“Miners” want to get back on track

Created: 2022-11-10, 8:35 p.m

By: Roland Halmel

More often than not recently: The "Miners" (here Moritz Birkner in the home game against Miesbach) want to leave the ice again as winners after four games in a row without a win.

Photo: halmel © Roland Halmel

The season of the Peißenberg "Miners" runs in waves.

Earnings are currently at a low.

But that should change this weekend.

Peißenberg

– After the promising start to the season with six wins in a row, the Peißenberg “Miners” in the Bavarian league did not go quite as they had hoped.

From the past four games, the team got just three of twelve possible points.

They lost three times by just one goal each, once after extra time, and once again they decided overtime in their favor.

Peißenberg slipped down to fifth place

As a result, the Peissenbergers slipped down to fifth place in the table.

"We have to get back on track now," said coach Sepp Staltmayr.

He emphasizes that he and his coaching colleague Stefan Ihsen expect more next weekend and that the full number of points should be booked if possible.

Pegnitz is the only Bavarian league team to have an open-air stadium

On paper, the “Miners” are also faced with two quite solvable tasks.

This Friday we're going to the "Ice Dogs" from EV Pegnitz.

The climber from Upper Franconia, who is the only team in the Bavarian league to play in an open-air stadium, is having a hard time in the new league.

The Pegnitzer only got two points in ten games.

"But we won't underestimate them because of that," says Staltmayr emphatically.

The sporting crisis also led to the previous coach Markus Hausner resigning at his own request this week.

Sporting director Mark Gerstner took over the coaching job on an interim basis.

"The change of coach could of course give Pegnitz a boost," speculates Staltmayr.

Peißenberg's coach Staltmayr is hoping for dry weather in Pegnitz

The best scorer at the EVP is the Czech Roman Navarra with 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists).

After the promotion, Pegnitz is largely relying on the squad from the previous season, which has grown in width.

The second contingent position next to Navarra is occupied by his compatriot Ondrej Homolek.

"But we don't look so much at the opponent, we want to play our game and be focused," said Staltmayr.

He is speculating on an away win in the open air in hopefully dry weather.

"It could be a problem if it rains," admits the "Miners" coach.

Sunday opponent Buchloe has to cope with a few departures

The external conditions then play no role on Sunday in the home game against the "Pirates" of ESV Buchloe (5.45 p.m.).

"Like Pegnitz, this is not an insurmountable task," was the assessment of Staltmayr before the duel with the current table ninth.

The Buchloer had to cope with the departure of some important players in the summer, who were not completely replaced on an equal footing.

The first ESV storm row is still outstanding.

The trio with Markus Vaitl, Alex Krafzczyk and Michal Petrak collected 188 points last season.

In the new season, the latter two are again among the top 16 point collectors in the league.

Two wins and two losses against Buchloe last season

The two teams met four times last season.

With two wins and two losses, the record was balanced.

"Buchloe has a good fighting squad," said Staltmayr, expecting a more physical game.

"It's a home game and a threesome is needed," said Staltmayr, making his expectations clear.

In terms of personnel, he doesn't have to make any major changes compared to last week, as he has everyone on board except for the promotion license player Simon Gerstmeir.

Peißenberger Brett Mecrones voted into Team of the Month

Meanwhile, Peißenberg's newcomer Brett Mecrones, who was voted into October's team of the month by the internet portal "Bayernhockey.com", was delighted.

The 26-year-old forward had 11 goals and eight assists that month, earning him third place in the scorers' ranking.

The “Miners” are currently even better placed in terms of “public appeal”.

Due to the good attendance in the top game against Miesbach (645), the Peissenbergers replaced the previous spectator Croesus Amberg.

With an average of 579 visitors, the Miners are now number one in the Bayernliga ahead of Amberg (570) and Erding (533).

The EA Schongau only takes the third last place in this ranking (203).