Four days before Christmas Eve starts for that
Grizzlys Wolfsburg
the real season in the northern season, which was divided into two parts this season
German ice hockey league
(DEL). On Sunday, December 20th, they start with a home game against the Krefeld Penguins. Three days earlier, the Cologne versus Düsseldorf derby opens the 2020/21 season, in which up to and including March 19, only the 24 games within each regional season will be played. The 14 interconference games against the teams in the parallel relay will follow, but have not yet been scheduled.
On Thursday, the DEL published the first part of the schedule. The grizzlies play their 24 group games within 88 days and rarely in the tried and tested Friday / Sunday rhythm. As is currently the case in
Magenta-Sport-Cup
is played almost every day. The DEL schedule does not even provide for any appointments on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s. Otherwise, one to three encounters take place daily.
8:30 p.m. games scheduled
Biggest change: If there is more than one match on weekdays, there will be a 6.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. start. At a later date, the games with overtime will usually only end after 11 p.m. According to the previous schedule, the grizzlies only start eight times at 8.30 p.m.
They play most often on Sunday (8 games), least often on Saturday (0). The further distribution is: Monday (2), Tuesday (5), Wednesday (4), Thursday (2) and Friday (2). The Wolfsburg schedule does not provide for more than two home or away games in a row. Curious: the away games in Berlin follow one another (February 23 and March 1).
Travel distances initially reduced
“The DEL schedule committee, made up of representatives from all 14 clubs, made a conscious decision to only play games within the respective group, especially in the winter months. The reduction of travel kilometers and hotel accommodation should help to minimize the risk of infection within the teams. The 14 games against the teams from the other group will be scheduled later, ”the league announced on its homepage (www.penny-del.org).
DEL managing director
Gernot Tripcke
was satisfied with the planning. “The anticipation can already be felt. A derby at the start of the new season is particularly attractive for fans of both clubs. The ice hockey fans should benefit from the game plan, there is ice hockey non-stop. There will be a total of 22 games by the turn of the year, ”he said.
No criticism from Wolfsburg
Also for grizzly captains
Sebastian Furchner
the new rhythm should take some getting used to. But in view of the difficult situation in Corona times, not a word of criticism escapes his lips. On the contrary: “It’s an extraordinary season in which we all have to adapt. The league made the best of it and there is ice hockey on TV every day for fans. That’s great, ”he said. He also accepted the late 8:30 p.m. appointments without complaint. “When the game is played is of secondary importance. The main thing is that it is played. ”
However, the teams have to adapt quickly. Because: “You have to be ready from the start in every game and ignore everything else around it. Even if it will be difficult sometimes. But the focus on the game will be crucial, ”he said, referring to the play-off goal.
The mode
As is well known, the 2020/21 Corona season will be played in the following mode: There are two sevens seasons, one in the north and one in the south. In their own season, a team plays two home and two away games against each opponent (a total of 24 games). This is followed by a home and an away match against each of the seven teams of the parallel relay (14 games). As a result, the main round consists of 38 matches for each club.
The grouping is as follows. Wolfsburg, Bremerhaven, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Krefeld and Iserlohn play in the north. Ingolstadt, Mannheim, Munich, Straubing, Augsburg, Schwenningen and Nuremberg compete in the south.
The play-off plans
Currently, best-of-3 series are planned for the play-offs from the quarter-finals to the finals. Should the corona infection rate allow it in spring, the series could be extended before the start. The best four in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, which will still be played within the group (first against fourth and second against third). In the semifinals, it continues across groups in crossover mode. The finals should start on May 7th.
The grizzly game plan at a glance:
Sunday, December 20th, 7.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Krefeld
Tuesday, December 22nd, 8.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Berlin
Sunday, December 27th, 5 p.m .:
Iserlohn – Grizzlys
Tuesday, December 29th, 6.30 p.m .:
Grizzlies – Cologne
Sunday, January 3rd, 5 p.m .:
Düsseldorf – Grizzlys
Wednesday, January 6th, 6.30 p.m .:
Bremerhaven – Grizzlys
Wednesday, January 13th, 6.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Düsseldorf
Friday, January 15th, 6.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Iserlohn
Wednesday, January 20, 8:30 p.m .:
Krefeld – Grizzlys
Sunday, January 24th, 2.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Bremerhaven
Friday, January 29th, 6.30 p.m .:
Cologne – grizzlies
Sunday, January 31, 5 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Berlin
Tuesday, February 2nd, 6.30 p.m .:
Cologne – Wolfsburg
Sunday, February 7th, 5 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Bremerhaven
Sunday, February 14th, 7.30 p.m .:
Krefeld – Wolfsburg
Tuesday, February 16, 8:30 p.m .:
Düsseldorf – Grizzlys
Thursday, February 18, 6.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Iserlohn
Tuesday, February 23, 8:30 p.m .:
Berlin – Grizzlys
Monday, March 1st, 8.30 p.m .:
Berlin – Grizzlys
Thursday, March 4th, 8.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Krefeld
Sunday, March 7th, 5 p.m .:
Bremerhaven – Grizzlys
Friday, March 12th, 8.30 p.m .:
Grizzlies – Cologne
Monday, March 15th, 6.30 p.m .:
Iserlohn – Grizzlys
Wednesday, March 17th, 8.30 p.m .:
Grizzlys – Düsseldorf
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