Former champions Krefeld Pinguine have made their sporting return to the German Ice Hockey League in a duel with the Kassel Huskies. However, it is still unclear whether the traditional club will exercise its right to promotion. The two-time German champion also won the fourth second division final game at the Huskies with a 5:2 (0:1, 2:1, 3:0) and thus the DEL2 playoffs. Coach Thomas Popiesch’s team managed the feat of not losing a single game in the entire playoffs.
“60:40” chance of promotion
As second division champions, the penguins are eligible for promotion. The Krefeld team also deposited a basic guarantee of 250,000 euros with the DEL before the season, which will be increased to 1.4 million euros in the event of promotion. This is exactly the problem with the financial consolidation since the relegation in 2022.
Main shareholder Peer Schopp recently described the probability of joining the DEL as “60:40” on Westdeutscher Rundfunk. The club left official inquiries on the subject unanswered until Friday.
The Krefeld residents must make a final decision by the end of the deadline for DEL license documents on May 17th. If the penguins do without, the Dresden Ice Lions will remain in the first division as a sporting DEL relegated team. The Huskies, in turn, are still waiting to return to the German Ice Hockey League after bankruptcy in 2010.