When EHC Red Bull Munich hits the home ice on Wednesday, one or the other Munich player will probably have memories that he would have liked to have done without. The guests in Munich’s Olympic ice rink (7.30 p.m.) are the Eisbären Berlin, against whom the Munich team lost out in the last playoff final. Almost five months ago, the EHC players had to watch the polar bears celebrate in the Munich hall.
The fact that the Berliners have lifted the championship trophy of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) in the past two seasons rankles the makers of the EHC. That’s why Munich’s manager Christian Winkler announced before the start of the season that they wanted to “drive the Berliners out of there”. In order to put this into practice, the EHC strengthened itself in all parts of the team. Andreas Eder and Chris DeSousa were brought in up front, and Mathias Niederberger in goal, on which the Munich team failed in the lost playoff final. And in order to polish up the defense, Winkler signed a player who can set offensive and defensive accents: the 33-year-old American Ryan McKiernan.
Above all, McKiernan was brought in because over the past two seasons he has enjoyed what has been sorely missed in Munich for more than four years: the feeling of lifting a trophy. In 2021 he secured the DEL championship with the polar bears and was so formative that he was named the most valuable player in the playoffs at the time. In 2022 he was crowned Champions Hockey League winner with Rögle BK. The Munich team also have their sights set on this title after participating in a final and semi-final in recent years.
So it’s fitting when McKiernan says he wants to bring the “know how to be successful” to the table. The 33-year-old repeats several times that there are some players in the Munich squad who can show a successful professional resume. But he also indicates that he is firmly convinced that he can do something more: “I think I can take it to a new level.” Winkler is also convinced of this. The EHC manager identified McKiernan as having a “certain winning gene” that “you need in the end.” Sweden, Germany, Austria – McKiernan has already won titles in all his professional leagues.
McKiernan, despite being new, already has the most power play ice time at the EHC
Although McKiernan has only been in Munich for a few weeks, the tectonics in the EHC defense have already shifted. His arrival has changed the profile of other EHC defenders who have long worn the Munich jersey. Konrad Abeltshauser, who was also responsible for the offensive department among the defenders in recent years, now says that goals are no longer necessarily expected from him because “we have very talented offensive defenders”. His game has changed in such a way that he no longer takes as many risks to create an offensive “because there are others for that now”. One of them is Ryan McKiernan.
The language talent – McKiernan speaks German, French and Swedish in addition to English – is behind Zach Redmond, the reigning DEL Defender of the Year, the Munich defender with the most ice time (almost 19 minutes per game). His hard shot found its way into the goal in the 6-0 derby win against Augsburg. How big the role of a player is in the Munich squad, which is peppered with talented players, can be seen wonderfully by the number of minutes played in the majority. And McKiernan, despite being new, already has the most power play ice time at the EHC. The right-hand shooter directs the majority game from the blue line.
But McKiernan is said to be more than just a prolific defender. Winkler describes him as “uncomfortable” for opposing players due to his physical playing style. This rating has accompanied the American since his time in Austria: At that time, Innsbruck coach Rob Pallin described him as “mean”. McKiernan was regarded in Austria as a master of the Trashtalks – and as one of the most hated players in the league. He himself says: “I’m at my best when I can play aggressively.”
According to McKiernan’s understanding, the EHC, which is probably number one in the league in terms of squad depth this season, should not only shine with playful elements, but also with physique. Combining talent with toughness, “that should become our identity,” he says. The champion Berlin is an excellent touchstone for whether this identity has already been found at the early stage of the season. McKiernan and Niederberger, the two former polar bears, have a long-term plan for this season: “We are both determined to create something special here,” says McKiernan. Something the polar bears have managed to do over the past two seasons.
