Ice Lions get off to a brilliant start against Polar Bears: An East Derby in a class of its own!

Ice Lions get off to a brilliant start against Polar Bears: An East Derby in a class of its own!

The tension is rising in the Saxon state capital! They will open on September 9, 2025 Dresden Ice Lions the new DEL season with a thrilling duel against the Eisbären Berlin, the reigning German champions. This opening game is not only the start of the season, but also a thrilling East derby between the only two East German clubs in the DEL.

The Eislöwen are coming off a successful year in which they won the DEL2 Cup. “The duel against the Eisbären has a very special appeal,” says Matthias Roos, the Eislöwen’s sports director, who is also responsible for future squad changes. Planning is already in full swing, with the signing of defender Alec McCrea imminent. The 30-year-old comes from Düsseldorfer EG, where he scored two goals and 14 assists in 48 games last season. Negotiations with McCrea are well advanced and fans can look forward to an exciting transfer.

An event that inspires

But that's not all: a big event game is scheduled to follow in January 2026, which will take place in the impressive Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden. This stadium belongs to the second division football team Dynamo Dresden and has attracted large numbers of spectators in the past. Fans have already experienced outdoor games in the DEL 2 here, which were amazed by over 31,000 spectators. The Eislöwen have experience in this regard: in 2016 and 2020 they attracted more than 30,000 spectators in outdoor games against the Lausitzer Füchse. It will be exciting to see if they can beat this record next year.

The schedule for the new DEL season is no coincidence; it is created months to years in advance to take hall occupancy into account. With the Düsseldorfer EG, the Eislöwen were replaced in the grid schedule, which only increases the anticipation for the coming season.

Outlook for the season

The Ice Lions are ready to take on the challenge and fans can look forward to exciting games. The first match against the Eisbären promises to be a real highlight, in which the Dresdner Hütte also want to show their strength against the undisputed champions. If Matthias Roos has his way, the team will do everything they can to aim high this season.

“We have a good feeling for the coming months and would like to further strengthen our squad,” emphasizes Roos. The pressure on the team isn't getting any less, but the goal is clear: the Dresden Ice Lions want to assert themselves in the DEL and maybe even cause a surprise or two. It will be exciting to see what the new season will bring!