After the compulsory break due to injury, the Rockets are back in action in the Oberliga Nord. On Friday (January 20th) it’s off to the Moskitos Essen, on Sunday (January 22nd) the EG Diez – Limburg awaits the Krefelder EV in the Diezer Eissporthalle.
Limburg-Diez. The personnel situation at the EGDL has eased somewhat, the recovery process for the injured players is underway, but it is still too early to forecast the composition of the squad for the weekend. “Things are looking a little better again,” said interim coach Arno Loesch, relieved. “The players are gradually coming back, we now have to see who is ready for action at the weekend. The time factor certainly plays a role.”
The Moskitos from Essen are chasing the goals they have set themselves, but recently managed to surprise with a home win against the Saale Bulls Halle. After the team of the new coach Danny Albrecht originally aimed for at least one place in the pre-playoffs, they are currently only 13th in the table with 35 points. Due to the disappointing course of the season so far, not only has there been a reaction to the coaching position, but four new players have also been signed in Maximilian Herz, Devon Daniels, Maksim Anton and Artjom Alexandrov. Sam Coatta after a short guest appearance, Stephan Kreuzmann, Damian Schneider and Raphael Palmeira-Kerkhoff, however, left the club.
“The first of two trend-setting games this weekend is on Friday,” said Lörsch before the encounter with the Mosquitoes. “It’s relatively tight in the bottom third of the table, so every point counts. Things are certainly not going well at Essen so far, but the team has some quality to show for it. There is already a lot of experience on the ice in the front two rows with the Bruijsten brothers, Alexey Dmitriew, Robin Slanina, Enrico Saccomani and Marc Zajic.”
On Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Diez ice rink there will be the third meeting with Krefeld EV. The Rockets won the first two games 4:2 and 4:3. The bottom of the table, who started the season weakly, has recently shown improving form and landed some unexpected victories against opponents who were rated much better. From the KEV team, the top scorer Adrian Grygiel, who is extremely dangerous in the power play, deserves special mention. The longtime DEL player has been involved in 14 out of 22 outnumbered goals. But Martin Schymainski, Martin Benes, Edwin Schitz and Aaron Mc Leod are always good for a goal.
“Krefeld is always a piñata,” says Arno Lörsch about the people from Seidenstadt. “You never know exactly with which squad they will compete. When they are at their best, they can pose a threat to almost any team in the league, but now and again there are sensitive defeats away from home. In both games we should look less at our opponents and focus on our own strengths. In such games that take place at eye level, it will be decisive who wants to win more. We have to find our way into the game through the fight and play so-called simple hockey.” (PM)
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