The Opel HBL season kicks off with a midweek match. SG Flensburg-Handewitt is hoping to pick up its fifth and sixth points on Saturday against HC Erlangen. Tip-off at the GGW Arena is at 7 p.m.
HC Erlangen was on a roll in the first half of the season, even snatching a point from SC Magdeburg and building a nice cushion above the relegation zone. In the second half of the season, however, they managed only two wins and six points, leaving the Franconians just barely above the dreaded relegation line. This time around, the goal is to secure more wins and, above all, avoid relegation with greater confidence. “We want to continue to stabilize and aim a little higher again,” explains HCE sports manager Ole Rahmel. When the team introduced itself to its fans at Schlossplatz in mid-August, there were three new faces in the mix. French goalkeeper Rubens Pierre signed with Erlangen boasting the best save percentage in the French league. Together with Algerian Khalifa Ghedbane and Croatian Tin Herceg, he will form an illustrious trio of goalkeepers. Two backcourt players—Milos Kos and Antonio Metzner—have left the team. However, this duo appears to have been adequately replaced. Eloy Morante Maldonado, who played for league rival Bergischer HC last season, is seen as a rising star. Frieder Bandlow comes from HSG Nordhorn-Lingen and earned the title of “best right backcourt player in the second division” last season.
Injury Concerns and Youth Development
It was somewhat problematic that coach Johannes Sellin never had the full roster at his disposal during the entire preseason. Viggo Kristjansson, in particular, was absent throughout. The Icelandic left-hander, who will join SG Flensburg-Handewitt for the upcoming season, had to undergo surgery about three months ago due to cartilage damage in his knee. His availability in the far north remains uncertain. Things are looking much better for Marek Nissen at the moment. The Flensburg native played for the SG youth team until 2020 and scored no fewer than 131 goals last season. HC Erlangen has a strong youth development program and consistently promotes its own players to the professional roster. For example, 19-year-old left-hander Maxsim Lochman scored seven goals in the successful cup match in Hanau. Among the experienced key players are Norwegian playmaker Sander Överjordet, Icelandic backcourt ace Andri Mar Runarsson, all-around player Christoph Steinert, left wing Christopher Bissel, and pivot players Sebastian Firnhaber and Maciej Gebala.
