Torsten Ankert has developed into a key piece of Kölner Haie's defence. They've played in the DEL finals each of the past two seasons and coming up soon is a new challenge: The Champions Hockey League.

by Marek Kratochvil

Losing in the finals always hurts. Losing in the finals for the second year in a row and in game seven, as Kölner Haie did this year, is especially hard to take.

"We’re still really disappointed and it hurts us, because we were so close again and yet couldn’t make that final step," defenceman Torsten Ankert said several weeks later. "I'll need some more time to get over it and appreciate what a great season we played. We had a really strong team and I believe we’ll feel better about it later."

With two more years on his contract with the Sharks, a team he's gaining an ever-growing role on, the 188 cm, 100 kg Ankert has his hopes high of bringing a championship to Cologne. And there's more.

At least the team's berth in the finals has earned it a spot in this year's Champions Hockey League, where Köln will compete in Group A with Kärpät Oulu, Bílí Tygři Liberec and HC Košice. When this new competition came up during an interview, the enthusiasm on Ankert's face was evident.

"I can say, for all my teammates with whom I‘ve talked about this, that we’re full of expectations."

And why not? Köln has proven to be one of the top German clubs, and the DEL has increased in stature over the last several years as its clubs have proven that they can play with and beat the best in Europe.

"I think the DEL is taking one step after another to get closer to the other European leagues. Berlin even won the European Trophy (in 2010)."

After playing in the DEL finals and then for Germany at the World Championship in Minsk, the 25-year-old Ankert doesn't have too much time before the meaningful games begin again, but he wouldn't have it any other way. It sure beats the usual pre-season routine.

"Normally, you play just few exhibition games against other German clubs, not even necessarily from the top league, and now?" Ankert asked, before excitedly answering himself: "There won’t be any friendly games, but the Champions Hockey League. I’m sure it will be interesting to travel and play in this mode. They'll be important games."