Sven Felski ends career

29 Oct 2012 | Dennis Mende

German ice hockey legend Sven Felski has ended his career due to a heavy knee injury, following advice of the medical staff in Berlin

For more than 20 years the 37 year old forward played for his hometown team Eisbären Berlin. Born in East Berlin Sven Felski started with figure skating before he changed sports to play ice hockey at the age of 11 with the then still so called Dynamo Berlin. Between 1992 and 2012 the crowd favourite played exactly 1000 league games - his last appearance was in the decisive win against the Adler Mannheim in the 2011-12 DEL playoff finals. It was the sixth national championship he won with Berlin within the last eight years. Sven Felski whose nick name in Germany was "Bürgermeister" (engl. "mayor") six times took part in the DEL All-Star Game. On European level he participated with Berlin in the European Hockey League, Champions Hockey League and European Trophy - the last one he won in 2010 with the Polar Bears. For the German national team he played in 8 World Championships of the Top Division and 2 Olympic Games (2006 in Turin and 2010 in Vancouver). Only few players worldwider ever showed their love for hockey in such a special way as the German. He was one of the key figures in making the former GDR champion from Berlin the most succesful team in DEL history with selling out almost every game in the top modern O2 World.

For long time Felski played with huge pain - his left knee was injured in almost any possible way over the time of his career - but now the doctors said it's time to say goodbye to professional ice hockey. Under tears he told the media of his decision today. He started his speech with the words "This is the most diffcult day of my career." Billy Flynn, in charge of the management position in the Polar Bears organization said: "No other player has done more for his club and his city than him."

It is not year clear in what position Felski will continue with his club but he is going to look into the club management and youth coaching. Furthermore his number "11" will be retired by the Polar Bears and he will get a farewell game.

Cherrycasino gutscheincode