Brother's Vacant Seat Filled by Polar Bear Star
The Ice Bears Berlin, Germany's premier ice hockey team, dedicated their recent DEL title win to the memory of their late teammate, Tobias Eder. The 26-year-old, who passed away from esophageal cancer in January 2025, played 263 games in the DEL for teams including the Ice Bears Berlin, Düsseldorf EG, and EHC München.
Andreas Eder, Tobias' brother and current player for the Ice Bears Berlin, felt a deep bond with the team following his brother's passing. On the day that Tobias was supposed to get married, Andreas made his transfer from Munich to Berlin public. He now wears the number 43 on his jersey, a tribute to his brother's birthday, 4.3.
The Ice Bears Berlin have shown their unwavering support to Andreas, dedicating a special seat in their locker room to honor Tobias. This memorial gesture reflects the team's respect and remembrance for his contributions and presence. Although the exact location or appearance of the dedicated seat was not disclosed, such dedications are typically a significant symbol of tribute within sports teams, serving as a place to remember a late teammate’s legacy.
The memory of Tobias Eder marked the celebrations of the Ice Bears Berlin's title win. The players posed with a jersey of Tobias during the celebrations, and Andreas was also honored with a jersey of his own. Andreas considers the Ice Bears Berlin as a place where something good happened for him, despite his brother's passing.
Andreas and Tobias had shared a dream of playing together in the DEL. In the midst of grief, Andreas continues to honour his brother's memory on the ice, wearing an inscription of "Tobi" and his late brother's jersey number 22 on his chest protector under his jersey.
The death of Tobias Eder caused nationwide astonishment. His memory, however, continues to live on within the Ice Bears Berlin, a testament to the strength and unity of the team as they continue to honour his legacy.
The Ice Bears Berlin, a sports team known for ice hockey, felt a profound connection to Tobias Eder, their late teammate who played for them and other DEL teams. Andreas Eder, Tobias' brother and current player for the Ice Bears, continues to honor his brother's memory on the ice, with his jersey number reflecting their birthdays and an inscription of "Tobi" on his chest protector.
