Ex-champions Krefeld Pinguine have made their sporting return to the German Ice Hockey League in a duel with the Kassel Huskies. However, it remains to be seen whether the traditional club will exercise its right to promotion. The two-time German champions also won their fourth second league final against the Huskies by a score of 5:2 (0:1, 2:1, 3:0) and thus the DEL2 play-offs. The team of coach Thomas Popiesch achieved the feat of not losing a single game in the entire playoffs.
As second-division champions, the Penguins are eligible for promotion. The Krefeld team also deposited a basic guarantee of 250,000 euros with the DEL before the season, which will be increased to 1.4 million euros in the event of promotion. However, this is precisely the problem with the financial consolidation since relegation in 2022.
Main shareholder Peer Schopp recently described the likelihood of the team joining the DEL as "60:40" on Westdeutscher Rundfunk radio. The club had not responded to official inquiries on the subject by Friday.
The Krefeld team must make a final decision by the deadline for DEL license documents on 17 May. If the Penguins decide not to play, the Dresdner Eislöwen will remain in the first division as a relegated DEL team. The Huskies, on the other hand, are still waiting to return to the German Ice Hockey League following their insolvency in 2010.
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