Adler Mannheim
CityMannheim, Germany
LeagueDeutsche Eishockey Liga
Founded1938 (1938)
Home arenaSAP Arena
(capacity: 13,600)
ColoursBlue, white, red
     
Owner(s)Die Adler Mannheim Eishockey Spielbetriebs GmbH + Co. KG
General managerDallas Eakins
Head coachDallas Eakins
CaptainDenis Reul
Websiteadler-mannheim.de
Franchise history
1938–1994Mannheimer Eis- und Rollsport-Club (MERC)
1994–todayAdler Mannheim
Championships
Playoff championships8 (1980, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2015, 2019)
Current season

The Adler Mannheim (English: Mannheim Eagles, formerly Mannheimer ERC) is a professional ice hockey team of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest-level ice hockey league in Germany. The team is based in Mannheim, a city in the northern part of Baden-Württemberg. Currently, the team plays at SAP Arena, where they moved to at the beginning of the 2005–06 season after having played at Eisstadion am Friedrichspark for nearly seven decades from 1938 through 2005.[1] They have won the German Championship a total of eight times, seven of those coming after 1994 in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

History

German ice hockey changed significantly with the formation of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 1994. Its growing influence also brought growing independence from the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) which had regulated ice hockey in Germany for many decades.

Pre-DEL era

The first incarnation of the Adler Mannheim was the 'Mannheim Ice and Roller Sport Club' (Mannheimer Eis- und Rollsport-Club or MERC), founded on 19 May 1938. On 19 February 1939, they had their introductory match in the brand new Friedrichspark Stadium. The match against the winner of the German Championship was lost 0–11, but the following seasons were more and more successful. However, due to the ongoing Second World War, it was difficult to play a regular season without some limitations. In 1942, after the Mannheim was qualified for the finals, the proclamation of the total war led to the cancellation of the finals, less than 24 hours before their scheduled beginning.

On 5 June 1943, the Eisstadion am Friedrichspark was destroyed by an air attack on Mannheim. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, it took another four years before the hockey club began playing once again. In the 1951/52 season, Mannheim again had a team to play in a regular team, but it was not very successful. The most successful game in this time was a 10–2 victory against a team of American soldiers based in the Mannheim-area.

Promotion to first division and first German championship

In 1978, the MERC achieved promotion to the first division of Eishockey Bundesliga. In order to be able to set up a team with the limited budget, the MERC and coach Heinz Weisenbach had to get innovative. Weisenbach traveled to North America to search specifically for players with German roots. With Harold Kreis, Manfred "Mannix" Wolf, Roy Roedger and Peter Ascherl, the first "German-Canadians" were transferred into the Eishockey Bundesliga. Additionally, Mannheim acquired the national goalkeeper Erich Weishaupt from the Berliner Schlittschuhclub (Berliner SC). After a sixth place in their debut season, Mannheim strengthened their squad with Ron Andruff and Holger Meitinger and the national players Mannheimer Marcus Kuhl (Cologne) and Peter Obresa (Bad Nauheim). In a complicated tournament mode, from preliminary round, second round and championship round, the MERC would finally win the German championship for the first time. The title win was solidified with a victory in Berlin, and the Mannheim players warmed-up in tailcoats and top hats before their final, inconsequential home game against Cologne EC.

DEL era

Four DEL championships in 5 years

In 1994, the Mannheimer ERC was a founding member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). While the organization of the MERC continues to exist to the present day, the professional hockey team changed its name to Adler Mannheim and was transformed into an independent legal entity called "Die Adler Mannheim Eishockey Spielbetriebs GmbH + Co. KG". The old organization MERC still performs in the amateur and junior sectors, including the successful junior team Jungadler Mannheim ('Mannheim Young Eagles') (DNL).

The first two seasons in the DEL ended in playoff quarter finals, but the following season marked the first full success of the DEL era: the Adler Mannheim swept through the playoffs. With the minimum number of nine games, they won the championship in 1997. After also winning the championships in 1998 and 1999, head coach Lance Nethery and several players left the team.

After a disastrous start to the regular 1999–2000 season, the Adler reached the playoffs again, but were beaten in the quarter-finals again. After that season, head coach Chris Valentine was released and was succeeded by Bill Stewart. In 2000–01, the Adler returned to winning ways with the fourth DEL championship in five years.

