Ice hockey · National
Liam Kirk’s two goals complete Berlin’s comeback against Iserlohn
Eisbären Berlin recovered from a two-goal first-period deficit to win 3–2 at the Uber Arena on 3 January.
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A home win after a difficult start
Eisbären Berlin began their 2025 home schedule by defeating the Iserlohn Roosters 3–2 on 3 January. The hosts had conceded twice in the opening period, but Gabriel Fontaine’s equaliser and two goals from Liam Kirk reversed the result. Berlin’s account describes an uneven performance rather than an uncomplicated victory. Coach Serge Aubin was dissatisfied with the first period, including his team’s work in individual contests, while recognising the response that delivered all three league points. Jake Hildebrand started in goal for Berlin opposite Hendrik Hane. The Eisbären were next scheduled to visit Nuremberg on 5 January, keeping their new-year programme moving immediately after the comeback.
The scoring sequence and the numbers
The league’s official record lists Taro Jentzsch’s opening goal at 15:35, assisted by Shane Gersich and Dieter Ziegler. Tyler Boland made it 2–0 on a power play at 18:29, with Colin Ugbekile and Gersich supplying the assists. Kirk reduced the deficit during a two-man advantage at 34:30, and Fontaine equalised at 38:05. Just 34 seconds into the final period, Kirk scored the winner from contributions by Eric Geibel and Fontaine. Berlin finished with 32 shots on goal to Iserlohn’s 18; Hane made 29 saves. The visitors took eight penalty minutes, the hosts four. The announced attendance was 14,200. Gersich therefore assisted on both of Iserlohn’s goals.
Iserlohn’s chances after losing the lead
The Roosters’ report identifies their second-period penalties as a central reason the two-goal advantage disappeared. Hane had kept the visitors in the game through earlier Berlin pressure, but overlapping penalties provided the opportunity for Kirk’s first goal. Iserlohn still created chances in the final period: Boland struck the post early, and Hildebrand stopped a later two-on-one opportunity involving Boland and Casey Burke. A late power play did not produce an equaliser. Iserlohn then removed Hane for an extra attacker in the closing minutes, without changing the score. The opponent’s account therefore records opportunities to respond even after Berlin had taken the lead, alongside the discipline problems that preceded it.
Different positions entering January
The pre-match context put the clubs at very different ends of the standings. Berlin had recovered from a weaker stretch by winning its last three games of December, including a 4–2 victory over Augsburg, and entered the fixture second with 64 points. Iserlohn stood twelfth, four points clear of Augsburg and Düsseldorf, according to Berlin’s preview. The Roosters’ own preview noted points in each of their preceding three games, but also a demanding opening weekend: Berlin away, then league leaders Ingolstadt at home on 5 January. Top scorer Michael Dal Colle and Branden Troock did not travel to Berlin, while defender Johannes Huss faced a longer injury absence.
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