Title Victory in DM Hockey Final: HTHC Women Outshine Düsseldorf
Title Stolen After Half a Century: Harvestehuder THC's Dramatic German Championship Win
The final whistle blew, and the Harvestehuder THC ladies' hockey team's dreams became reality. They snatched the German championship title from the jaws of defeat, crushing the defending champion Düsseldorfer HC with a nail-biting 2:1 victory in the Final Four in Krefeld.
Tears of joy, exhaustion, and sheer relief filled the stadium as the new champions embraced, shouting and screaming in celebration. The crowd roared, and the traveling fans, many hailing from the men's team, joined in the revelry.
The Masterclass of Efficiency and Defense
The game was a masterclass in efficiency and defense. Two well-executed penalty corner goals by Emilia Landshut (22.) and Laura Saenger (35.) were the difference, as the defense kept cool under pressure from Düsseldorf's relentless attacks. Friederike Heusgen scored the lone goal for the fallen champions in the 39th minute.
Record Champions: Hamburg's Pride and Joy
"I'm overwhelmed by my feelings. I'm really proud and happy," said Laura Saenger (31) on the streaming service Dyn. "We all have a black and yellow heart." Back at the clubhouse on Vossberg, the blue pennants for winning the German hockey championship hang. With the addition of the 15th title, the women's team now holds the record for the most championships, 52 years after their last victory.
Coach Tobias Jordan (33) was similarly ecstatic. He shared the victory with some of the players, as they had become German youth champions under his guidance in 2024. "We wanted to attack in three, four years. I would never have expected that we would already be playing for the championship."
Fifteen Glorious Titles: Black and Yellow Forever
Almost nobody gave HTHC a chance, with only 13 percent of hockey enthusiasts in Germany predicting they'd win. "Yes, we talked about that," said goalkeeper Rosa Krüger. "We just thought, 13 percent - let's see." The team's confidence, instilled by their coach, paid off.
A Champions' Defense
HTHC's defensive prowess was evident in their 1:0 victory in the semi-final against Mannheim HC. Maren Kiefer scored the decisive goal six minutes before the end, sealing a surprising win against the indoor champions. Their defense had been the key, yet again, to claiming their place in the finals.
For the Düsseldorf women, who only managed to beat Großflottbeker THGC in the semi-final with two goals in the last five minutes in a 2:1 win, the loss was hard to swallow. "It's very bitter to lose to an opponent you beat eight times in ten games," said ex-national player Selin Oruz visibly upset.
MVP Performance: A fitting sendoff for Krüger
But ironically, the 6:2 loss to Düsseldorf during the regular season may have been the turning point for HTHC. "After that, we decided to defend more concentrated and dirty," said Katharina Kiefer. It worked. Rosa Krüger's incredible performance in goal saw her named MVP of the tournament, capping off an illustrious career. The tears flowed as she showered in beer, knowing she was leaving the sport at the very top.
Overcoming the Curse: Polo's Heartbreak Continues
As the men of the Hamburg Polo Club heard Queen's "We Are the Champions," their playoff curse persisted. After vice-championships in 2022 and 2024, the clear leader of the regular season lost this time in the semi-finals 2:4 against new champions Crefelder HTC. The home team CHTC went on to win the final 3:1 against RW Köln.
Leon Thörnblom (31.) and Paul Smith (44.) briefly threatened the 2:0 lead from Crefeld, but it was too little, too late. "We didn't get off to a good start, but if you want to win, you have to give 100% for 60 minutes. Krefeld also played well," said sports director and head coach Christoph Bechmann, succinctly summing up the agony of yet another disappointed season.
The Harvestehuder THC women's hockey team's historic 15th German championship title marked a masterclass in efficiency and defense, with standout performances in goal from MVP Rosa Krüger and key goals from Emilia Landshut and Laura Saenger sealing their win over Düsseldorfer HC in the Final Four.
On the other hand, the men of the Hamburg Polo Club faced disappointment yet again, as their playoff curse continued in a 2:4 semi-final loss against Crefelder HTC, ending a season that began as the clear leader of the regular season. Rosa Krüger's MVP performance and the Harvestehuder THC ladies' championship triumph were fitting high points for both the team and their star goalkeeper, as she marked the end of her illustrious career.