In their final season at Friedrichspark, Mannheim native Jochen Hecht (Buffalo Sabres), Cristobal Huet (Montreal Canadiens), Yannick Tremblay (Atlanta Thrashers) and Sven Butenschön (New York Islanders) joined the Adler during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The team made it to the finals, but were defeated by the Eisbären Berlin.

Adler Mannheim game in SAP Arena

Move to SAP Arena and 5th DEL championship

The following season was disastrous. In their new home, the SAP Arena, the team was placed tenth at the end of the regular season. It was the first time in 26 years that the Adler Mannheim had not qualified for the playoffs.

Making several changes ito the team roster, the team celebrated its resurrection in the following 2006–07 season. After winning the German Cup, they finished in first place in the regular season and then won their fifth DEL Championship.

Adler Mannheim and the NHL

On 6 July 2010, the Adler Mannheim competed against the San Jose Sharks in the 2011 NHL Premiere Challenge 2010. German national player Manuel Klinge scored for Mannheim in the 5th minute, San Jose equalized with a goal by Jamie McGinn (54th minute). After Devin Setoguchi scored for San Jose, Mannheim's Jame Pollock scored the equalizer at minute 57. In the shoot-out, it was Dan Boyle who scored with the decisive penalty shot for the Sharks.

In July 2011, Mannheim entered a developmental partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL.[2]

The Adler participated in the 2011 NHL Premiere series, losing to the Buffalo Sabres 8–3. The Sabres (who counted among its players Mannheim native Jochen Hecht) were very well received in Mannheim, and later that season, a contingent of Adler fans traveled to Buffalo and Toronto to witness games hosted by the Sabres and Maple Leafs.[3][4]

During the 2012 NHL lockout, the Adler Mannheim became a popular team for the lockout-players again. The former Mannheim-players Dennis Seidenberg (Boston Bruins) and Marcel Goc (Florida Panthers) joined the team once more. They were followed by Jason Pominville, captain of the Buffalo Sabres and again Jochen Hecht who was a free agent since his injury in early 2012. Hecht signed a contract (with an NHL-Out paragraph) until 2014, but after the lockout came to an end, he was offered a new, one-year contract by the Buffalo Sabres. After the Sabres contract expired, Hecht announced his intention to return to Mannheim to finish his professional career.

6th DEL championship and turbulent times

SAP Arena

On 19 June 2014, Mannheim hired Boston Bruins assistant coach Geoff Ward as their new head coach. After winning the regular season with nine points ahead of the second-placed EHC Red Bull München, the Adler won the quarter-final series against the Nürnberg Ice Tigers 4–1. In the semi-finals, the Adler swept Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg with 4–0 victories – even after being down 0–3 goals in three of the games. In the final, Mannheim finally met ERC Ingolstadt. After a devastating 1–6 loss in the third game with Ingolstadt taking the 2–1 lead in the final series, the Adler turned the series and won all subsequent games. With 4–2 victories, the Adler Mannheim were able to win their sixth DEL championship.

After the 2014–15 season, Ward returned to the NHL[5] and was replaced by Greg Ireland. Ireland was sacked in February 2016,[6] and Craig Woodcroft, who had joined the Adler coaching staff in 2014,[7] was promoted to head coach.[8] Woodcroft failed to guide the Adler squad to the playoffs and left after the 2015–16 season. In May 2016, Sean Simpson was named new head coach.[9]

Successful transition and 7th DEL championship

On 4 December 2017, GM Teal Fowler, head coach Simpson and assistant coach Colin Muller were sacked due to unsatisfactory results. Bill Stewart, who had guided the club to the 2001 DEL title, took over the head coaching job.[10] During the 2017–2018 season, the Adler Mannheim announced Jan-Axel Alavaara as the new GM and Pavel Gross as their new head coach[11] assisted by Mike Pellegrims and Pertti Hasanen.

The Adler finished their regular season 2018–19 at the top of the standings table with a new point average record of 2,23 points per game and won the DEL title 2018–19 defeating EHC Red Bull München 4–1 in the playoff finals. During the summer break, the Adler Mannheim released their long-time team captain Marcus Kink – his successor being NHL veteran and German national player Marcel Goc.[12] Also during the summer break of 2019, Adler Mannheim's rookie defenseman Moritz Seider was drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, sixth overall, by the Detroit Red Wings.[13] Seider was the first German defenseman to be selected in the first round of an NHL Entry Draft, and the fourth-highest German-born player to be selected until Tim Stützle was selected third overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2020 NHL Draft. On 14 July 2019, Seider was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[14] On 27 December 2020, Stützle signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators.[15]

