EA Schongau triumphs: third top import player Skvarek signed!

EA Schongau triumphs: third top import player Skvarek signed!

The ice hockey world in the Bayernliga town of Schongau is currently in turmoil because EA Schongau has signed a spectacular new signing: Lukas Skvarek, a 23-year-old striker from Slovakia. This means the team is preparing for the coming season and is relying on a breath of fresh air on the offensive Mercury reported. Skvarek brings a lot of experience with him, having already played in the top Slovakian league and been part of his country's youth national teams.

The import player's commitment is no coincidence, as most of the 16 Bayernliga teams are planning to start the new season with a maximum of three foreign players. Despite a voluntary limit of two players, which was not adhered to by four clubs, 14 of the 16 Bayernliga clubs have signed a declaration to sign a maximum of three foreign players. ESV Burgau particularly stands out, having seven foreigners in its squad last season and being one of the few not to adhere to these attempts at regulation.

Squad optimization and news

With Skvarek, the Mammuts now have three import players in the team alongside Kurt Sonne and Raivo Freidenfelds. This gives hope for an exciting season and shows that EA Schongau has prepared well. In addition, Felix Merkle, a 21-year-old striker, is returning to the Mammuts from HC Landsberg and Stefan Saal is also fit again after his injuries. This means that the squad – consisting of three goalkeepers, nine defenders and 13 strikers – is now well prepared.

The topics for the coming season were discussed at a meeting at which the chairman of the Bavarian Ice Sports Association (BEV), Frank Butz, was also present. Despite the plans for self-restriction, no decision has yet been made on a possible gentlemen's agreement regarding import points. This caused irritation for Werner Gebauer, the chairman of ESV Burgau Augsburger Allgemeine reported.

Rules for the major leagues

The German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) has also published new rules on squad composition for the coming season. From the 2024/25 season, the number of players over 23 will be reduced to a maximum of 12. This is done with the aim of promoting sustainable player development. The possibility of signing up to three import players remains, as in the 2023/24 season. However, teams that fill all three places with foreign players must pay a youth development contribution of 5,000 euros into a major league pool. Ice Hockey News highlights that 80 percent of the pool will then be distributed to the upper league clubs, while 20 percent is earmarked for clubs that had a maximum of two contingent players in action.

It remains exciting to see how the Bayernliga teams put together their squads for the coming season and what strategy EA Schongau is pursuing with its new imported players. One thing is certain: the league will definitely be very interesting with these developments!