Even if there was no medal for the German men’s selection at the European Hockey Championships in Mönchengladbach, that did not dampen the enthusiasm for this sport in the hockey park. Now those responsible and active in the Bundesliga teams are hoping that this enthusiasm will also be reflected in the season that starts this weekend.
Bundesliga team Crefelder HTC offers the best conditions for this next Sunday. Because right at the start at 2 p.m. the German champions Rot-Weiss Köln will be guests. In addition, all Krefeld and interested people from the area get the opportunity to get to know this sport better at the open day and free entry. “We hope that the euphoria that we aroused at the World Cup and two European Championships will also enable us to win over one or the other interested person from another sport,” said Hans-Werner Satori, the Bundesliga club’s new team manager Tuesday at a press briefing.
After the men caused a sensation last year as a climber and return to the upper house of German field hockey and were unlucky to be eliminated in the play-off quarter-finals against Mannheim, the expectation is inevitably high. But sporting director Johannes Schmitz steps on the brakes on euphoria in advance: “Unfortunately, Jonathan Ehling left us for professional reasons, which is a great loss on a sporting and human level. Otherwise the group has remained the same. That’s why my expectations aren’t any lower. We don’t want to have anything to do with the relegation. I trust the team too. The goal of the quarter-finals is now being pushed into the background.” The starting position has changed compared to last year: “We are certainly no longer a promoted team that is neglected and underestimated. The opponents became aware of us because of our strong previous season. But I’m happy that it’s going to be against the champion right at the start.”
There is already a foretaste of the Rhenish duel on Thursday at 7.45 p.m. when the Cologne team are guests at Hüttenallee for the final test. The game was agreed before the Bundesliga schedule was finalized.
National player Niklas Wellen took a break after missing out on a European Championship medal and first had to digest his disappointment: “It’s not that easy to motivate yourself again. But I’ve had that quite a few times in my career. After that I always managed to find a new focus, it comes back. Now I’m happy to be back on the field with the boys.” He too hopes that more spectators will find their way to the Gerd-Wellen-Anlage than the regular crowd: “Here in Krefeld they’re trying to do this with clubs from other countries sports something to push. I think we’re on the right track here.” For him, Cologne remains the top favourite. Behind them are many teams to beat. Mannheim narrowly lost the final against Cologne. We had Mannheim on the brink of defeat and should have won. That was very instructive for us. You can learn a lot from that, especially a group like us. I’m curious to see how some guys deal with it and get new motivation from it. I am sure that we will reach the play-offs again.”
The CHTC women only start the championship season on Thursday in a week’s time with the away game at Bonn’s THV (8.30 p.m.). On Sunday they will play the last friendly of their preparation against DSD Düsseldorf at 3.45 p.m. on Hüttenallee.
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