Emotional DEL start: promoted Dresden without a chance

The Eisbären Berlin have made a furious and emotional start to the new German Ice Hockey League (DEL) season. On Tuesday evening, the German champions won 6:2 (1:0, 2:1, 3:1) against the newly promoted Dresdner Eislöwen. Ty Ronning, Korbinian Geibel, Andreas Eder, Marcel Noebels, Liam Kirk and Blaine Byron scored to give the defending champions and renewed championship favorites a commanding home win.

The emotional highlight of the game was Andreas Eder's first DEL goal in a Eisbären jersey in the 34th minute. The 29-year-old had joined the Eisbären in the summer from EHC Red Bull Munich, for whom his brother Tobias Eder had played until his death from cancer in January of this year.

Eder goal and championship banner provide an emotional highlight

Shortly after this goal, the championship banner from Berlin's title win in the spring was hoisted under the roof of the arena. The championship trophy was adorned with the number 22, which Tobi Eder wore on his jersey. Meanwhile, the 14,200 spectators in the sold-out arena at Ostbahnhof rose from their seats. "This is something very special," said the currently injured Eisbären captain Kai Wissmann on MagentaSport.