EHC Red Bull Munich started the new season of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) with a bitter bankruptcy.
In the opening game of the 29th DEL season, the favorite for the title lost 6-3 (1-1, 0-2, 2-3) at the Kölner Haie.
In front of 13,177 spectators on Thursday, the early lead by Andreas Eder (4th minute) and national keeper Mathias Niederberger was of no use to the guests.
The newcomer from champions Eisbären Berlin then conceded two goals each from Maximilian Kammerer (16'/33') and Marc-Louis Aubry (39'/47') and another goal from Brad Austin (48').
At Jon Matsumoto's sixth Cologne goal (57th), Niederberger had already left the ice in favor of another field player.
Patrick Hager (51st) and Austin Ortega (59th) only shortened for Munich.
The EHC started without the suspended former international Yannic Seidenberg.
In the past few days, a result of a training doping control that deviated from the norm had been published for the 38-year-old.
Seidenberg and Munich do not want to comment further on the case for the time being.
Coach Don Jackson's team, who will be on the fence for the 1000th time in DEL in the prestige duel against Adler Mannheim on Sunday, is one of the big favorites for the title.
Most recently, the EHC was German champion in 2018.
The Haie also have great ambitions in a league that is expected to be very even this season and want to get past the playoff quarterfinals like last season if possible.
Overall, clubs and the league are hoping for the first trouble-free season since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.