EHC Red Bull München: The Red Bulls' difference makers

Saturday, 06. July 2024 | EHC Red Bull München: The Red Bulls' difference makers

The fine art: scoring without neglecting the defensePart 3 of our crunchtime player series: The difference players// NEWSYasin Ehliz, Trevor Parkes and Chris DeSousa can make the difference in close games. They are the scorers in the EHC Red Bull München squad. Each of them knows the way to the opponent's goal - and chooses different routes.

One point per game is a magic mark for scorers. Anyone who cracks it will end up high up the scoring charts. Ehliz achieved this in his outstanding 2022/23 season with 60 points in 56 main round games. The reward was individual awards. Our number 42 was voted best forward and even best player of that DEL season.

"Of course you're happy about that," admits Ehliz. But he was most pleased about winning his first German championship. Because despite his scoring qualities, Ehliz is a team player. Success with the team and a good connection to his teammates are important to him: "You can only shine in teams that harmonize well. You can't make it without good partners." If these are right, Ehliz stands out.

Defensive mindset

Ehliz also has strong teammates in the national team. In the DEB team, he is just as capable of shining in the decisive moments as he is with the Red Bulls. As he did at the recent World Championship in the Czech Republic. Ehliz made eight appearances and scored nine times. No German player was involved in more goals.

Eisenschmid, Parkes & Co.: A selection of goals from our attackers | DEL season 2023/24

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Ehliz can score and set up goals. He has produced particularly well in recent years when he has played in an attacking formation with an all-rounder and a goalscorer. He never neglects his defensive work. "First of all, we all have to work back. When we have the puck, we can then be creative. That's our mindset," says Ehliz.

Balance is more important than individual statistics. Standing out as a scorer with this mindset is doubly difficult. Added to this is the philosophy of four strong lines: "We don't have as much ice time in Munich as in other clubs because we want to roll through with four lines." And yet he, DeSousa and Parkes still put up strong figures year after year.

The eternal Parkes

Ehliz often goes head-to-head with Parkes. Unlike Ehliz, the Canadian is a thoroughbred goal scorer. In five of his eight DEL seasons, he scored at least 22 goals in the main round. He was twice DEL top scorer.

Parkes is now 33 years old, but is still one of the best DEL forwards when it comes to finishing close to goal. In his "office", i.e. the area directly in front of the opponent's goal, nobody can fool him. He scored 128 goals in six seasons for the Red Bulls. This makes him the best DEL goalscorer in the club's history - just ahead of Ehliz.

Hard-hitting and ruthless DeSousa

Parkes' compatriot DeSousa is entering his third season with the Red Bulls. The powerhouse has already left his mark. He became champion in his very first season - and he played a not inconsiderable part in that. DeSousa can shoot hard and without hesitation, but can also set up his teammates. Like Ehliz, he combines the ability to score and set up goals. The Red Bulls are also among the title contenders every season because they have several difference-makers - players like Ehliz, Parkes and DeSousa.