Eislöwen secure DEL professional Alec McCrea for the ascent!

Eislöwen secure DEL professional Alec McCrea for the ascent!

Dresden, Deutschland - The Dresden Eislöwen are ready to start the new season of German ice hockey league (DEL) . The ice lions stay for just eight weeks to prepare for their debut in the highest German ice hockey play. A key player in her new squad will be Alec McCrea, who changes from Düsseldorfer eG to the Eislöwen.

The 30-year-old defender not only brings an impressive height of 1.91 meters and a weight of 94 kilograms, but also valuable experience from 192 DEL games. During his time at the Iserlohn Roosters and Düsseldorfer eG, McCrea was able to shine both on the offensive and on the defensive. Sports director Matthias Roos rates him as a physically strong defender who has internalized the North American style of play. "He will not only strengthen our defensive, but also provide stability," said Roos.

a change with foresight

McCrea now comes to the ice lions at a time when the team is looking for a solid top performer. Although he relegated to the DEL2 with Düsseldorf in 2024, with this change, he spares the walk to second class. "I look forward to the challenge in Dresden and the ambitions of the association," said McCrea enthusiastically about his transfer.

His previous DEL era was characterized by light and shadow. During his first two years in Düsseldorf, he achieved plus-minus values of +21 and +12. In the last season, however, this value noticed -6, which clearly reflects the difficulties of the DEG. McCrea hopes to be able to build on previous services in Dresden to celebrate success together with his new team.

anticipation for the season

The anticipation for the new season is noticeable in the Eislöwen. The opening game against the Eisbären Berlin Eisbären is already a highlight. The tickets were sold out within just 30 minutes. On January 10th, the winter game is also on the program, where the seat cards were quickly out of print and only standing room tickets are available. The Dresden football arena, with a capacity of 30,000 spectators, promises exciting atmosphere for ice hockey fans.

A look at the competition shows that other DEL teams are also active. The Iserlohn Roosters signed Daniel Fischbuch from the Adler Mannheim, and the Augsburg Panther secured Alexandre Grenier, the top scorer of Cologne. How the various transfers will have in the long term remains to be seen, but the ice lions seem well equipped with the blessing of Roos and McCrea for the coming season.

The new DEL season is just around the corner and the Dresden Eislöwen hope to offer their fans exciting and entertaining games. The time of preparations, transfers and strategic considerations is in full swing, and the pressure on the players could hardly be greater.