Release from 23.04.2024

Capitals announce basic squad for the coming season

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The basic squad of the spusu Vienna Capitals for the upcoming season of the win2day ICE Hockey League includes twelve players who already played for the Viennese team last season. Among them are with Lorenz Widhalm, Dominique Heinrich, Lukas Piff, Bernhard Posch, Mathias Böhm, Leon Wallner and Leon Widhalm, seven players whose contracts were still valid for the coming season. In addition, the EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV has extended the contract with Dylan MacPherson for one season.

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The 20-year-old goaltender Lorenz Widhalm comes from the organization of the spusu Vienna Capitals and is still under contract in Vienna until the end of the 2024/25 season due to his existing contract. Defenseman Dominique Heinrich is entering his second season with the spusu Vienna Capitals. The 33-year-old defenseman moved from the EC Red Bull Salzburg to Vienna last summer. Heinrich played 36 games for the Yellow and Blacks in the last season, in which last year's assistant captain scored 22 points (4 goals + 18 assists). The defender's contract runs until the end of the 2025/26 season. Lukas Piff played 41 games last season. The defenseman, who has a total of 204 games for the spusu Vienna Capitals, was named Young Star of the win2day ICE Hockey League in the 2020/21 season. Piff's contract expires after the coming season. Bernhard Posch, on the other hand, signed a contract before the last season that is valid until the 2025/26 season.

Dominic Hackl, on the other hand, signed a new contract. The 27-year-old homegrown player of the spusu Vienna Capitals signed a three-year contract. Hackl played 36 games for the spusu Vienna Capitals in the previous season, and the defenseman appeared in a total of 464 competitive games for the Kagran team in eleven seasons. With 737 competitive games for the spusu Vienna Capitals, captain Mario Fischer ranks second behind Caps legend Phil Lakos on the club's all-time list. The 34-year-old defenseman plays at least one more year.

In the offense, young forwards Mathias Böhm, Leon Wallner and Leon Widhalm will start the coming season with existing contracts. Zane Franklin will also be back in Vienna. The Canadian moved to Vienna from the ECHL in December 2023. Franklin recorded five goals and five assists in 15 games.

The 23-year-old homegrown player Patrick Antal also signed for another season with the spusu Vienna Capitals. Niki Hartl's new contract is valid for the coming season, but includes a club-side option for another season. The 32-year-old is entering his 12th season in Vienna. After 578 competitive matches for the team from the Danube city, he has 193 points (89 goals + 104 assists).

“This basic squad represents a stable foundation for the coming and future seasons. With young and ambitious players as well as experienced players, we have a good mix. We are still discussing contract extensions with some of our players from the previous season, but are also already in contact with potential new additions. We are also aiming to fill the position of Head Coach by the end of April. Further reinforcements will then be made together with the new head coach and the coaching team, and we are currently scouting intensively in order to be prepared for this,” says Christian Dolezal, Sporting Director of the spusu Vienna Capitals.

Nico Brunner, Hampus Eriksson, Stefan Stéen, Rok Ticar, Evan Wardley, Evan Weinger and Zintis Zusevics will no longer be part of the Capitals organization.

Dylan MacPherson stays in Villach
The 26-year-old defenseman Dylan MacPherson will play his second season with EC iDM Wärmepumen VSV. The Canadian recorded 29 points in 53 games in 2023/24. “Dylan is a hard-working defenseman who has absolutely impressed. He is an up-and-coming player and also has leadership qualities. He will give our team further stability in defense and we are happy that Dylan will stay with us for another year,” emphasizes EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV Managing Director Martin Winkler.

“I'm really looking forward to another year in Villach. The city and the fans make it hard to say no! I'm looking forward to the coming season,” says Dylan MacPherson.