Mike Stewart celebrated one of the greatest successes in club history with the Augsburger Panthers. The current situation at AEV does not leave him indifferent even years after his departure.
Mike Stewart coached the Augsburg Panthers for four seasons on the bench at the Curt Frenzel Stadium. With 3rd place in 2019, a sensational playoff semi-final against Munich and entry into the Champions Hockey League, one of the greatest successes in the almost 145-year history of the AEV goes to his account. This triumph and his open, engaging nature ensure that “Stewy” is still very popular in the Fugger town today. Last Sunday, the 50-year-old ice hockey coach and his new team from Wolfsburg made a guest appearance in the Schleifgraben, perhaps for the last time. The situation at AEV is catastrophic. While Stewart is fighting with the Grizzlies for direct playoff entry, the only thing that matters to his former club is not to be relegated directly. This doesn’t leave “Iron Mike” cold either:
“I’m in Wolfsburg, I’m a grizzly through and through, but I’m sorry, really. I know what a great job is being done behind the scenes. From Stef, from Daniel, from Moni, from the partners, from Balu and Teddy, supervisors, physios, everyone. Beamer (note: sports manager Moeser) I mean, we were all here together, you know that they are all passionately involved. I find it a pity. Sport is cruel, unfortunately this is an example of that.”
But sport is often the result of development. Since his departure four years ago, five coaches have tried or are trying to keep the Panthers on track, without success. After a catastrophic season with 35 defeats from 47 games so far, the AEV is second to last in the DEL table. The last remaining goal is not to slip to last place to avoid direct relegation to the House of Commons. Since Sunday evening, the lead over bottom team Bietigheim has only been 7 points with nine games remaining. It’s going to be a tough mission. When saying goodbye on the team bus, Stewart still had good words for his old companions: “Cheer up, even if it’s difficult. We will see each other again” Let’s hope for soon and in league 1.
Tonight (7.30 p.m.) against Frankfurt, the Augsburg Panthers have the chance to at least have hope with a home win. Then it would be called trembling. The table-14. As is well known, has to wait for the master of the DEL2, only when it is clear whether this is called Kassel, Krefeld or Dresden is it clear whether two teams have to take the bitter path.
