Gladiators face a mammoth task

Created: 12/23/2022, 10:00 am

By: Wolfgang Krzizok

The Erdinger Eishackler are on the right track: so that it is also like this on the road and not just on the ice, Autohaus Schneider provides three Hyundai SUVs.

Present at the handover were (from left) Timo and Klaus Schneider, Gladiators team boss Felix Schütz, Michael Krähmüller, as well as the players Ryan Murphy, who now plays for the Schongau Mammuts, and Roni Rukajärvi.

© Michael Westphal

Not because of Christmas rest.

Erding – That may exist in real life, but not with the Bayernliga ice hackers, who still have to complete a mammoth program by the end of the year, with four games in just eight days.

Speaking of the mammoth task: The Erding Gladiators start their four-pack against the Schongau Mammuts in their home arena at 8 p.m. tonight, and it will be a special game.

This is followed by three away games in Geretsried (December 26), Königsbrunn (December 28) and Peißenberg (December 30).

It is a special game because Ryan Murphy is now storming for the mammoths.

The American had only come to Erding at the start of the season, but did not get a chance after Tomas Plihal was signed.

"It was a unique opportunity to get a man like Tomas," says Gladiators team boss Felix Schütz.

"I spoke very openly with Ryan and told him that he should continue to train with us and that he can recover from his slight injury until he finds something new." Schütz thinks that it's Schongau "a great thing for him".

And that Murphy is playing tonight, "I'm assuming".

The first leg in Schongau was lost 3:5.

"I was in office for a very short time, it was a really good game that we lost in the last few minutes," recalls Gladiators team boss Felix Schütz.

Erding led 3:2 until the 52nd minute, then it hit the Gladiators box three times within a good six minutes.

"The people of Schongau play very good ice hockey and it's not for nothing that they're up there," says Schütz appreciatively.

Almost three weeks ago there was unrest in the team when coach Rainer Höfler threw down due to disagreements with the team.

Co-trainer Helmut Maucher has taken over the helm at fourth place in the table for the time being and is supported by 1b coach Markus Ratberger.

The Gladiators team manager is pleased that Sebastian Busch has returned after his injury break.

"He's a very important player for us, let's see how we put the ranks together," says Schütz.

For Elias Maier, on the other hand, it is still too early to play after breaking his shin: "It was his first time back on the ice, but he's still in pain." He leaves it open whether there will be a new signing.

"We will certainly not sign any players," explains the team boss.

"If so, then we'll strengthen ourselves in a targeted manner." But now the full concentration is on the task against the mammoths.