The Erdinger seven-goal defender

Created: 06/12/2022, 10:30 am

By: Wolfgang Krzizok

From defender to goalscorer: Mark Waldhausen (centre) had to play up front at the weekend due to a lack of manpower with the Gladiators and scored seven goals in two games.

© Christian Riedel

Wonder Weapon "Wayne" Waldhausen scores almost half of all Gladiators hits.

In general, the people of Erding can look forward to a great weekend.

Erding – The Erding Gladiators managed a very important six-point weekend.

While the 9:3 on Friday against Pegnitz was somewhat predictable, the 6:1 on Sunday in Kempten came as a surprise.

The debut of the Czech Tomas Plihal almost went under "thanks" to Mark Waldhausen.

The regular defender had to play as a striker due to serious personnel problems and was on the top scorer list seven times.

His teammates just called him "Wayne Waldhausen" after the game on Sunday, alluding to Wayne Gretzky.

For half an hour, the Erdingers struggled against Pegnitz, who was second to bottom in the table – the score was still 3:3.

"The Erdingers were in sleeper mode," said the sporting director of the EVP, Mark Gerstner, who is temporarily acting as a trainer after leaving Markus Hausner.

"Unfortunately, we then got into the sleeping car."

"I know such games," said Erding's team manager Felix Schütz.

"And that's why I warned the team not to underestimate their opponents." Only in the last third did his squad "play very good ice hockey".

Regrettable is the injury of license player David Jakovlev, who dislocated his shoulder in a duel.

Schütz said of Waldhausen, who scored four times: "He can absolutely play a striker, and he always sets an example."

And the 32-year-old did the same in Kempten when he scored three times.

Schütz was now able to muster eight offensive players for this game.

But thanks to a very disciplined performance and an outstanding Christoph Schedlbauer in goal, the favorite Sharks were tamed.

"The result is too clear, we were lucky too," admitted the Gladiators team boss afterwards.

In the second third, however, his team appeared "very, very strong", and in the final section they controlled the game.

His opposite number, Brad Miller, complained that the Gladiators had scored four goals from six chances in the first period.

"If something like that happens, you don't have a chance to win anymore," he said.

"That hurts."

Schütz, meanwhile, was happy about a “very important victory”.

You wanted to have fun and play well, and that was successful.

"I'm proud of the boys," concluded Schütz.

On the way to the bus, the Gladiators team boss said to Waldhausen: "You could actually always play a striker." But he waved it off with a laugh: "No, no, I'll stay a defender."