Hamburg Freezers

The Hamburg Freezers are a member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) that play their games in Hamburg, Germany. Originally known as the Munich Barons from 1999 until 2002, team owner Philip Anschutz, who also owns Eisbären Berlin, relocated the franchise to Hamburg for financial reasons on 3 June 2002, and renamed the team Hamburg Freezers. Their German nickname is Eisschränke (iceboxes).

The teams official colours are crystal blue and white and they play their home games in the O2 World Hamburg, which has a capacity of 12,947. The Hamburg Freezers have yet to win a league title, but they did reach the play-off semifinals in 2004; their greatest success to date.

History
The Hamburg Freezers were founded in 2002, when the Munich Barons franchise was moved to Hamburg in northern Germany. The reason for the move was due to low turnouts and financial issues; Munich Barons had an average turnout of under 3,000 spectators, even though the team were crowned league champions in 2000. Despite being the second biggest city in Germany, Hamburg had no representation in the country's top league and was chosen as the next destination for the franchise. The decision seemed to pay off; in their first season, the attendance average was over 5,000, and the team finished in 8th place, making it through to the play-off quarter finals.

In the next 10 years, attendance figures have grown and the average attendance in 2011/12 was over 9,200. Only twice in the team's history have the Freezers failed to make the play-offs, although they have yet to secure a league title.

Rivals
Most of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga teams are based in the south and south west of the country, meaning there are very few local rivals for Hamburg. Being the northernmost franchise in the league, the team have adopted the motto 'Der Norden Sind Wir' (We are the North). However, the Freezers do enjoy 'northern derbies' against two other franchises; Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg and Hannover Scorpions.

The teams main rivals are, unsurprisingly, the team from Germany's biggest city; Eisbaren Berlin. These games often have an extra edge to them, as fans are eager for their side to claim bragging rights.