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Löwen Frankfurt start the new DEL season with an apple wine ritual!
The 2025/26 DEL season begins on September 11th with the Löwen Frankfurt game against the Wolfsburg Grizzlys, which is sure to provide excitement.
Löwen Frankfurt start the new DEL season with an apple wine ritual!
The anticipation for the new season in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) is palpable, as the Löwen Frankfurt are starting their 32nd season with fresh enthusiasm. On Friday, September 11, 2025, the first opponent in the home stadium will be the Wolfsburg Grizzlys. At 7:30 p.m. the puck light will be illuminated for the first time this season. Loud fnp.de The team prepared well, even if the results in pre-season did not quite meet expectations.
A traditional ritual was able to be carried out despite a recent flu epidemic: the baptism of new players with apple cider. New captain Maksim Matushkin and deputy captain Daniel Pfaffengut are optimistic that the team's new guidelines, implemented under assistant coach Emil Rasmussen, will lead to a successful season. These include more puck possession, a more stable defense and fewer penalty times.
Change of face in the dugout
There was also a notable change in the coaching bench: Jan Barta, the previous assistant coach, was promoted to the new sports director and thus takes on the role of head coach. It remains to be seen how his strategic ideas will affect the course of the season.
The team has received further reinforcements with new additions such as Matthew Wedman and Michael Joyaux in order to improve existing deficits. “We are doing everything we can to ensure we stay in the league and do better than last year,” said Barta. The club's total budget currently stands at around nine million euros, which provides a solid foundation.
The first games at a glance
The first games of the season are crucial for the team's rhythm. After the home game against the Grizzlys, the following exciting encounters await the Lions:
| Date | opponent | time |
|---|---|---|
| 09/12/2025 | Wolfsburg | 7:30 p.m |
| September 14, 2025 | Straubing | 7:00 p.m |
| September 18, 2025 | Dresden Ice Lions | 7:30 p.m |
| September 21, 2025 | Schwenningen | 4:30 p.m |
| September 26, 2025 | Nuremberg | 7:30 p.m |
The 2025/26 DEL season offers a total of 52 main round games for each team, spread over a double round in the league consisting of 14 teams. The defending champions from last season are the Eisbären Berlin, who won the 2025 playoff final against the Kölner Haie 4-1 Wikipedia reported. The Lions' main goal remains clear: to reach the playoffs and avoid relegation.
Some players may have to sit out for health reasons. Jakob Lilja could be out for the weekend while Nathan Burns and Sebastian Cimmermann are injured. Kevin Bicker now plays in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted him two years ago.
An interview with head coach Tom Rowe and sports director Jan Barta will be published in a supplement on September 11th. The excitement is rising and fans can look forward to an exciting year of ice hockey!