Copyright: Herbert Bucco
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Congratulations! The Kölner Haie are celebrating their 50th birthday. So there will be some celebrations for the club and fans over the next few days.
It’s hard to imagine the German ice hockey landscape and Cologne without them: The Kölner Haie are more than a club. On Wednesday (August 10, 2022) the KEC celebrated its 50th birthday, the founding date was August 10, 1972.
Now we celebrate! The club has put together a big program for its legends and its fans. The Kölner Haie are about to have a real party weekend! An anniversary jersey was also presented for the birthday.
Kölner Haie celebrate their 50th birthday: fan festival and gala in the Flora
EXPRESS.de gives an overview of the celebrations for the great shark anniversary.
On Friday (12 August) there will be a big fan festival at the Tanzbrunnen. There will be a party from 6 p.m. Numerous shark legends from five decades will be there, such as Detlef Langemann, Hans Zach, Andreas Pokorny, Andreas Lupzig, Andi Renz, Udo Kießling or Hardy Nilsson and Peppi Heiss. Of course, the current coach Uwe Krupp is also there.
The trainer on his best Haie moments: “Of course, my best Haie memories include the two championships that I won as a player. That was unforgettable. But also the two vice championships later as a coach are something special. Of course it was ‘bittersweet’ at first, but in retrospect the fact that we had a great season with strong playoffs is more important.”
Krupp also reveals a secret from his KEC youth: “I associate 50 years of KEC with being there from the beginning. I saw the old players from back then, like the ‘Langemann’, play themselves. Before the games I sold the game program booklets on Lentstrasse.” Krupp’s sensational Haie path: from booklet seller to professional, German champion, NHL star, Stanley Cup winner and now KEC trainer.
That’s how the big fan festival of the Kölner Haie goes on Friday
- Doors open at 5 p.m., admission is free
- 6 p.m.: Start of the program
- 6.10 p.m.: 45-minute live concert by Bläck Fööss
- 6.55 p.m.: Talk with numerous shark legends
- 19.05: Talk with Haie-Fanprojekt
- 7.10pm: Miljö live concert
- 7.30 p.m.: Presentation of the Haie team 2022/23
- 20.05: Legends and current professionals mingle with the fans
- 10 p.m. finale
On Saturday it will be a little more festive. After the shirt-sleeved party at the Tanzbrunnen, a birthday gala takes place in the Flora. Numerous invited guests from business, city society, Haie partners and sponsors celebrate with legends of the club.
On Wednesday, the anniversary jersey was also presented. The third jersey for the new 2022/23 season is very classy in black and gold. The original shark can be seen on the chest. A 50 is also emblazoned on the chest. The chic outfit was presented by three Haie generations: Detlef Langemann (75), the current captain Moritz Müller (35) and KEC talent Niklas Lunemann (20).