SC Riessersee meets the Hanover Scorpions in the second game of the playoff quarter-final series of the ice hockey league today.
The veteran Uli Maurer cannot be there again.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen –
The day before the first quarter-final home game against the Hannover Scorpions: SC Riessersee's official training session has just ended, coach Pat Cortina has retired to his office, most of the team is in the shower or still working hard in the gym .
The ice in the Olympic Ice Sports Center is largely deserted.
On the one hand, Robin Soudek is playing with his daughter, but on the other hand, work is still going on.
Assistant coach Anton Raubal pushes one puck after the other over to Marlon Wolf, who works on his goal finish in an extra shift.
That is also necessary, because Wolf is one of the young players at SC Riessersee who have recently disappeared quite a bit.
SCR youngsters hardly make it onto the scoreboard
On October 28, 2022, the daily newspaper headlined: "The young SCR wave".
At this point, the trio of Wolf, Sebastian Cimmerman and Luca Allavena caught the eye.
The trio was bursting with energy during this phase of the season and together they knew how to inspire fans like the coach.
But from the middle of the season things became quieter for the young Riessersee players.
Allavena was repurposed as a defender and the established forces stole the show from the others on offense.
Basically, it's no wonder, given that it's hard to assume consistency at this age.
In addition, Lubor Dibelka and Co. were not brought in without reason.
But the youngsters have almost completely been swallowed up by the shadow of the veterans.
They barely made it onto the scorerboard in 2023, and almost never in the playoffs.
“In the playoffs, you need more continuity.
But the young players cannot keep their focus for more than 60 minutes.”
Pat Cortina
An explanation in two senses is that the youngsters get significantly less ice time in the playoffs, so they naturally have fewer opportunities to score a goal or play the decisive pass.
At the same time, the shorter ice age is also a result of previous achievements.
Cortina would certainly rely more on Wolf and Co. if he were sure that they would deliver consistently.
“In the playoffs, you need more continuity.
But the young players cannot keep their focus for more than 60 minutes.
When something isn't working the way they want it, they start skipping steps.
And then they get into trouble because of it,” explains the coach.
At the same time, he knows that these points are not unusual, even if he complains that the youngsters' preparations are a bit too loose.
you still find out
who they are.
That is part of the development – and Cortina is quite happy with it.
Because he knows: "Routineers are called that because of their routine."
Experienced deliver, but Maurer is missing
And that's what really matters in a phase like the playoffs.
So far, you can also rely on the experienced.
Robin Soudek has already collected twelve points, Dibelka eleven.
Kevin Slezak continues to swim well on their wave of success – four goals, two assists.
In fourth place is someone who was sorely missed in the first game in Hanover and who cannot play in game number two either: Uli Maurer.
The veteran continues to struggle with his lower body injury, which he sustained in training on Sunday.
SCR hopes for many spectators against Hannover
So the same SCR squad is asking the Scorpions to dance today.
That's exactly what this playoff series is for Cortina, a dance, a beautiful one at that.
"If you like to dance, then you want to dance with someone who can do it too." And the Lower Saxony can do that - to the enthusiasm of the trainer.
"They force us to show our best." And the best possible SCR is also required to defeat the northern champion.
Not much was missing in the first duel.
According to Cortina, more duel strength is needed in front of the two goals.
But not only the team should make up for the missing percentage points, but also the spectators - as in game one against Hamburg.
“The fans were incredible there.
I hope many will come again against Hannover." That's not enough for Pana Christakakis, the managing director wishes that "everyone who cares about SCR
come to the stadium".
The crowds in the stands can make all the difference.
"Like every single change," emphasizes Cortina, also having the young guard in mind.
