As of: December 21, 2023 10:16 p.m
The Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven remain the surprise team in the German Ice Hockey League. On Thursday evening, the Seehafenstadt champions beat EHC Munich 2-1 after a penalty shootout, once again proving that they are serious contenders for the title this season. However, the joy of the successful series is clouded by the unclear future of coach Thomas Popiesch.
Ziga Jeglic converted the decisive penalty for the Pinguins and caused the Bremerhaven ice arena to shake. It was the first win for the North Germans in the third comparison this season with Munich. Ross Mauermann had previously equalized the early 0-1 deficit in the 47th minute. Austin Ortega scored the goal for the guests after just 18 (!) seconds.
Despite the success, the Seehafenstädter lost the league lead to the Eisbären Berlin, who celebrated a 6:5 (2:1,3:2,1:2) win against the Augsburger Panthers and received two three points, while Bremerhaven got two had to be content with just a few points and fell back to second place due to a poorer goal difference.
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Penguins may be facing a new beginning this summer
However, the Bremerhaven team can live well with the loss of the top position, as the club with one of the smallest DEL budgets is once again causing astonishment in ice hockey Germany. “Our budget does not reflect the position in the table,” explained team manager Alfred Prey. Although things are almost never going well in terms of sport in Seestadt, the club will probably face major challenges in the summer. Because Prey will be withdrawing from sporting responsibility after 32 years, coach Popiesch is said to be planning a move to the Krefeld Pinguins from the DEL2 after almost eight years.
A departure of the 58-year-old would have a serious impact on the club. Popiesch, who came to Bremerhaven from the Dresdner Eislöwen in 2016, led the North Germans to the play-offs seven times in seven DEL years. The Penguins reached the quarterfinals six times.
Coach Popiesch remains silent about his future plans
Coach Thomas Popiesch’s future with the Penguins is uncertain.
Personal reasons should be the deciding factor for a coach to change. Ms. Andrea comes from Krefeld and the couple has built a house on the Lower Rhine. The GDR refugee, who spent four years in prison in 1982 after a failed escape attempt, also played for Krefelder EV, the predecessor of the Krefeld Pinguine, from 1991 to 1993. “Basically, we know that every coach or everyone in sport will have their time at some point,” said the 58-year-old in an interview with “buten un binnen”.
He did not want to comment in more detail on the rumors about his departure in the summer: “Everything we say about it now is not in the right direction. I have a contract here and I am very satisfied. That is the case right now moment is.” At the coach’s request, the club “put a muzzle on the issue,” said Prey. Ex-national player Alexander Sulzer is considered a possible successor for Popiesch. The former NHL professional is currently assistant coach of the Piguins and also on national coach Harold Kreis’ team.
Established in the DEL thanks to clever personnel policy
Along with Popiesch, Prey is the guarantee for sporting success. The 69-year-old brought in numerous unknown professionals from Austria, Slovenia or Denmark, while the more wealthy competition looked in North America or the top leagues. Despite prominent departures, the Penguins coach turned this into a play-off candidate year after year. When it came to competition, Bremerhaven’s approach was not without controversy. The number of German players required by the DEL was achieved with young professionals, usually with little ice time, or long-time DEL veterans with dual citizenship.
There are currently three national players in the North German squad: Lukas Kälble, Nicolas Appendino and goalkeeper Maximilian Franzreb. “It shows that we are doing a good job for the national team,” said Prey.
Team manager Prey resigns to the second tier
The team manager will hand over sporting responsibility after the season and take care of administrative tasks. There is already a successor: Ex-national player and former Bremerhaven professional Sebastian Furchner will strengthen the Pinguins’ management from January 1, 2024 and replace Prey as sports director in April. “He’s a person who’s like me,” Prey said.
But before that there should be a happy ending. Bremerhaven has a direct entry into the play-off quarter-finals. This time, however, the round of the last eight should not be the final destination for the surprise team of the previous season. “I have certain dreams,” explained Prey and emphasized: “I won’t betray them. I think everyone can imagine what I’m talking about.”
VIDEO: Fischtown Pinguins win – Popiesch’s future still open (3 min)
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NDR 2 Sport | 12/21/2023 | 11:03 p.m
2023-12-21 22:49:50
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