Kölner Haie

A look at history

In the summer of 1972, the ice hockey division of Kölner EK separated from its parent club to become an independent entity. The founding of Kölner EC (KEC) provided greater decision-making freedom and better financial resources. The name "Kölner EC" was later complemented by "Die Haie" ("The Sharks"), a symbol that has since become the club's trademark. In their inaugural 1972/73 season, the Haie achieved promotion to the Bundesliga. Despite early struggles and internal challenges, they secured their first championship in 1977. This success was followed by a mix of ups and downs, including a golden era from 1983 to 1988, when they won multiple German championships. Over the years, the Haie established themselves as one of Germany's strongest teams, dominating the league for extended periods, though they often faced financial difficulties and internal crises.

The 1990s brought both triumphs and setbacks. Following the establishment of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 1994, the Haie celebrated their first DEL championship but were unable to defend the title in subsequent years. Even with the move to the state-of-the-art LANXESS Arena, consistent success eluded them, despite high-profile players and coaches. The KEC faced numerous transitions and financial challenges but remains a cornerstone of German ice hockey.

Review of the previous season

The 2023/24 season for the Kölner Haie began on a promising note. A strong preseason and a solid start to the regular season sparked hopes among fans for a successful and enduring campaign. Backed by the financial support of stakeholders and sponsors, the roster composition raised expectations: with reinforcements like Andrej Šustr and Tobias Ancicka, alongside an impressive offense featuring players such as Louis-Marc Aubry and Maximilian Kammerer, the goal was clear—the championship. However, despite this promising setup, the Haie fell significantly short of these high expectations during the regular season.

Consistency was a recurring issue, with the team unable to string together a sustained winning streak. The injury to Andreas Thuresson, a key player in the power play, coupled with chaotic line combinations, exacerbated the challenges. Particularly painful were a crushing 1–7 defeat to Düsseldorfer EG and a disastrous 0–5 loss to Wolfsburg, results that ultimately cost the team a playoff spot.

Despite these disappointments, there were bright spots. The Haie set a new European attendance record, averaging 16,993 fans per game, and Justin Schütz emerged as a standout player, becoming the DEL’s top scorer. However, their playoff run ended prematurely with an early exit in the pre-playoffs against ERC Ingolstadt.

Overall, it was a season marked by too many setbacks, leaving the team far from meeting the high expectations set at its outset.