The Krefeld Pinguine are one of Germany's oldest clubs, having been established in 1936 and winning two national championships. As they continue to compete hard in the DEL, they also want to make a strong impression against international opposition.

by Wolfgang Huskes

Founded in 1936  Krefelder EV – as the club used to be called, as its amateur and youth teams still call themselves, and as it is still affectionately referred to by its fans – represents the best in German ice hockey tradition and epitomizes the enthusiasm that the fascinating sport can kindle not only among its fans, but also in a whole city and its neighbouring regions. After World War II the Penguins’ home town of Krefeld (about 235,000 inhabitants) even had two first-division teams which won back-to-back championships in 1951 and 1952. 

It stands to reason that this situation could not last, especially without strong financial backing. Eight years after the foundation of the DEB (German Ice Hockey Federation) in Krefeld in 1963, Preussen Krefeld had to give up, whereas the KEV played on and became runner-up in 1977. Only a year later, despite having finished the first division in fourth position, the KEV were relegated to the fourth division because of financial mismanagement. That season they were so dominant in that classification that they even won a game by a 48–0 score – a year later they were promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga, where they played for 11 years. In 1991 a euphoric home town witnessed the KEV’s return to the top league, the 1st  Bundesliga. 

The KEV and, after the foundation of the DEL in 1994, the Krefeld Pinguine, have since again belonged to the top echelon of German hockey, being the fourth-winningest team in league history and having reached the quarter-finals 13 times and the semi-finals four times.

The reborn club’s best year so far has been 2002–03 when the whole city exulted as the Pinguine, who had only finished 6th in the regular season, ousted their Rhenanian arch-rivals from Duesseldorf from the quarter-finals, then ended Eisbaren Berlin’s season in the semi-finals before finally winning their second championship against Kolner Haie, the defending champs. Unfortunately, it was only after they this title that the team moved into the new König-Palast, a modern arena that holds 8,000 spectators and is just across the street from the venerable but obsolete Rheinlandhalle, which dates back to 1936. 

The Pinguine consistently average over 5,500 spectators, which equals 2.4 percent of the population of Krefeld and reflects the support and enthusiasm of their fans very well. It goes without saying that the Penguins sport their city’s colours of black and yellow. 

International play

As a team the Krefeld Pinguine have little international experience. Apart from their participation in the Spengler Cup at Davos in 2004 as the reigning German champions, there has been the odd pre-season game against clubs from other countries. But there can be no doubt that the Penguins mean to leave their footprints in the Champions Hockey League as they did in Davos in 2004, where their appearance was much applauded though the team hardly resembled the one from spring 2003. The Penguins will not only be ready to stand their ground, but also to represent 80 years of tradition.

Team facts

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