For many years, the Berlin Smurfs have dominated the Southern Conference of the EURO League. Impressively, they won the conference 7 of the last 8 seasons. And for many years, their expensive and explosive celebration parties have attracted the very best cheerleaders in Europe.

In Season 16, the Smurfs won the whole enchilada, the best trophy in all of sports – the cherished EURO Cup – after beating Minsk in 7 games. That resulted in a major, huge, clothing-optional party that started the very night of the Cup victory and it really never stopped. But now, more than 60 games into Season 17, it seems the party is finally dying out in the German capital.

Longtime stalwarts like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Staffan Kronwall are having down years. RNH’s plus/minus rating has gone from +21 last year to -22 now and Kronwall’s has dipped from +47 to -1. Russian playmaker Vadim Shipachyov suddenly seems less interested in scoring points and more interested in convincing reporters to refer to him as “Vodka Vadim.”

On Friday, Berlin sank to 3rd place in the conference after the valiant Bratislava Eagles came to town, swept the empty beer cans, bottles, and chip bags out of the visitors locker room, and beat Berlin on the ice 4-2.

The team from Slovakia had some help.

Silvia Prochadzkova, Miss Slovakia 2014 (left), rejoined Bratislava’s cheering squad and well … it wasn’t even close when you compared the two squads. Berlin’s cheerleaders haven’t been the same since the Cup celebration party. Many are actually just plain missing. Others have hangovers, pregnancies and assorted other problems keeping them from performing at games. It was revealed that the team has recently been taking just about anyone to fill in on some game nights. That includes Rainer Verlierer (right), who snuck onto the team while the coaches were passed out but has become a team leader. Still, Verlierer’s catchy “Forssell Sucks” cheer was no match for Prochadzkova’s “Standing There Looking Stunning” cheer and it was another glum night for the Smurfs.

Berlin fans are hoping Verlierer can turn their season around. Many simply don’t have faith General Manager Guybrush Threepwood has what it takes to change the team’s fortunes at this late stage of the season, especially since the trade deadline has passed.

“I never liked Threepwood,” said season ticket holder Wutend Schlau. “I just think he has been lucky these last 14 seasons.”