The Essen Mosquitoes are a professional ice hockey team based in Essen, Germany. They compete in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), the top professional ice hockey league in Germany. The team was founded in 1971 and has won the German championship once. They play their home games at the Eissporthalle am Westbahnhof, which has a capacity of 6,500 spectators.
The Essen Mosquitoes have had mixed success in the DEL, with some strong seasons but also some seasons where they struggled. They have qualified for the playoffs several times but have not advanced beyond the quarterfinals. The team has a loyal fan base in Essen and the surrounding region, and their games are well-attended.
Some of the team's most notable players include Kyle Wellwood, Matt Pettinger, and Michael Wolf. The Essen Mosquitoes have also had several players go on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America, including Marcel Goc and Christian Ehrhoff.