– Almost all the top artists are live with the Ice Tigers. Gradually, sports director Stefan Ustorf attracted young, promising and experienced players to the club. Only the signature of the most important and prominent Nuremberg professional ice hockey player was still missing – as of this weekend. Now the playoffs can start.

On Friday evening it was as it often was at Nuremberg and as it should always be: the Ice Tigers flew over the ice, dominated, performed magic, missed opportunities, got themselves into trouble and hit their opponents. brought back in the game. And then the captain came. Patrick Reimer converted the decisive penalty against Augsburg in 3:2. Eventually, over 4000 spectators in the arena reacted appropriately. There should not have been a loud noise in any sports hall when masks were mandatory.

It was one of those moments when no one could have imagined that the number 17 guy would no longer be able to play for the Ice Tigers, neither the fans, nor the players – and perhaps not even Patrick Reimer. Three days later, the club announced that the Bavarians would also play ice hockey at Nuremberg for the eleventh season.

Sporting director Stefan Ustorf said: “We are very pleased that Patrick has decided to continue his unique career for another season. Patrick’s contribution to our positive development cannot be overstated.” “His performance on the ice and his character in the dressing room are a primary building block for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers.”

Silver Hero, Record Player

The people involved let there be no doubt about this development. In early December, Reimer candidly answered questions about his future. And sporting director Stefan Ustorf didn’t make the mistake of questioning the captain’s position. Why? Nevertheless, the process continued until the short break between everyday ice hockey and the start of the best time of year. Reimer is said to have signed a new contract only over the weekend. So why did it take so long? “Time doesn’t matter,” Reimer said on Monday. “Both the club and I always knew we would continue to work together. And now I’m just glad it worked out. I feel very comfortable and I look forward to another season, of course now What is it like to focus on something elsewhere.”

On Tuesday (7.30 pm) the Ice Tigers will welcome Düsseldorfer EG, the second DEL club whose jerseys were long worn by Reamer, the first of a maximum of three games in the first playoff round. In eight seasons with DEG, he evolved from first a talented but lean second division hunter to a top performer and then a national team player. Reimer led Germany as captain and made the greatest success possible in German ice hockey with his winning goal in the quarter-finals against Sweden. Reimer has held an Olympic silver medal since February 2018 in Pyeongchang. From November 24, 2021, he has been allowed to call himself a record player. His 1-0 at 3-2 at Krefeld was also his 797th scorer point in the DEL, his template for the winning goal of 798. On the all-time record list, he caught up with another DEG legend, Daniel Kreutzer, and overtook him. His 1000th DEL game took place shortly after.

just stay out of the penalty box

They meet again on Tuesday: Reimer on the ice, Kreutzer behind the gang. In Düsseldorf you have to play the first week of the playoffs without a head coach. A family emergency forced Harold Kreis to travel to Canada. The likeable German-Canadians were also absent from the previous meeting. With Kreutzer and Thomas Dolak, DEG took all three points from Nuremberg. The 2-1 was just one of four wins against the Ice Tigers – in four games.

Reimer is still “positive that we can win the series – if we play our game. We didn’t manage it against Düsseldorf in the regular season, for whatever reason. Düsseldorf are a hardworking team, but they also have to deal with their problems.” At the end of the season. But the clocks will be reset. I think we have developed very well and will definitely go into the games with a lot of confidence. It will be important that we stay away from the penalty box – But otherwise I’m not worried that we won’t decide the series for ourselves.”

Six points from four matches

The penalty box hasn’t worked out very well lately – which is why Reimer should have been in demand after a long winter injury. But he was able to prove that he was fully operational again. He has scored three times in the last four matches and has scored three other goals for Nuremberg. “I like it.” You can see and hear it.