After a poor start to the 2023/24 season, general manager Jan-Axel Alavaara and head coach Johan Lundskog were dismissed mid-season and American former NHL head coach Dallas Eakins was announced as new head coach and general manager on 27 November 2023.[16]

Honours

Domestic

International

  • Lehner Cup
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up: 2017, 2018

Players

Current roster

Updated 30 September, 2023.[17]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
21 Canada Kris Bennett C L 27 2023 Brampton, Ontario, Canada
90 Germany Felix Brückmann G L 33 2020 Breisach, Germany
76 Germany Arkadiusz Dziambor D L 21 2020 Pyskowice, Poland
41 Germany Maximilian Eisenmenger C L 25 2023 Münster, Germany
71 Germany Daniel Fischbuch RW R 30 2023 Bad Friedrichshall, Germany
58 Canada Tyler Gaudet C L 30 2022 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
16 United States Max Gildon D L 24 2023 Houston, Texas, United States
7 Canada John Gilmour D L 30 2023 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
33 Finland Markus Hännikäinen LW L 30 2023 Helsinki, Finland
4 Germany Korbinian Holzer D R 35 2021 München, Germany
11 Germany Taro Jentzsch C R 23 2022 Berlin, Germany
23 Finland Jyrki Jokipakka D L 32 2023 Tampere, Finland
34 Germany Tom Kühnhackl LW L 31 2023 Landshut, Germany
13 Germany Stefan Loibl RW R 27 2022 Straubing, Germany
74 United States Ryan MacInnis C L 27 2022 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
59 Germany Paul Mayer D L 18 2022 Kaufbeuren, Germany
8 Canada Jordan Murray D L 31 2023 Riverview, New Brunswick, Canada
68 Germany Fabrizio Pilu D R 21 2022 Mannheim, Germany
22 Germany Matthias Plachta (A) LW L 32 2016 Freiburg, Germany
29 Germany Denis Reul (C) D R 34 2009 Marktredwitz, Germany
14 Canada Jordan Szwarz (A) RW R 32 2021 Burlington, Ontario, Canada
96 Germany Simon Thiel F L 22 2021 Mannheim, Germany
30 Germany Arno Tiefensee G L 21 2020 Weißwasser, Germany
19 Canada Linden Vey C R 32 2023 Wakaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
89 Germany David Wolf (A) W L 34 2016 Düsseldorf, Germany

Honorable players

Points leaders
Player Seasons Games Goals Assists Points
Christoph Ullmann2003–2008, 2011–2018561135145280
Jochen Hecht1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–2016356105161266
Pavel Gross1994–199922081180261
Dave Tomlinson1996–2002291101159260
Ronny Arendt2005–2017609103154257
Goals
Player Seasons Games Goals
Christoph Ullmann2003–2008, 2011–2018561135
René Corbet2001–2009314130
Jochen Hecht1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–2016356105
Ronny Arendt2005–2017609103
Dave Tomlinson1996–2002291101
Assists
Player Seasons Games Assists
Pavel Gross1994–1999220180
Jochen Hecht1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–2016356161
Dave Tomlinson1996–2002291159
Marcus Kink2004–2019700159
Ronny Arendt2005–2017609154
Most Points in a Single Season
Player Season Games Goals Assists Points
Jan Alston1999–0050314374
Pavel Gross1995–9649294372
Robert Cimetta1995–9650224163
Pavel Gross1994–9542214162
Robert Cimetta1994–9539293160
Most Penalty Minutes
Player Seasons Games PIM
Marcus Kink2004–2019700876
Mike Stevens1998–2002204772
Tomas Martinec2003–2012285696
René Corbet2001–2009314622
Jochen Hecht1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–2016356589
Play-off scoring leaders
Player Seasons Games Goals Assists Points
Jochen Hecht1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–201675253156
Stéphane Richer1995–200264104656
Christoph Ullmann2003–2008, 2011–201886272855
Devin Edgerton2000–200650242953
Dave Tomlinson1996–200260202949

Retired numbers

Adler Mannheim retired numbers
No. Player Position Career No. retirement
2Werner LorenzD1956–196423 November 2012
3Harold KreisD1978–19977 February 1998
10Kurt SeppF1956–196723 November 2012
12Bruno GuttowskiD1955–196423 November 2012
15Marcus KuhlF1979–1982
20René CorbetL2001–20094 October 2011
25Stéphane RicherD1995–20022. September 2005
55Jochen HechtF1994–1998, 2004–2005, 2012–2013, 2013–201623 February 2018
57Ronny ArendtF2005–201723 February 2018
80Robert Müller1G2000–2002, 2006–200722 May 2009
  • 1After his death, the Adler Mannheim, the Kölner Haie and the EHC Klostersee retired his #80. At the beginning of the season 2008–09, his number was retired league-wide by the DEL.

