Ekström tackles on ice

DTM racer Mattias Ekström never says no to an unusual activity. The 28-year old Swede, who occasionally competes in the snowy Rally Sweden in the WRC, was invited on ice by the hockey pros of ERC Ingolstadt to a trial practice at the Saturn Arena. Star players John Tripp, Yannic Seidenberg and Michael Waginger were among Ekström's training partners.

The 2004 DTM champion was thrilled by the chance to share the ice with professional hockey players. "Wearing this protective suit almost makes me feel like an astronaut. It’s really not easy to move around in this gear – and I wasn’t even pitted against any rivals.”

"These guys must have tremendous power to stand their ground on the ice, I was really impressed,” he reported. In addition to experience and new impressions galore, "Eki” took home a few bruises as well. "A couple of times body checks catapulted me into the banners,” said Ekström.

Canadian forward John Tripp was quite satisfied with his new team-mate’s showing. "Mattias tackled the practice with incredible ambition. You can immediately tell that he’s bound and determined to give his best – a real winner, for sure,” praised the former NHL star.

ERC Ingolstadt, whose players are known as "The Panthers", is one of the most successful team in the German Hockey League (DEL), winning the German Cup in the 2004/05 season and ranking second in the 2005/06 season.