The eight-time German ice hockey champions Kölner Haie have reacted to the disappointingly early playoff exit and parted ways with head coach Uwe Krupp.
The Haie announced that the new appointment would be “decided in the coming weeks”. The former national coach returned to his hometown in 2020 and missed a place in the semi-finals of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) in four attempts in his second term in office.
In addition to Krupp, the Haie also parted ways with assistant coaches Ron Pasco, Clément Jodoin and goalkeeping coach Ilari Näckel.
Out in the pre-playoffs against Ingolstadt
“The decisions were difficult for us because Uwe Krupp and his coaching team have worked with outstanding commitment for the KEC for years and there is a close bond with the Haie,” said Haie managing director Philipp Walter:
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“At the same time, after the recent development, which we had all hoped for, we decided that we wanted to initiate a change here.” In the current season, the ambitiously started KEC only managed eighth place in the main round; the pre-playoffs ended against ERC Ingolstadt.
“It was a total of four intensive years with different challenges,” commented Krupp (58). The former NHL defender and Stanley Cup winner had already been on the boards in Cologne between 2011 and 2014 (runner-up in 2013, 2014). Krupp was national coach from 2005 to 2011, and the greatest success of his tenure was fourth place at the 2010 home World Cup.