First against the Wild Lions, then against the Ice Dogs

Created: 07/10/2022, 09:30

By: Georg Brennauer

Not an inch of space: like here in the test match against Pfaffenhofen, a lot of hard work awaits Dorfen (black jerseys, from left) Maxi Englbrecht, Christoph Obermaier and Benedikt Dietrich.

© Dominik Findelsberger

The puck hunters of ESC Dorfen will have to deal with two very different opponents this weekend in the Bayernliga preliminary round.

Dorfen – The ERSC Amberg Wild Lions will be playing their first game in front of a home crowd this Friday at 8 p.m. in the Dr.-Rudolf-Halle.

Then on Sunday at 4.30 p.m. the newly promoted EV Pegnitz Ice Dogs in Mitterteich get down to business.

Today's opponent ERSC Amberg has a high sporting reputation as third in the table last season.

After the quality of the teams in the highest Bavarian amateur league has steadily increased, and there can no longer be any talk of an "easy opponent", "you have to approach the teams with the highest possible attitude and, above all, discipline," emphasizes the ESC head coach Franz Steer.

At the moment, he's less concerned about the premature ratings of his competitors than about the absences due to injury and illness.

Recently, the ESC hospital cleared up a bit.

At least Coach Steer can muster the young defenders Florian Hartl and the brothers Erik and Reik Walter again.

Defender Max Huber, who sometimes has to give up work because of his shift work, is also there again this time.

While the injured Slovenian defender Gaspr Susanj was still in doubt, young striker Maximilian Steiner, who is also injured, is sure to be absent, meaning that Steer will have to rearrange his attacking ranks once again.

Alternatively, he can incorporate junior strikers Felix Wiedenhofer and Fabio Lauffer.

In any case, the ice pirates should set their sights better against the Wild Lions from Amberg than they did last time in Schweinfurt.

The Upper Palatinate immediately caused a sensation as a promoted team in the past season and achieved third place in the final calculation.

Last season, the Isenstadt team had to pass 3:5 after conceding four goals after a promising 3:1 lead.

ERSC coach Dirk Sallinger largely relies on the previous squad with five departures, including Ryan Murphy and Mario Strobel to Erding, and six new signings, including Canadian striker Tanner Campbell.

Canadian striker Brett Mennear continues to fill the second contingent position.

After the Wild Lions' narrow 1:2 home defeat against Kempten at the start, one can assume that today's guests with many fans - a full bus has been announced in Dorfen - will get down to business.

Next Sunday the ice pirates will meet EV Pegnitz.

Because the Ice Dogs don't have any ice available in their open stadium, they move to nearby Mitterteich.