Polar bears and foxes: Talent factory on the ice celebrates 10 years of success!

Polar bears and foxes: Talent factory on the ice celebrates 10 years of success!

A special chapter in German ice hockey is being continued: The Lausitzer Füchse and the Eisbären Berlin are extending their successful cooperation, which now looks back on an impressive ten years. At a time when injury problems are the order of the day for the Eisbären, the cooperation is becoming more and more intensive. Jens Baxmann, former Eisbären player and now sporting director of the Lausitzer Füchse, is in constant contact with Eisbären sports director Stéphane Richer. Together they do everything they can to specifically train the young talents in both clubs and bring them up to DEL level.

What does that mean specifically? This cooperation is particularly important for the development of young players. Players who don't get much ice time in the DEL have the opportunity to prove themselves with the Füchsen. Lennart Neiße, for example, trains with the Eisbären during the week and then plays for the Foxes on the weekend. Baxmann emphasizes that the cooperation also benefits from the financial resources of the polar bears, which benefits the foxes. This partnership aims to prepare talented athletes for their great careers.

The next steps in ice hockey

The continuation of the partnership has been enthusiastically received by both sides. “The targeted promotion of young ice hockey talent is the focus of our collaboration,” said Baxmann, while Richer emphasized the importance of this development for the Eisbären. In the coming 2025/26 season, several promising players will be given sponsorship licenses, including goalkeeper Lennart Neiße and defenders Moritz Kretzschmar and Norwin Panocha. Strikers Eric Hördler, Maxim Schäfer and Matej Leden are also included in the list.

In addition, the German Ice Hockey League 2 (DEL2) is adjusting its guidelines for talent promotion. With the newly introduced regulations, DEL sponsored license players can now be distributed more freely between the clubs. The aim of these adjustments is to promote young German ice hockey talent even more effectively. Particularly pleasing for the Lausitzer Füchse: The minimum age for the sponsorship license will be lowered to U23 from this season. An excellent opportunity for aspiring players to prove themselves in the DEL2.

A look at the squad planning

The Lausitzer Füchse have positioned themselves strongly for the new season. Your squad consists of experienced players and young talents who are starting the new challenge together. The goalkeepers Anthony Morrone and Pascal Seidel, complemented by the licensed player Lennart Neiße, form the backbone of the team. In the storm, the Foxes rely on a mixture of routine and fresh wind. The defense is well positioned with professionals like Tim Sezemsky and Eric Hjorth to successfully overcome the challenges of the season.

"Baxmann remains loyal to the Eisbären and is often at the games in Berlin. His optimistic view of the start of the season is infectious," it continues. The anticipation for the new season is great, and the Eisbären are confident that they can bring a strong team onto the ice despite the current challenges caused by injuries. With the support of the Foxes, this could herald an exciting chapter in German ice hockey not only for the players, but also for the fans.

Overall, it is clear that the partnership between the Lausitzer Füchsen and the Eisbären Berlin is an important pillar for the development of young talent in German ice hockey and will remain an exciting topic next season. Further information about the cooperation can be found under the relevant links: RBB24, Lusatian foxes and DEL2.