Colorful spectacle on the ice: The Ice Hockey Uni-Cup for the thyssenkrupp Trophy thrills for the 33rd time!
Big cheers, a variety of costumes and a unique atmosphere: After a two-year break, the Ice Hockey Uni-Cup (EUC) finally brought great atmosphere back to the sold-out 100.5 Arena on December 8.
On December 8, the first Ice Hockey Uni Cup once again thrilled nearly 3,000 viewers in the 100.5 Arena and an additional 1,300 fans on the livestream. The players from the three faculties of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and medicine competed against each other in colorful costumes. The Aachen iconic event was organized by the RWTH University Sports Center (HSZ). Professor Dr. Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University, was also on site to watch the exciting games and impressive cheerleader shows. He was thrilled by the atmosphere. For him, the EUC is simply a fixed date in the calendar. Everyone involved is looking forward to this day. Professor Rüdiger was still a student at the very first Ice Hockey University Cup.
Since then, the event has enjoyed great popularity every year. This year, too, the EUC was sold out within an hour. Peter Lynen, director of the HSZ, was delighted. After two years of silence in the sport, today we could again experience the joy of life and enthusiasm. The mood and enthusiasm are definitely back, he said.
At the opening game, the Aachen Ice Emperors, the ice hockey team of RWTH and FH, faced the ice hockey team of the University of Zurich. Another highlight every time are the creative mottos that the student councils come up with. The cheerleaders and players entered the ice rink with elaborate costumes and self-built backdrops. The mechanical engineering student body dressed up as race car drivers. The medical faculty chose the motto 112, and the electrical engineers entered the rink as villains and spies. The special atmosphere and all the preparations strengthen the team spirit and the feeling of solidarity. When you come to the rink, it's a goosebump moment every time, it seems. Despite the competition, everyone sticks together, underlined Luisa Hensel from the medical student body.
In addition to the ice hockey games, the main focus is on having fun, celebrating together and cheering on each other. After all, each of the three teams wants to bring home the thyssenkrupp Trophy for their student body. The EUC has been supported by thyssenkrupp for many years. Matthias Jaworek from thyssenkrupp is delighted to be back every year. He says the atmosphere in Aachen is very special. One comes from the Christmas market in the city center to the Ice Hockey Uni-Cup and the atmosphere is simply incomparable.
Traditionally, the proceeds of the EUC are donated to two good causes. The international organization Right to Play enables underprivileged children to romp and play without constraint. The "Aachener Kältehelfer" (Aachen cold helpers) of the Johanniter support those in need who spend the cold winter nights on the streets of Aachen. Both donation recipients were pleased with the support of the student bodies, and Professor Rüdiger also emphasized RWTH's social responsibility to the city of Aachen. All those involved should not forget in all the fun that other people are not so well off and it was important to him personally to be there for others.
At the end of the successful event, the Aachen Steelers from the mechanical engineering department won the thyssenkrupp Trophy. After a close contest under high tension, they managed to beat the opposing team Medical Strikers by 26 points to 21 in the last game of the evening. The ET Lions took third place. The cheerleaders of the medical student body convinced the jury with their choreography and were awarded the FuFah honorary prize.
Further information and photos of the event can be found at unicup.de.