For Uwe Krupp come full circle. In the 2013/2014 season he played for the last time a play-off series. At that time, he lost the final of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) as manager of the Kölner Haie. Nearly two years later, Krupp is the Eisbären Berlin for the first time in the final round of the championship. As luck would have it, the Cologne Sharks are now starting Tuesday in the quarterfinals (19:30, Arena am Ostbahnhof) first opponent on the way to the title.
It is an explosive duel, especially for Krupp , But from this explosive wants the know nothing. He, who was born in Cologne, who as a player was champion with the sharks twice and led as manager in two DEL Finals says: “These are all facts from the past. But that is now in the background, because I am coach of Eisbären Berlin “Krupp moves according to the motto:. Just say what the enemy could possibly motivate addition nothing. Although, an advantage has it then but that he so well versed in Cologne: “If our team bus on the way to the hall had a breakdown, I know how we get there anyway.” A saying about the 50-year-old self laughs.
Uwe Krupp has again made the polar bear in the past few months a top team. The main round have the Berlin finished in second place, ahead of the season that the team had not have expected so many experts. Among Krupp new team spirit has developed, which is now to bear fruit. Marcel Noebels even sees an advantage for the series against Cologne in the chemistry in the team. “Sometimes proposes character quality,” says the Berlin striker. Personnel namely Cologne are at least as good, however, the season of the sharks was anything as desired. Really stable, the team never presented even after the coaching exchange of Niklas Sundblad to Cory Clouston be alternated good and less good performances. Only – unlike before – the good case predominated. This was in the pre-play-offs of the case, as the Kölner their two home games against Mannheim won, away but clearly lost.
“Of course frictions”
” Traditionally, a team that comes from such a series, better rhythm, “not only believes Uwe Krupp. The Cologne even hoping for, especially in the first 20 minutes on Tuesday an advantage against an opponent who last had eight game-free days. However, it is believed Krupp, his players were well adjusted to Cologne and wanted to prevent, if possible, to be surprised early. Especially when it comes to intensity the polar bears need hand holding from the beginning, because the loud Captain André Rankel in the play-offs “twice. Since ice is for every centimeter fought and because you so often play against the same opponent, of course there are frictions. “That makes then but everything is” twice as much fun. “
Whether it’s fun having to compete against the former assistant coach Mark Mahon, who is now director of sport in Cologne? “Of course, he knows our players well how crucial will be the one can cope tailors itself afterward,” says Krupp. Contact it would last no longer exists between the former colleagues, the other day while away the polar bears in Cologne one but amiably shook hands. Explosiveness? Wrong!
And the big picture? Can the polar bears after two disappointing years possibly even again be master and Krupp in order to celebrate his first title as a coach? Is that what it particularly drives? Krupp says: “We want to try to be among the teams that have a say a word for the title.” May be dreamed of course, and the players do the same. “I’ve seen here seven titles were celebrated. I also want to experience at least once, “says Marcel Noebels
But first things first -.. And not rush ahead too far, please
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