Ice hockey fans in North Rhine-Westphalia are getting their first look at the 2026/2027 DEL preseason tonight as the Kölner Haie host the Iserlohn Roosters for an opening exhibition match at the Haie-Zentrum. The initial puck drop is scheduled for 19:30, with the venue already completely sold out according to club officials.
Both teams enter Friday’s contest looking to establish early momentum after launching their respective training camps earlier in the month. For Cologne, the matchup marks the official debut behind the bench for head coach Thomas Berglund and assistant coach Henrik Stridh, who have been leading on-ice sessions since August 3.
Forward Gregor MacLeod emphasized the shift from practice drills to competitive play during team media availability ahead of the puck drop.
„Nach intensiven Trainingstagen freuen wir uns nun auf das erste Testspiel gegen Iserlohn. Zwar bereiten die Einheiten viel Freude, doch das Kräftemessen gegen einen Kontrahenten auf dem Eis ist eine ganz andere Erfahrung. Die Partie dient ideal dazu, wieder in den gewohnten Rhythmus zu finden, und selbstverständlich streben wir den Sieg in diesem NRW-Duell an“, said Gregor MacLeod.”
Roster Changes and Opponent Outlook for Iserlohn
The visiting Iserlohn Roosters opened their pre-season preparations with an open public training session on August 8 under the direction of Swedish head coach Stefan Nyman, who enters his second campaign at the helm in the Sauerland region. Together with sports director Franz-David Fritzmeier, the coaching staff overhauled portions of the squad over the summer, bringing in eleven new faces to offset thirteen departures.
Among the most notable arrivals in Iserlohn are defenseman Mac Hollowell, who crossed over from the KHL to play at the Seilersee, and forward Cole Maier, who transitioned from Nürnberg. Friday’s contest also features a quick reunion for former Cologne forward Daniel Fischbuch, who now suits up in the blue and white of the Roosters.
Iserlohn head coach Stefan Nyman outlined a competitive mindset for the opening test, emphasizing that the team wants to build immediately on the identity that defined their previous campaign. According to reporting from Iserlohn Roosters, Nyman noted that his team approaches every situation with a mandate to win.
„Wir gehen in jeder Situation aufs Eis und wollen gewinnen, ob nun in der Meisterschaft, in jeder Trainingsübung oder eben auch im ersten Testspiel. Daher erwarte ich von der Mannschaft, dass sie vom Anpfiff weg genau jene Tugenden aufs Eis bringt, die uns im Vorjahr stark gemacht haben und auf welchen die kommenden Monate aufbauen sollen“, said Stefan Nyman, as reported by Iserlohn Roosters.”
Broadcast Options and Digital Access
With tickets completely gone for the intimate Haie-Zentrum venue, the clubs have arranged digital viewing options for supporters unable to attend in person. Kölner Haie are partnering with the Swiss RED.SPORT Network (RED+) to provide a complimentary live video stream of the exhibition match.
The broadcast utilizes central camera infrastructure installed within the Haie-Zentrum. Access to the stream requires fans to download or update the official Haie mobile application and log into a registered account. Coverage begins at approximately 19:15, with direct links posted across the club’s digital channels. Alternatively, Iserlohn Roosters note that a live text ticker powered by Talentsuite.io will also track live developments for supporters following the visitors.
Looking Ahead in the Preseason Schedule
Both coaching staffs face busy schedules in the coming days as the DEL regular season approaches. Following Friday’s matchup, Kölner Haie will host their large annual season-opening fan festival on Saturday afternoon at the MediaPark in Cologne. The team will then travel on Tuesday to a training camp at the Tegernsee, followed by a preparatory tournament in Landshut.
The Iserlohn Roosters have similarly packed itineraries ahead. Nyman’s squad will participate in two upcoming preseason tournaments in Dresden and Kassel before concluding their exhibition slate in early September with a home fixture against PENNY DEL-promoted side Krefeld, as outlined by Iserlohn Roosters.