German hockey powerhouse Adler Mannheim return to Davos after eleven years – as the reigning DEL runners-up, CHL participants and a team that, after several years of rebuilding, have firmly re-established themselves among the top teams in German hockey.

Founded in 1938 as Mannheimer ERC, the Adler have played continuously in Germany’s top division since the DEL was established in 1994. With eight German championship titles to their name, they are one of the most successful clubs in the country. However, their most recent title dates back seven years: Mannheim last lifted the championship trophy in 2019.
The Adler enjoyed their most dominant spell in the late 1990s. Between 1997 and 1999, they won three consecutive German championships. Their move to the SAP Arena in 2005 firmly established Mannheim as one of Germany’s and Europe’s major hockey cities. More than 12,000 fans regularly attend Adler home games, making Mannheim one of the best-supported clubs in European hockey.

The Adler have also re-established themselves among the league’s elite on the ice. They have reached the semi-finals in five of the past six seasons. In the 2025/26 DEL season, Mannheim finished second in the regular season, had the league’s best defensive record and advanced to the playoff final. That was where their run ended, however, as the Eisbären Berlin won the final in five games to claim the German championship.
Immediately after the final defeat, sporting director and head coach Dallas Eakins nevertheless saw the run to the final as proof that his team had “continued to develop every year”. Managing director Matthias Binder put it even more clearly at the end-of-season event on May 6: “We have embarked on a great journey with an extremely well-balanced team, and now we want to continue along that path.”

Part of that journey has been the club’s targeted strengthening of the roster over the summer. Six departures were offset by six new arrivals. Mannheim signed three-time German champion Jake Hildebrand from Berlin. Patrick Brown brings NHL and AHL experience, while offensively minded AHL defenceman Jérémie Poirier is expected to provide additional firepower from the blue line. The Adler also added the 22-year-old, physically imposing Lennard Nieleck, who made 14 playoff appearances for eventual champions Berlin last season. From their own development programme, Tobias Krämer and Max Calce were also promoted to the professional squad.
Since winning their last championship in 2019, the Adler have been waiting for another major trophy. But the progress they have made in recent years once again makes Mannheim a serious contender. Several DEL coaches named the Adler among the potential championship candidates ahead of the new season – a clear indication of the status Mannheim have regained.
Eakins himself also sees no reason for his team to ease off at the Spengler Cup. The Canadian, who serves as both head coach and sporting director in Mannheim, does not believe that taking part in the traditional tournament will put too much of a strain on his players. Asked why Mannheim had accepted an invitation to Davos despite already competing in both the DEL and the Champions Hockey League, he gave a typically matter-of-fact answer: “We are here to play hockey.”

And the Adler are guaranteed to make their presence felt off the ice as well. The club will travel to Davos with a delegation of around 190 people. Mannheim should also have a strong presence in the stands: the drive from Mannheim to Davos takes around five hours – a distance that is unlikely to deter many Adler fans.

Text: Spengler Cup-Onlineredaktion    Foto: Adler Mannheim