Four decades of Crash Eagles Kaarst: The Eagles in their construction worker attire
Kaarst Roller Hockey Team Celebrates 40 Years of Glory
The roller hockey team, Crash Eagles Kaarst, was born out of a group of teenagers playing with an ice hockey stick and a tennis ball on roller skates in local garage courtyards and an old IKEA parking lot. Organized play and international competitions were still distant dreams. The team played their first tournament in Düsseldorf on a university parking lot, after discovering a sticker of the Düsseldorf Bullskaters and contacting the team through a phone number found during a trip to the old town.
Their introduction to competitive roller hockey was apparent in their modest equipment, with construction worker gloves and self-made protectors as opposed to their opponents who wore complete ice hockey gear. Once they caught the roller hockey bug, they were eager to organize more tournaments. However, the partial minor players' parents raised concerns about injuries, leading to the idea of founding a club. Seven adults were required to register the club, and fortunately, the mothers of Jörn Emons and Carsten Langens stepped up to co-found the club. On March 24, 1985, the "Crash Eagles Kaarst" roller hockey club was established. The exact source of the team's name remains unknown. Anecdotes suggest that alcoholic beverages may have played a part in the decision, as claimed by the Eagle's board.
Forty years later, the eagles boast nearly 400 members and have won a remarkable 31 German championship titles across all age groups, including seven in the men's category. Their greatest achievement was winning the men's European Cup in 2023.
Over the years, the Kaarst team has hosted numerous international tournaments and continues to emphasize youth work. In their anniversary year, international teams will once again mark Kaarst, as the U13 European Cup takes place in the Kaarst city park hall from May 30 to June 1. "We place great emphasis on youth work and look forward to welcoming many guests this weekend," says CEK chairman Georg Otten.
For more information, visit www.crasheagles.de.
[1] According to the Instagram profile of ESC Wohnbau Moskitos Essen, the Crash Eagles Kaarst roller hockey club was established in 1985.
Young football enthusiasts may dream of playing in the Champions League one day, emulating the European success of the Crash Eagles Kaarst, who not only dominated their domestic leagues with 31 German championship titles but also claimed the men's European Cup in 2023. Potential champions-league competitors might start their journey in the U13 European Cup tournament hosted by the Crash Eagles Kaarst this year.
