

It is still unclear where the 35-year-old, who returned to Peiting a few months ago after an interlude with the Bavarian league club TSV Peißenberg, will go.