A Season Opener with Ups and Downs – Crocodiles Take Two Points from the Hamburg Derby

What a start to the new season! Two games, almost 2,200 spectators and plenty of emotion: The Crocodiles Hamburg began their new campaign with a bitter defeat against ECW Sande followed by a dramatic city derby against HSV. In the end, the Crocodiles came away with two important points – but above all, one thing became clear: This team never gives up!

Bitter Start Against ECW Sande

In front of an impressive crowd of 1,224 spectators, the fans eagerly awaited the start of the new season. The long preseason was finally over and points were once again on the line.

The Crocodiles got off to a good start and were rewarded in the 13th minute when Jakub Hofmann gave Hamburg a 1–0 lead. The team played with plenty of energy and determination to get the season off to a winning start.

But Sande responded in the second period. In the 24th minute, Jache converted on the power play to make it 1–1. The Crocodiles were not discouraged and regained the lead in the 35th minute when Maksym Andriienko scored to make it 2–1.

Unfortunately, the game turned in favour of the visitors in the final period. Romppanen equalised on another power play in the 41st minute to make it 2–2. Just three minutes later, Piskunovs gave Sande a 3–2 lead.

The Crocodiles battled until the final seconds in search of an equaliser, but in the 56th minute Romppanen scored his second goal of the game to seal the 4–2 victory for Sande.

Despite the defeat, the team showed that it is ready to give everything for the new season.

Crocodiles Hamburg – ECW Sande 2–4 (1–0, 1–1, 0–3)
Goals: Hofmann, Andriienko

Hamburg Derby in Farmsen – Drama All the Way to the Shootout

Just two days later, the first major highlight of the season was already on the schedule: the Hamburg derby against HSV. This time, the Crocodiles were officially the away team, with the game taking place in front of almost 1,000 spectators at Eisland Farmsen.

The derby atmosphere was there from the very beginning. The fans created an intense atmosphere, while on the ice a game developed that could hardly have been more exciting.

HSV got off to the better start. In the sixth minute, Oskar Siradze opened the scoring on the power play to give HSV an early 1–0 lead.

The Crocodiles remained composed and fought their way back into the game in the second period. In the 34th minute, Leo Prüßner scored on the power play to level the game at 1–1.

Just two minutes later, the Crocodiles completely turned the game around: Maksym Andriienko scored in the 36th minute to give Hamburg a 2–1 lead.

In the 41st minute, Pascal Heitmann added another power-play goal to make it 3–1 for the Crocodiles.

The derby now developed into an end-to-end battle. In the 57th minute, Oskar Siradze scored his second goal of the game to bring HSV back to within one at 3–2.

Only moments later, also in the 57th minute, HSV found the equaliser. Richter scored to make it 3–3 and send the derby into overtime.

Decision in the Shootout

Overtime failed to produce a winner. Neither team managed to score the decisive goal, meaning the derby had to be settled in a shootout.

And that was where Max Kotrba became the match-winner!

With the decisive shootout goal, he secured the victory for the Crocodiles. After the game had finished 3–3 in regulation, the Crocodiles took two points from the Hamburg derby.

The season has only just begun. But one thing is already clear:

This team has character. This team fights. And this team is ready to give everything for the Crocodiles!

(AG)