MAJOR HONOURS: World Under-21 Team Cup Champion: 2010; Danish Under-21 Champion: 2010.
CLUB HONOURS: Premier Trophy winner: 2010 [Newcastle]; Play-Off winner: 2010 [Newcastle]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2010 [Newcastle].
2012 STARTING AVERAGE: 5.15 (EL).
The young Dane linked with Peterborough as a short-term replacement for Karol Ząbik at the start of the 2009 campaign. He was subsequently replaced in the Panthers team in April by Kenneth Hansen, in order to return to Denmark to complete his studies.
Bach, however, returned to the British scene in June, when he took the place of Steve Boxall at Newcastle. He did exceptionally well for the Diamonds to post a real-time average in excess of 8 points per match and, in early November, was named as a definite starter for the Geordie side in 2010.
He was to enjoy a terrific season, as he helped Newcastle secure an aggregate victory over Birmingham in the Premier Trophy final. Bach also romped to a 15-point maximum to help Denmark lift the World Under-21 Team Cup at Rye House on 5 September, as Poland’s monopoly on the competition was finally broken. Then, in October, he was again a key component of the Diamonds’ line-up as they took victory in the Play-Offs, defeating Sheffield in the final.
Closing out the season in style, the Dane helped Newcastle to win their third piece of silverware for the season, as they overcame League Champions Edinburgh in the Knock-Out Cup final. Bach notched 11 points in the first leg at Armadale on 29 October and followed it up with a tally of 13 in the return match two days later, as the Diamonds claimed a hard-fought 91-88 success on aggregate. He ended the season with an excellent 9.42 average, having totalled 494 points from forty-seven official appearances.
On 1 December, Newcastle confirmed that the thrill-a-minute Bach would remain with them in 2011 and that the rider had one aim in his mind; having played second fiddle to compatriot Kenni Larsen over the previous two seasons, the Danish Under-21 Champion was keen to make the Diamonds’ No. 1 slot his very own. Then, on 15 December, Birmingham revealed the rider as their first signing of the Elite League era on a ‘doubling-up’ basis.
Bach was injured shortly after the season had commenced when the Diamonds entertained Rye House in a league fixture on 10 April. Regrettably, the Newcastle No. 1 was hospitalised with a broken leg, as well as collarbone and rib damage. This occurred when the Dane was involved in a heat ten collision with Rockets’ Jordan Frampton and went into the fence at high speed.
A week later, on 17 April, the Geordie club announced that they had signed Slovenian-born Matej Ferjan as his replacement. And he was also subsequently replaced in his ‘doubling-up’ role at Birmingham by the vastly experienced Joe Screen.
Following several months of recuperation, Bach was able to return to action for the Diamonds in August when a team re-declaration saw him replace the injured Stuart Robson. However, he took another knock to his leg in early September and, having discussed the situation at length with Newcastle boss George English, it was mutually decided that he should relinquish his team position so as not to further jeopardise his future. In an ironic twist, it was the fit-again Robson who came back into the side as his replacement.
The popular Dane has had a few months for his broken bones to heal and now reports a clean bill of health. This saw him named as part of the 2012 Peterborough squad when it was announced before Christmas.
DATE OF BIRTH: 7 June 1990, Hjordkaer, Rødekro, Denmark.