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The Baden Bruins, an Army hockey team playing in Die Players Liga, a local German league, return once again to the Division I finals. Last season, the Bruins left empty handed as their American rivals, the KMC Eagles, took top honors.
The DPL is the largest non-official hockey league in Germany. With 24 ice hockey teams and three divisions, the DPL is quite competitive at all levels.
The top division in the league, where both the Baden Bruins and KMC Eagles I compete, consists of eight very evenly matched teams. A few players in Division I have played as high as the German 1 Bundesliga. The Bruins, however, have one player who made it as high as the NHL, playing one full season for the Hartford Whalers.
Bob Sullivan, who is a player-coach for the Baden Bruins, has played professional hockey for more than 20 years. Originally drafted by the New York Rangers in 1977, Sullivan played professional hockey for 11 years in the states, plus an additional 13 years in Europe. Sullivan has missed much of the 2009/2010 season because of injury, but has coached his team once again into the finals.
The Bruins roster consists of Army soldiers, Department of Defense contractors and civilians, plus a number of local nationals. Bruins members travel great distances just to make the weekly practices held in the Viernheim rink.
“We have guys coming from as far as Baumholder and Wiesbaden just to make practice,” said Bruins left winger Capt. Craig Boucher.
On at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the SAP Arena in Nebenhalle, the Bruins will face the Heddesheim Flames for the league championship. The Flames have already eliminated the reigning DPL champions, the KMC Eagles, in their best-of-three playoff semi-finals. They also stopped the Bruins’ chances for a final spot in this year’s DPL Pokal championship — a DPL single elimination tournament.
“That is OK for us. We have our eyes set on the bigger prize — the DPL league title,” said Tom Connell, a contractor for the 5th Signal.
The DPL league finals are free. The Baden Bruins welcome all hockey fans to come out and support their Army team. A big show is expected as both the Mannheim Adler professional hockey players and the Karlsruhe Hooters girls will be participating in the event.
For more information about the Baden Bruins and DPL finals, check out www.badenbruins.com and www.dpliga.com.
