Erding's new signing Tomas Plihal (39) has an impressive career
Erding - "It's a real hit, we've never had a man with such a career here in Erding," says ice hockey department manager Michael Westphal with a broad grin.
We're talking about new signing Tomas Plihal, who was on the ice with the Gladiators for the first time on Thursday and played the first league game against EV Pegnitz on Friday.
"We had to swallow hard because some of our players got it badly and they are out for a long time," reports Westphal.
"That's why we put out feelers some time ago." Coach Ales Jirik, who worked for EV Landshut for a few years, put Plihal in touch, who was active in the 3rd division in the Czech Republic and now lives in Erding.
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Welcome to Erding: Team boss Felix Schütz (right) and trainer Ales Jirik (left) welcome Tomas Plihal.
© Krzizok
The 39-year-old Czech can look back on a great career.
As an 18-year-old, he was drafted by the NHL club San Jose Sharks in the 5th round in 140th position.
After a few years in various farm teams, he made his debut in the NHL in January 2008 against the Edmonton Oilers.
"Curiously, I saw him play back then," says Westphal.
"I had a business trip to Silicon Valley in 2008 and I watched the Sharks vs. Colorado."
The young Czech spent three seasons in the top league in the world, making around 90 appearances for San Jose and amassing 26 points.
Plihal then played in the Finnish top league (Turku, Oulu, Tampere) for five years before moving back to his homeland.
But again and again he played in Germany: in Heilbronn, Landshut and Regensburg.
The "General", as he is called by the fans, has earned the reputation of a "promotion hero".
He shot EV Landshut from the Oberliga to the DEL 2, as well as EV Regensburg.
"It would be nice if I can help the team to get better and that we might make it up the ranks," says Plihal.
Like in Landshut and Regensburg, "where I really liked it - it was very nice there".
He only knows Ales Jirik from his new team.
So he can't say anything about the quality of the team, "because I've only taken part in one training session".
It doesn't matter to him which position he is used up front: "I'm usually center, but I can also play left or right winger." Plihal will wear shirt number 39.
He got this number at a first rookie camp in San Jose and later wore it with the Sharks.
In any case, the Erding Gladiators are keeping their eyes open for further newcomers, says department head Westphal.
"There are still some planned, but there is nothing concrete yet." Nothing happened with a commitment from Hannes Sedlmayr, who was sorted out in Bad Tölz: "That would have been one for us, we also talked, but he stops." So search continues.
WOLFGANG KRZIZOK
