Top-class opponents in a row for EC Peiting

Created: 10/14/2022, 09:45 am

By: Roland Halmel

The last duel was a long time ago: The "Tölzer Löwen" and EC Peiting last met in the 2016/2017 season in the Oberliga.

The photo was taken in January 2016 and shows Bad Tölz' Maxi Kammerer (in front) and Peiting's Anton Saal, who now acts as a coach.

© Oliver Rabuser

Something is coming up for EC Peiting: After the duel with the "Tölzer Löwen" the ECP in the Oberliga will go to the "Blue Devils Weiden".

Peiting – One difficult task after another awaits EC Peiting in the Oberliga Süd.

Last Sunday it was against SC Riessersee, this Friday (8 p.m.) the duel is at home with the "Tölzer Löwen" and on Sunday (6 p.m.) it's off to the "Blue Devils Weiden".

The game plan serves the ECP three top-class players in a row.

The people of Peiting invite you to their sponsors' party against the DEL2 relegated from Bad Tölz, which is why the game starts half an hour later than the other home games.

"The 'Löwen' have a very compact team with a very good first row," ECP coach Anton Saal recognized while studying the opponent's video.

After leaving the DEL2 after five years, a lot has happened with the squad from the Isarwinkel on and off the ice.

EC Peiting expects Tölzer Löwen for the Oberliga derby

There is a new coach in Ryan Foster, and after a total of 16 players left the team, the Kurstadt team, where former SCR boss Ralph Bader has been in charge since January, brought in ten newcomers.

For the contingent positions, the lions rely on a US boy and two Canadians, all of whom are new to the Isarwinkel.

The two Canadian strikers Tyler Ward and Nick Huard, together with Ludwig Nirschl, who came from Memmingen, form the extremely dangerous first "Löwen" row, which the people from Peiting should keep an eye on.

Ward, Huard and Nirschl have each scored eight points - together the trio have scored ten goals.

"It will be an extremely difficult task," says Saal, who hopes that the derby will break the 1000 mark in terms of "spectators".

The last duels between the two teams in the Oberliga were several years ago.

In the 2016/1017 season, the ECP met Bad Tölz six times.

The record was then rather unpleasant against the later champions with six defeats.

The last win to date was also some time ago against the "Blue Devils Weiden".

In February 2020, Peitingen won 5-2 at home.

This was followed by five defeats against the reigning champions of the Oberliga Süd, who ultimately missed out on promotion to the DEL2.

The team of former ECP coach Sebastian Buchwieser wants to make up for this this season.

The Upper Palatinate have brought in eight new players, including Peiting's top scorer Nardo Nagtzaam.

The German-Dutchman was recently injured and will probably not be able to play against his old club.

"But the loss isn't a problem for Weiden, so they still have four strong ranks," Saal nevertheless has great respect for the hosts, who he believes are among the hottest title contenders this season.

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"To be able to get something there, everything has to fit," says Saal, who still doesn't want to rule out a surprise.

In order for it to succeed, his team can't afford to make any mistakes. In addition, the work in the special teams, i.e. when there are too many or too many, has to work.

"Numbered was our strength last year, we have to get there again," Saal sees room for improvement when it comes to penalty killing.

During the week, one or the other player in his squad was injured or sick.

However, he hopes to be able to fall back on the entire squad before the first face-off on Friday.

And it's even gotten a little bigger lately.

Marco Niewollik from the Augsburger EV DNL team can play for the ECP with a funding license.

The 18-year-old striker made his debut in Memmingen a week ago.

"Marco is a very talented player who will get a few games with us.

The ulterior motive is that if we ever have personnel worries, we will then have a broader base," explains Saal.