If the Steinbach Black Wings do not win the “Keller Derby” against the Dornbirn Bulldogs on the Lower Donaulände on Sunday (4.30 p.m., PULS 24 live), the Linz ice hockey cracks will probably no longer need arithmetic games, which will qualify them for the (Pre -) Play-offs (top ten) to deal with. “We know that we have to put in a winning streak one day. I hope that we can catch up,” said Peter Nader, President of the Black Wings, from perseverance.
The Upper Austrians are last, the Vorarlbergers, who lost 6-2 at home against Graz on Thursday, penultimate. Dornbirn’s record since October 17th reads even more terrible than that of the Black Wings: The Bulldogs from the Ländle lost no fewer than 16 of their past 17 matches.
Seen in this light, it is surprising that head coach Kai Suikkanen is still in office. The 62-year-old Finn lives on his earnings, he was the one who led HC Bozen Südtirol from a seemingly hopeless position to the 2017/18 title.
The Black Wings also see an opportunity to find a way out of the crisis with Scandinavian “manpower”. Suikkan’s compatriot Raimo Summanen (59) has been swinging the scepter in Linz since November 23, the desired success has not yet set in. Before yesterday’s home game against Bozen (still in progress when this issue went to press), there were five defeats in a row.
How does Summanen, who will be able to use the Latvian team striker Andris Dzerins again against Dornbirn, get the curve? “We have to play hard and stay out of the penalty box.” (Alex)
Source: Nachrichten
