PENNY DEL Preview: EHC Red Bull Munich hosts the Augsburger Panthers

Thursday, 17. October 2024 | PENNY DEL Preview: EHC Red Bull Munich hosts the Augsburger Panthers

First derby in the SAP Garden: Red Bulls host Augsburger PanthersStudent Hockey Night on Friday – a few tickets still available// DEL - PREVIEWEHC Red Bull Munich against the Augsburger Panthers – this duel is always a fiery one. On Friday at 7:30 p.m., the two teams will face each other for the first time this DEL season. It is the derby premiere in the SAP Garden.

There are still a few tickets left for the cracker against the Fuggerstädter (live on MagentaSport, Sportdeutschland.TV and on our blog). Attention students, trainees and pupils over the age of 18: You only pay 20 euros for a seat ticket - and can celebrate afterwards with free entry to "Call me Drella" and the "089 Bar". The Student Hockey Night makes it possible!

The Red Bulls go into the derby with a tailwind after their strong performance last Sunday in Bremerhaven (5:4 a. P.). Two Munich players had a special reason to celebrate: Tobias Rieder scored his first brace in the DEL and Max Kaltenhauser celebrated a successful debut as interim coach. The clash against the Augsburger Panthers will be their first home derby in the German Ice Hockey League.

"I know that these are very important games for the fans. We'll do everything we can to give the fans derby victories," announced Kaltenhauser in our extensive interview on Wednesday and emphasized ahead of his home debut: "All I care about next Friday is that we beat Augsburg."

Highlights: Pinguins Bremerhaven vs. EHC Red Bull München (13.10.2024)

Kastner: "Every one of us wants to win the derby on Friday"

Maximilian Kastner has considerably more Augsburg experience. The German international forward will face the Panthers for the 34th time in the DEL on Friday. "Kasti" knows how important this duel is: "The fans expect a lot from us. But we also expect a lot from ourselves. Everyone wants to win the derby on Friday. And we also want to take revenge for last season." Because the Red Bulls only won the first of four duels.

Before the home game on Friday, an important note to all fans: We strongly recommend traveling to and from the game with the integrated MVV ticket. Due to another event at the Olympiapark, long waiting times are to be expected when leaving the Parkharfe. Information on how to get to the SAP Garden with the MVV can be found here.

A day for the history books! Documentation of the Grand Opening Game

A lot of change for the Panthers

Despite the derby successes, the Augsburg Panthers could not be satisfied with the past season. They finished the main round in last place. The reaction to this was a major shake-up with changes in important positions.

New sporting director Larry Mitchell overhauled the squad and new coach Ted Dent was tasked with developing the players. He was most recently manager and coach of the Flint Firebirds in Canada's top junior league, the OHL. Augsburg is Dent's first stop outside North America.

Major shake-up in the defense

The team has also undergone a major shake-up. After two years with a German goalkeeper tandem, the Panthers signed a foreign number one: the choice fell on the US-American Strauss Mann. The Olympic and World Championship participant last played for the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL.

In defense, the AEV is relying on five new players - including long-time Mannheim resident Dennis Reul and Canadians Nolan Zajac (Grizzlys Wolfsburg) and Thomas Schemitsch (Eisbären Berlin). Schemitsch is the Panthers' top scorer with four goals, while Zajac had a five-point game as a defenseman.

New additions create euphoria

A breath of fresh air is also blowing in the offense. New signings include Cody Kunyk (Löwen Frankfurt) and Riley Damiani (Calgary Wranglers, AHL). The two Canadians have fit in brilliantly and lead the scoring list ahead of Anrei Hakulinen. The best AEV scorer of last season extended his contract despite offers from other clubs. A good sign. Added to this are results such as the 6-2 win at reigning champions Eisbären Berlin. The start to the season is impressive with 14 points in nine games. The euphoria is back at the Augsburg Panthers.

DEL record against Augsburger Panther

Wins: 41

Defeats: 22

Winning percentage: 65 percent

Goal difference: 208:151

Last game: RBM vs AEV 4-5

Last ten games: S S S S S S S N N N

Last ten home games: S S S S N S S S S S S S N