Championship teams

Head coaches

The following list shows all head coaches of Adler Mannheim during the DEL era.

DEL Season records

Adler Mannheim DEL season records
Season Games Won Tie Lost OTW OTL Points Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Rank Playoffs
1994–954429-960641641083Quarter-final loss
1995–965029-1272671951637Quarter-final loss
1996–975035-1051762121231Champion
1997–984826-1633581701454Champion
1998–995224-1657892081823Champion
1999-005627-1964971991815Quarter-final loss
2000–016031-16941152051441Champion
2001–026034-14661201861352Final loss
2002–035225-1683941521294Semi-final loss
2003–045226-1646921511246Quarter-final loss
2004–055223-2135801511506Final loss
2005–065219-26436814815510Did not make playoffs
2006–075229-9681071841471Champion
2007–085624-2084921801746Quarter-final loss
2008–095222-1875851441314Semi-final loss
2009–105623-2247841771779Playoffs Qualifier loss
2010–115220-2075791311377Quarter-final loss
2011–125223-1577901711484Final loss
2012–135230-1633991641251Quarter-final loss
2013–145226-1844901481234Quarter-final loss
2014–155233-14321071731231Champion
2015–165220-2453731381464Playoffs Qualifier loss
2016–175230-12641061831352Quarter-final loss
2017–185221-2263781511495Semi-final loss
2018–195235-8271161941171Champion
2019–205228-12661801321022Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]
2020–213823-58287116711Semi-final loss
2021–225424-19101931651295Semi-final loss
2022–235634-1561991621363Semi-final loss

Affiliated teams

Jungadler Mannheim

The youth performance center of the Adler Mannheim is called "Jungadler Mannheim" (youth eagles). Their under 20 junior team is 16-times national youth champion and record holder. Famous former Jungadler players are e.g. Dominik Kahun (Chicago Blackhawks), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), and Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators).

ERC Mannheimer WildCats

The female contingent of the Mannheimer ERC carries the name "Wild Cats." The most successful period in the WildCats' career was between 1988 and 1994 during which they won three German championships and vice-championships. The Wildcats did not play during the 2005–06 season after four players terminated their contracts. Therefore, they were forced to temporarily withdraw from the league.

References

  1. ↑ Galvin, Tom (3 December 2004). "Mannheim-Major Industrial City on the Neckar" (in German). Tomgalvin.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2006.
  2. ↑ Maple Leafs form partnership with German team to improve development – Winnipeg Free Press
  3. ↑ Kulyk, Andrew (9 February. 2012). The Mannheim fans land in Buffalo Archived 23 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Artvoice. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Pignataro, T. J. (11 February 2012). Across-the-pond hockey Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Buffalo News. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "Fluto Shinzawa | Sunday Hockey Notes: After a year in Germany, Geoff Ward makes his return to NHL coaching ranks – The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  6. ↑ ONLINE, RP (11 February 2016). "DEL: Meister Mannheim trennt sich von Trainer Ireland". RP ONLINE. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  7. ↑ Stefan, Diepold. "Craig Woodcroft". eishockey-online.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "ADLER Mannheim". adler-mannheim.de. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Sean Simpson is the new coach of the Adler Mannheim | Archy De". Archy De. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "Adler trennen sich von Teal Fowler, Sean Simpson und Colin Müller". adler-mannheim.de (in German). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Pavel Gross verlässt die Grizzlys Wolfsburg und wechselt nach Mannheim".
  12. ↑ "Marcel Goc ist neuer Kapitän".
  13. ↑ "Red Wings select defenseman Moritz Seider with sixth overall pick".
  14. ↑ "Seider signs three-year, entry-level contract with Red Wings".
  15. ↑ "Senators sign forward Tim Stuetzle to a three-year, entry-level contract".
  16. ↑ Brooks, Carter (27 November 2023). "Former Jet Dallas Eakins Takes on New Role in Germany". The Hockey News. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Adler Mannheim Mannschaft". Adler Mannheim (in German). 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Deutsche Eishockey Liga beendet Saison vorzeitig". del.org (in German). Retrieved 10 March 2020.
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