The polar bear have failed. For the third Time in a row at RB in Munich – to the semi-finals, the finals are now in the quarter-finals. But Berliners are not bounced off only in a last, almost overpowering opponents, there is also the quality that you had made over the years to the all-dominant club in the German hockey League (DEL). And the not now have clubs such as Munich or Mannheim, which are the polar bears only financially ahead.

In the past six seasons since the last championship in 2013 in Berlin have managed just twice the direct qualification for the Play-offs. For a DEL record Champions this is an almost scary balance sheet. Other great clubs in this time, several breaks, the polar bears were, and are, however, for years for the constancy of personnel. That was a long time a kind of award in the fast-paced ice hockey of the industry, in the short contracts for players and coaches of the rule. Now, however, you do not wish the polar bears a bit more courage in the squad planning, the Team of last season was title ripe – even if the didn’t want to have the authorities in Berlin long ago.

“We have time now and will consider. Next season we want to have a better team,“ said General Manager Peter John Lee on Friday evening after the 3:4-defeat in the sixth quarter-final against RB Munich, which sealed the end of the season, the polar bears. Trainer-sports Director Stéphane Richer announced that they wanted to put the Berliners in the coming days and weeks. So far, only one of which is Richer, according to clear: “This was definitely my last game as a coach.”

he Who follows him, is not officially decided yet. Serge Aubin is the New, as it had reported the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” on Thursday evening, said Richer to the “rumor”. Lee was at least a little more precise and said: “There are two, three candidates, and as we must look.” The coach is a construction site, another is located in the centre of the team. The Golden German Born in ’85, has lost its luster.

For the Post of Coach, there are “two, three candidates,”

Together 35 games missed André Rankel, Frank Hördler and Florian Busch in this season due to injury, Jens Baxmann had a space at the end only on the stands for a tribe and will leave the club very probably. “There are always changes,” said Lee a little nebulous. The termination of contracts, he would not confirm, however. In any case, it will be in the coming days, individual conversations with all the players. Of the foreign professionals, only three currently have a contract for next season. However, Colin Smith, Mark Olver, have a German passport and non-import players. Sure just seems that Leonhard Pföderl from Nuremberg, Germany goes to Berlin, the 25-Year-old has scored in this season alone, almost as many goals (19) as the ‘ 85 Berlin (24).

The polar bears will be happy to advise you on behind closed doors. That is your right, however, it has to come out more than just the standard set this season: “If you almost always have seven people, is the simple reality,” said Lee. In the case of captain Rankel, the same issue of sound on Friday in a similar way: “The injuries have put us completely out of rhythm.” And Richer, at least in this one point, already finished with the analysis: “We have had many difficult phases. But when we were complete again, we have shown quality and character,“ he said.

Certainly, The polar bears, the entire crew are better than it says ninth place after the main round. But injuries are part of the business, especially in hockey. And the recent past has shown that in the case of the Berliners either always a lot of bad luck in this regard or you simply have constantly made the same mistakes.

Constant well, only the Fans that gave the polar bears, despite poor performances in this season and the worst home record since time immemorial, still in first place in the DEL-spectators table were last updated. “It’s good to be you even after such a season to be celebrated,” said André Rankel on Friday evening, when it was all over.

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polar bear season in 60 minutes

Jörg Leopold

fail then, but at Munich The goal for the future, Peter John Lee outline a little later: “We try to always come in the Top Four. It stays that way.“ In view of the enthusiastic environment in Berlin, which is only logical. And that the Fans will forgive a lot, they have proven this season. Now, club management and team. Thus, the Failure against Munich come to an end.