Bolzano wins top clash | Graz closes in on KAC | Capitals and Pioneers deliver New Year surprises

Vienna stuns Ljubljana
The Vienna Capitals opened the 2026 calendar year with a 3:2 home victory over Olimpija Ljubljana. Carter Souch was the decisive figure, scoring all three goals for Vienna to complete a hat trick.

The Capitals got off to a strong start, taking an early powerplay lead through Souch in the opening period (3rd minute). The game then settled into a balanced contest with chances at both ends, but no further goals before the first intermission.

In the middle frame, the visitors capitalized on a powerplay opportunity to equalize through Marly Quince (29th), before Olimpija moved ahead shortly afterwards via Marcel Mahkovec (36th). Vienna responded immediately: Souch tied the game just one minute later (37th) and completed his hat trick with another goal shortly before the second break to restore the Capitals’ lead (39th).

In the final period, the home side defended compactly and allowed very few clear scoring chances. Olimpija pushed hard for the equalizer late on and pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker, but the Capitals held firm to secure the narrow victory. Goaltender Evan Cowley delivered a solid performance, making several key saves to help seal the win.

Bolzano edge KAC in overtime
HCB Südtirol Alperia handed EC-KAC their second consecutive defeat, claiming a 2:1 overtime win to climb into fourth place in the standings. EC-KAC remain top of the win2day ICE Hockey League table, but now hold only a one-point advantage over their closest challengers from Styria.

EC-KAC and HCB Südtirol Alperia produced a high-quality clash with clear playoff intensity. After a scoreless opening period, Mathias From gave the hosts the lead in the second frame. Bolzano, however, had the upper hand during the period and were rewarded with a deserved equalizer by Luca Frigo before the second intermission.

The visitors continued to generate the better chances in the third period but were unable to beat Sebastian Dahm. At the other end, the Foxes’ defense remained solid, allowing very little. As the 4,230 fans in the sold-out Heidi Horten Arena were already anticipating a shootout late in overtime, Shane Gersich struck the game-winning goal.

VSV end losing streak
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV celebrated a convincing 6:2 home win over HC TIWAG Innsbruck to open the new year, bringing their losing streak to an end. After trailing in the first period, the Villach side turned the game around with a strong second and third period.

Despite controlling play early, VSV fell behind in the opening period after Innsbruck converted a transition opportunity. Villach remained on the front foot and continued to apply pressure. Their efforts paid off in the second period: Adam Helewka netted the equalizer on the powerplay (24th), before a long-range shot gave the hosts the lead. The Eagles largely controlled the game from that point and carried a slim advantage into the second break.

In the final period, the visitors tied the game on the powerplay, but Villach responded immediately. Helewka added two more goals to complete his hat trick and put the game out of reach. The hosts extended their lead further late on, adding two more goals to secure a deserved 6:2 victory.

Salzburg extend winning streak into the new year
EC Red Bull Salzburg claimed a 5:1 win over Steinbach Black Wings Linz in the New Year’s game of the win2day ICE Hockey League, extending their winning streak to nine games. In front of 3,400 spectators in a sold-out Salzburg Ice Arena, the home side took control early and never looked back.

Salzburg made the better start and built a 3:1 lead in the opening period. Florian Baltram (7th) and Lukas Hörl (8th) struck in quick succession to make it 2:0, before Travis Barron pulled one back for Linz shortly afterwards. Brandon Coe restored the two-goal cushion before the break (18th).

In the second period, the Red Bulls increased their efficiency after a strong start. Benjamin Nissner redirected a shot for the 4:1 goal (32nd), before Travis St. Denis finished off a well-worked play set up by Michael Raffl to make it 5:1 (36th). Salzburg increasingly controlled the game and took the commanding lead into the second intermission.

Linz attempted to apply pressure in the final period but found few answers against the hosts’ compact defense. Salzburg remained active offensively, though no further goals were scored. The Red Bulls comfortably saw out the 5:1 home win.

Graz close the gap with convincing victory
Moser Medical Graz99ers opened the new year with a dominant 6:1 home win over Ferencváros Budapest. After conceding an early goal – the fastest of the season – the hosts gradually took control and effectively decided the game in the second period.

Budapest struck after just nine seconds, but Graz were unfazed and quickly settled into their game. The 99ers created several chances and were rewarded shortly before the first intermission when Manuel Ganahl deflected the puck in for the equalizer.

The game remained balanced early in the second period before Graz took the lead. Ganahl scored his second goal to make it 2:1 (35th), with Lukas Haudum adding another shortly afterwards to extend the advantage. A powerplay goal by Josh Currie just before the second break gave the hosts a comfortable 4:1 lead.

Graz continued to control proceedings in the final period. Chris Collins and Nick Bailen both scored on the powerplay to complete the 6:1 result. The home side saw out the game with confidence to secure a convincing win.

Pioneers prevail in shootout against Pustertal
Pioneers Vorarlberg delivered another New Year surprise in Round 35, edging HC Falkensteiner Pustertal in a shootout to further close the gap to the Top 10. The sixth-placed South Tyroleans suffered their second consecutive defeat.

Pustertal made the stronger start on home ice, creating significantly more chances and taking a 2:0 lead within the opening ten minutes. The Pioneers responded with efficiency in the second period, scoring three goals within ten minutes to turn the game around, although Pustertal managed to level the score before the second intermission.

In the third period, the Pioneers twice took the lead, but the Wolves answered on both occasions. After a scoreless overtime, Kevin Macierzynski converted the only successful shootout attempt to seal the win. For Vorarlberg, forwards Colin Adams (2 goals, 3 assists) and Roberts Bukarts (2 goals, 2 assists) both delivered standout performances.

win2day ICE Hockey League – 2026 January 1st
EC Red Bull Salzburg – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0)
Goals RBS: Baltram F. (6:50), Hörl L. (7:26), Coe B. (17:23), Nissner B. (31:12), St. Denis T. (35:54)
Goals BWL: Barron T. (7:54)

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie 6:2 (2:0, 3:1, 1:1)
Goals VSV: McPherson D. (24:51), Welhake A. (24:00/pp), Welhake A. (43:53), Welhake A. (49:56), Hutchison N. (57:16/pp), Hughes J. (58:02)
Goals HCI: Witting M. (16:56), Corbeil B. (41:20/pp)

Moser Medical Graz99ers – FTC-Telekom 6:1 (1:0, 3:1, 2:0)
Goals G99: Collins C. (34:40), Haudum L. (38:10), Gurnis J. (39:58/pp), Collins C. (42:42/pp), Bailen N. (47:40/pp)
Goals FTC: Green G. (0:09)

Vienna Capitals – Olimpija Ljubljana 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Goals VIC: Souch C. (2:08/pp), Souch C. (36:20), Souch C. (38:23)
Goals OLL: Quince M. (28:24/pp), Mahkovec M. (35:49)

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:6 S.O. (1:2, 1:3, 3:1)
Goals HCP: Lipon J. (0:59), Bowbly H. (10:40/pp), Fricklund M. (37:09), Lipon J. (49:49), Purdeller T. (58:24)
Goals PIV: Bukarts R. (21:11), Dornbach C. (29:24), Adams C. (31:23), Bukarts R. (48:27/pp), Adams C. (57:40), Madlenskyk K. (65:00)

EC-KAC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 1:2 O.T. (0:0, 1:1, 0:0)
Goals KAC: From M. (25:51)
Goals HCB: Frigo J. (38:03/pp), Gersch H. (64:48)