Mannheimer HC hosts the climax of the extended German season with the final four playing out this weekend for both the men’s and women’s competitions.
All games will be broadcast live via the club’s highly impressive media team which can be seen on www.twitch.tv/trops4
And Mannheim are hoping they can push for double glory with the women facing Rot-Weiss Köln in their semi-final while the men are up against Uhlenhorst Mülheim.
As a statement of intent, they have re-signed internationals Teo Hinrichs and Linus Müller on extended contracts while Spanish player Clara Badia Bogner has lengthened her spell with the women’s team.
Her side had the third best record from the regular season before outdoing Berliner HC in the semi-final series. Rot-Weiss, meanwhile, had the fifth best record but overcame the seeding system to beat UHC Hamburg in a high quality meeting.
The first semi is a showdown between recent rivals Düsseldorfer HC and Der Club an der Alster, the clubs who had the best results before the playoffs.
For Alster, they have won nine successive games in 2021 while Düsseldorf also have perfect series in this calendar year, making this a huge contest.
In the men’s semi-finals, Rot-Weiss Köln begin against Berliner HC for whom this will be a farewell weekend for club legend Martin Häner who confirmed he will step down from playing.
“I wanted to quit when the club was in a good position and no longer played against relegation,” said the 2012 Olympic champion. “We are now very professional and have an outstanding coach in Rein van Eijk and Aditya Pasarakonda a very good consultant.”
Berlin are in strong form with nine wins from their last 10 games, knocking out UHC Hamburg last weekend.
Reigning champions Uhlenhorst Mülheim face Mannheim in the second semi-final at 7pm.
Schedule (times CET)
Women
Saturday, May 8, semi-finals: Düsseldorfer HC v Der Club an der Alster, 10am; Mannheimer HC v Rot-Weiss Köln, 1pm
Sunday, May 9: final, 1pm
Men
Saturday, May 8, semi-finals: Rot-Weiss Köln v Berliner HC, 4pm; Uhlenhorst Mülheim v Mannheimer HC, 7pm
Sunday, May 9: final, 4pm