First Dorfen tests for the relegation round

Created: 01/06/2023 10:01 am

By: Georg Brennauer

The final sprint in the main round is for the ESC Dorfen.

© Hermann Weingartner

The ESC Dorfen expects promoted Pegnitz.

The catch-up game in Kempten then rises on Sunday.

Dorfen

– The puck hunters in Dorfen shouldn't be prepared for an easy opponent when EV Pegnitz makes an appearance at the Dr. Rudolf Stadium on Friday at 8 p.m.

Even if the guests are penultimate in the Bayernliga and the ESC is two places higher.

The promoted team from Upper Franconia had to prepare for the start of the season and play the first home game of the Bayernliga against ESC Dorfen (2:4) in Mitterteich in the Upper Palatinate, around 60 kilometers away.

The first real game on the open ice rink ended narrowly with a 5:6 defeat after extra time and with the first point against Geretsried.

Entry into the highest Bavarian amateur league was anything but easy for the promoted team.

In the meantime, the Ice Dogs have shown what they can do a few times.

For example, they defeated table leader Miesbach 3:1 and caused considerable problems for TSV Erding at 3:4 after a penalty shootout.

In the basement duel in Pfaffenhofen they won 4:3 after a penalty shootout, and Buchloe also lost two points in a 6:5 victory after extra time.

Most recently, the Upper Franconians recorded a 4:8 win against Schweinfurt at home and two days later a 2:5 win at second-placed Amberg.

The new Czech coach Petr Kukla has dangerous men, especially in attack with the Czechs Roman Navarra and Daniel Sonnenberg as well as the German-Czech Patrik Dzemla.

The ice pirates have to be more focused on Friday than they were last time in Buchloe.

"We can't allow ourselves so many bad passes in the build-up, we have to play more simply and finish more accurately in attack," demands coach Franz Steer vehemently.

However, the loss of striker Christof Hradek, who is suspended for a game due to his game misconduct penalty in Buchloe, hurts.

While the use of striker Maximilian Steiner was still questionable, defender Benedikt Dietrich and young striker Felix Wiedenhofer - just turned 18 - are back in the game.

"We're already in the process of preparing for the relegation round, so all the players are going to play," emphasizes Steer.

Next Sunday the ice pirates have to go to Kempten at 5.30 p.m.

It's the catch-up game from November.

As reported, the Swabians had moved the game at the request of ESC Dorfen because the ice pirates were understaffed at the time.

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