"Loved every second": Alavaara regrets leaving the Eagles
Jan-Axel Alavaara regrets his departure from the traditional ice hockey club Adler Mannheim, but holds no grudges. "If you're not successful, there are consequences in a big club like Mannheim. It's as simple as that," the Swede told the "Mannheimer Morgen" newspaper (Wednesday). The eight-time German champions are currently only in ninth place in the league. On Monday, sports manager Alavaara, coach Johan Lundskog and his assistant Jeff Hill were let go.
"I loved every second," said Alavaara about his time with the Eagles, for whom he had been working since 2018. "Mannheim is an incredible hockey city. I've been able to make memories to last a lifetime. I've never seen such passion for ice hockey as here. From the fans to the sponsors," explained the 48-year-old. "It was undoubtedly an incredibly wonderful time."
He was "naturally sad that I didn't achieve long-term success as manager with the team", said Alavaara. "It's bitter that we didn't play a final after 2019. Looking back, I could perhaps have done one or two things better." Successor Dallas Eakins holds the positions of head coach and sporting director at the same time.
Alavaara's fondness for ice hockey extended beyond the Eagles, as he often watched DEL games featuring Mannheim. Despite the club's current ninth-place ranking in the league, Alavaara maintained his admiration for Mannheim's dedicated fanbase and strong ice hockey culture.
Source: www.dpa.com
