HC Erlangen’s most successful season ever

HC Erlangen ended the past season in the DKB German Handball League with the best result in the club’s history: Never before has it chalked up 30 points in a season in its four years in the top flight. Its strength at home was a key factor in its success and helped the club from Franconia capture 20 points in front of its enthusiastic fans in the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung. Highlights included the sensational victory over SC Magdeburg, the draw against Rhine-Neckar Lions and the comfortable 26:18 win against Bergischer HC, who finished seventh in the table. The colorful choreography staged by the HC’s fans in front of a sold-out crowd before the emotion-packed game against THW Kiel will never be forgotten, either.

HC Erlangen averaged 4,600 spectators a game and so came seventh in terms of attendance in the world’s strongest league. An average of almost 5,000 spectators even watched its home games in the second half of the season.

Nico Büdel was the HCE’s top scorer from running play with 125 goals, ahead of Niko Link (88), Christoph Steinert (80) and Christopher Bissel (76). Christoph Steinert notched up the most seven-meter penalties (57).

Head Coach Aðalsteinn Eyjólfsson was without the two left-handers Christoph Steinert and Nicolai Theilinger, as well as Johannes Sellin, for months and so was repeatedly forced to find creative solutions. There will be a change in the right backcourt position this summer. The Croatia international Sime Ivic and Antonio Metzner, who is one of best scorers from running play in the Second Division, will take over in the left-hander position. They will strengthen HC Erlangen next season along with the two cup winners Quentin Minel from Chambery and Sebastian Firnhaber from Kiel, as well as world champion Carsten Lichtlein.

If the internationals Petter Overby and Nico Büdel remain unscathed in their internationals this week and the other players return from vacation without any injuries, the HC Erlangen will be able to call on a full squad for the first time in a long while when they begin preparing for next season starting on July 10, 2019. HC Erlangen’s goal is to finish higher in the table in the 2019/2020 season.