Dresden dropping Gardner, Beckett and Deleurme

The Dresden Ice Lions of the German Bundesliga reported that they will not be renewing the contracts of forwards Kevin Gardner and Jason Deleurme as well as defenceman Jason Beckett. The team struggled both on the ice (13th place overall and out of the play-offs) and financially as well. The city has already twice demanded € 100,000 in outstanding rent payments on the Freiberger-Arena. According to club officials the reason for the problems stem from lost catering income and gate receipts from expected playdown games which will now not take place because Bad Tölz is automatically dropping out of the league due to bankruptcy.