“Totally surprised and confused”
Two DEL professionals have to leave the field in the middle of the game
03/03/2022, 3:15 p.m
The German ice hockey league experienced a curiosity in the game between Nuremberg and Bietigheim. In the middle of the game, two professionals have to leave the field – because the Corona test laboratory reports. Two teams are currently completely in quarantine, the playoff qualification is becoming a calculation game.
When the first third was running, two Nuremberg players were suddenly missing. Ryan Stoa and Daniel Schmölz were not allowed back on the ice because they had just received positive PCR test results. The Ice Tigers were “completely surprised, completely confused,” reported sports director Stefan Ustorf after the 5-1 defeat of the Bietigheim Steelers at MagentaSport: “Both are completely healthy.”
The club had carried out quick tests in the morning, “the whole team was negative,” said Ustorf: “And suddenly the laboratory comes in the first third and says: The two have to go.” According to the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), the PCR tests were voluntary tests by Nuremberg. According to the amended Corona protocol, which has been in force since February 1, such tests are only mandatory for players who have not been recently vaccinated, recently recovered or boosted.
Particularly bitter for the Ice Tigers: With the short-term absence of the duo, they were missing eight players, “of course it’s difficult to compensate,” said Ustorf. Even if the restrictions are falling nationwide – the corona pandemic is still influencing the sporting decisions in the DEL. And in the end, the points quotient could decide on play-off participation and relegation.
Not all games can be made up
The league office now estimates the number of corona cases this season to be around 120, “all teams were affected,” said game manager Jörg von Ameln. The Schwenninger Wild Wings are currently in quarantine after a corona outbreak, the weekend games against Krefeld and Düsseldorf were canceled. The Augsburg Panthers have now reported their 22nd Corona case and are also not able to play.
“We have to assume that we won’t be able to make up about five games,” said DEL Managing Director Gernot Tripcke. This means: At the end of the main round, the table will be incomplete. “Then the point average decides who gets into the playoffs or who gets relegated,” said Tripcke: “Of course it’s not ideal, but that’s exactly why this rating was introduced. It was decided unanimously before the season, everyone knew it could happen.”
Ingolstadt is currently in sixth place, which leads straight into the quarter-finals – 0.003 points ahead of seventh. Bietigheim in tenth – and thus still in the pre-play-offs – has at least 0.02 points ahead of eleventh. Schwenningen and Iserlohn, both at risk of relegation, are separated by 0.005 points. “Favourite” for the first sporting relegation from the DEL in 15 years are the Krefeld Pinguine, who are 0.107 points – and thus comparatively clearly – behind the penultimate Kölner Haie. However, they still have six more games to play – and six more chances to score.