The ice hockey professionals of the Grizzlys Wolfsburg got off to a good start into the new year, winning 5: 4 in overtime at Düsseldorfer EG – but had to worry about the next failure after Mathis Olimb’s return: Spencer Machacek immediately got himself Start of the game injured, did not return for the rest of the game
display
The guest appearance at DEG was just three minutes old when Machacek was injured. In a situation that occurs dozens of times in every game: Düsseldorf defender Kyle Cumiskey played a build-up pass from his own third, Machacek completed his check – and was hit on the thigh by Cumiskey’s skate. The result: a cut close to the hip that had to be sewn. “Spencer didn’t even know how that happened. The pants are actually above this point,” says Grizzlys manager Charly Fliegauf. “The wound was sewn in the hall.”
–
After the return of Olimb, who had been absent with a facial injury since the season opener against the Krefeld Pinguine, is there another failure in the already sparse Wolfsburg squad? Fliegauf gives the all-clear: “It’s not that tragic, the cut was not very deep. I assume that Spencer can play against Bremerhaven on Wednesday – and if it’s not enough, then in the game.” Machacek first wants to see in Tuesday training whether he is fit for the game against the Fischtown Pinguins (Wednesday, 6.30 p.m.).
Do young grizzlies have to be quarantined?
Probably not yet for the Bremerhaven game, but for the duels afterwards the Grizzlys can fall back on their U20 national players: Steven Raabe and Jan Nijenhuis will be expected back home after the quarter-final against Russia on Tuesday. “If you come from an international tournament, you don’t have to be in quarantine, but we are in contact with the health department,” says Fliegauf, who has words of praise for the youngsters: “You did your job well. I was particularly impressed glad that Jan got his job. ” Nijenhuis had tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Edmonton, the subsequent quarantine prevented missions before the quarter-finals.
Captain Sebastian Furchner and defender Dominik Bittner are still injured, but Furchner is aiming for a return in mid-January. After his heart muscle inflammation, Janik Möser expects the test results on January 11th, which could give the green light for a return to training.
First victory in almost three years in Düsseldorf
In the meantime, the grizzlies are on the right track. Fliegauf said of the Düsseldorf game: “That was pretty decent. We had a difficult phase in the second period in which we received the goals too cheaply, but the power play worked well.” Also in extra time, in which a direct decrease from Garrett Festerling meant the victory goal.
Fliegauf: “The shot was spot on. I can’t remember when we last won in Düsseldorf before that.” It was almost three years ago – on January 28, 2018 Wolfsburg won 7: 4 in the ISS Dome. The goal scorers back then: Mark Voakes, Alexander Weiß (2), Gerrit Fauser, Furchner, Tyson Mulock and Philip Riefers. Incidentally, Machacek had made it 2-1 for Düsseldorf, the Canadian then switched to the Grizzlys after the season.
–
