For the first time ever, a German side is in the final of the Champions Hockey League, as Red Bull Munich take on a formidable opponent in the Frölunda Indians to see who will be crowned this year’s CHL champions.
On 5 February Munich will make their third trip to Sweden in this year’s tournament, after they faced the Malmö Redhawks in both group and knockout round action, and they’ll hope to be at their best against Frölunda next week.
Until this year, Munich had left the competition in the first knockout round in every one of their appearances, but the three times reigning DEL champions have had an impressive CHL campaign, that they will hope will end with another victory.
After finishing second in Group B behind the Redhawks, and head of TPS Turku and Yunost Minsk with a record of four wins and two losses against Malmö and Turku, Munich followed this up with three very close and very impressive matchups in the knockout rounds.
Munich finally win a knockout round series
As Munich entered the knockout rounds for the fourth straight year, they proved to be formidable opponent on their route to the CHL Grand Final.
First up it was EV Zug of Switzerland, and despite trailing 3 – 2 after the first leg, a 37-save shutout and goals from Justin Shugg and Frank Mauer was enough to see Munich through their first knockout test for the first time in the CHL journey to date, becoming the first ever German team to make it to the quarterfinals.
Next it was a rematch against Group B opponents the Malmö Redhawks. The two sides picked up a win each when they met in the group stage and it began the same as Munich took a 2 – 1 win as the hosted the opening leg. They struggled in their last trip to face the Redhawks and while their defensive woe’s continued in their second trip, their offense turned up compared to the 6 – 1 loss they suffered first time out.
Munich fell 2 – 0 behind early on, but Trevor Parkes scored his first of the night later in the first period in what would be a big night for him. The two sides would trade blows through the opening 40 minutes, going into the final period with it tied 4 – 4 on the night, but Munich leading by one overall, but that was cut out late in the third after a spectacular goal from Frederik Storm to force overtime.
After a goal in the first and second period, it was Trevor Parkes playing the hero in the extra period, finishing off a nice rush and a drop pass from John Mitchell to finish his hattrick and send Munich through to the Semi-Final.
"To say farewell with a win in the CHL final would be terrific."Munich's captain Michael Wolf, who will retire at the end of this season
It was Red Bull V Red Bull in the semis as Munich took on Red Bull Salzburg and once again the impressive goaltending returned. Usually a scoreless tie wouldn’t be that exciting, but neither side could light the lamp in the first meeting in what was a fast paced and thrilling opening 60 minutes, making it all to play for in the second leg.
Great send off for retiring Michael Wolf
Earlier this month, Munich captain Michael Wolf announced this will be his last year as the 38-year-old has elected to hang up the skates after a lengthy and successful career that began in the late 1990s. Since then he’s spent his entire career in Germany, playing for Munich since the 2014-15 season, and captaining the side for four of his five years with the side. He’s picked up three DEL championships during his lengthy career, and numerous individual accolades, but a win next week over Frölunda would cap off an incredible career.
“We are in the final of the Champions League. To say farewill with a win would, of course, be terrific.” Wolf said days after announcing his intention to retire.
Munich are once again near the top of the German DEL, and while they have won three titles in a row and have hopes of a fourth, the importance of a CHL victory isn’t lost on the Red Bulls captain. “Of course, all three titles are unforgettable. And I hope that on 5 February another great moment is to come.”
Another MVP performance needed from Trevor Parkes
This years CHL MVP will be announced during the final, and Trevor Parkes made the list of the three finalists along with Milan Gulaš of HC Pilsen and Steve Michalek of Red Bull Salzburg.
In his first year for Munich after two seasons with the Augsburg Panthers, Parkes is enjoying a great season for Red Bull, as well as an impressive CHL debut, coming into the final with 12 points in eight games, including a tournament best nine goals.
While his performances have been impressive, Munich will need him to be firing on all cylinders to compete with the impressive offense of Frölunda which includes the tournaments two leading point scorers in Ryan Lasch (21) and Chay Genoway (15).