The tension was palpable in the CHG-Arena as the Ravensburg Towerstars faced off against the Dresdner Eislöwen in the decisive seventh game of the DEL2 playoff final on April 29, 2025. The stakes were high, not just for the teams but also for the Düsseldorfer EG, who were watching closely, hoping for a Ravensburg victory to keep their hopes alive for remaining in the top tier of German ice hockey.
Since their 3:2 loss to Augsburg on the 52nd matchday, the Düsseldorfer EG had been marked for relegation, finishing the season tied on points with Augsburg at the bottom of the table. Rick Amann, a defender and financial expert for the DEG, expressed the club's focus on planning for life in the DEL2, stating, "We are primarily planning for the DEL2, as we have been relegated there. This is being done in close consultation with the shareholders and has priority." However, Amann also acknowledged a glimmer of hope, mentioning the possibility that a team in DEL2 might not apply for a license, allowing DEG to remain in the DEL.
As the playoff final unfolded, the Towerstars had a chance to fulfill that hope. They had fought valiantly, clawing back from a 1-3 series deficit to force a deciding game against the Eislöwen. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, filled with anticipation from fans who were eager to see if Ravensburg could pull off a victory that would benefit the historical club from Düsseldorf.
The game began with both teams trading chances, but neither could find the back of the net in the first period, which ended in a 0-0 stalemate. The Towerstars came out strong, pushing hard for a goal, but the Eislöwen's defense held firm. However, in the second period, the tide began to turn as Dresden's Bruno Riedl scored the first goal of the night, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Travis Turnbull.
Ravensburg responded with determination. In the third period, they equalized when Julian Eichinger set up Czarnik, who scored during a power play, sending the crowd into a frenzy. With the score tied at 1-1, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. The Towerstars continued to press for a second goal, but time was running out, and the game headed into overtime.
In the overtime period, the Eislöwen seized the moment. Tomas Sykora scored the decisive goal, sealing the victory for Dresden and securing their promotion to the DEL. The final score was 2-1 in favor of the Eislöwen, who celebrated their championship win and ascension to the top tier of German ice hockey.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, the Towerstars had an impressive playoff run, drawing in approximately 30,000 spectators throughout their home games. Marius Riedel, the sporting director of the Towerstars, praised his team's efforts, saying, "It was brutal what the team and the coaches accomplished, how they managed to come back time and again." However, injuries to key players Fabian Dietz and Leonhard Korus, who missed the showdown, were felt deeply during this critical match.
As the dust settles on this thrilling playoff final, the fate of the Düsseldorfer EG hangs in the balance. With the Ravensburg Towerstars unable to secure their own promotion, the possibility remains that the DEG could find a lifeline to stay in the DEL. The coming weeks will be crucial as the ice hockey landscape in Germany shifts, with the repercussions of this final game rippling through the leagues.
As the season concludes, the story of the DEL2 playoff final will be remembered not just for the Eislöwen's triumph but also for its implications on the future of the Düsseldorfer EG. The hope of staying in the DEL now rests on the outcomes of administrative decisions and the performance of teams in the lower division, keeping the excitement alive for fans of the sport.
