It’s done: With the 3-0 win in the 5th game against EHC Munich, the small ice hockey club from Bremerhaven is now playing for the German championship for the first time.
At 9:49 p.m. there was no stopping in the sold-out Bremerhaven ice arena – neither in the stands with the fans nor on the ice with the professionals. Everywhere people lay blissfully in each other’s arms. The cheers in the hall exploded. The small ice hockey club from the North Sea actually made it and is in the final of the play-offs for the first time in the club’s history.
On the other hand, heads were hanging at EHC Munich, despite a very committed and strong-willed performance, the reigning German champions were no longer able to turn things around in this exciting semi-final series. Defending the title is a thing of the past.
I don’t know how to put this into words. This city breathes and lives ice hockey. It’s going to be an amazing final series.
(Penguins-Generalmanager Alfred Prey bei Magenta-TV)
Urbas redeems the penguins
The Munich team had to admit defeat with 0:3 in the fifth game and so it was 4:1 for the Fischtown Pinguins, who had converted their first match puck. And now the Bremerhaven team, who sensationally won the main round of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), can play for the championship title for the first time. Opponents in the final series are either the Eisbären Berlin or the Straubing Tigers.
Captain Jan Urbas gave the Fischtown Pinguins an important 1-0 lead.
For a long time on Tuesday evening the puck didn’t want to go into the net, neither on one side nor the other. But then captain Jan Urbas relieved the trembling Pinguins fans in the 32nd minute with a 1-0 goal into the far corner. However, it remained competitive and the people of Bremerhaven were far from feeling safe.
Heiko Neugebauer, Sportschau, April 9th, 2024 10:44 p.m
Double strike from Bruggisser
Munich continued to apply pressure in the final third, but Markus Eisenschmid was denied by the crossbar (36th minute). Philipp Bruggisser made it 2-0 for the Pinguins in the 51st minute.
The Munich team couldn’t even take advantage of being twice outnumbered three minutes before the end. Bruggisser finally pushed the puck into the empty net in the 59th minute to make it 3-0 – and thus started the Penguins party. “We deserve it,” said Urbas on Magenta TV, “we played a great series. Everyone gave it their all. Now we’ll get it.”
