Release from 08.01.2026
The intense Christmas stretch in the win2day ICE Hockey League has come to an end, but the action resumes on Friday with a slate of highly exciting matchups. Among them is the Carinthian derby between EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV and EC-KAC. In addition, two Top-6 clashes are on the schedule: the Moser Medical Graz99ers host HCB Südtirol Alperia, while EC Red Bull Salzburg face Olimpija Ljubljana. Plenty of drama is also expected when the Vienna Capitals take on the Steinbach Black Wings Linz. Furthermore, Hydro Fehérvár AV19, FTC-Telekom, the Pioneers Vorarlberg and HC TIWAG Innsbruck will all be in action on both Friday and Saturday.
In the fourth Carinthian derby of the season—and the 363rd in history—10th-placed EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV welcome league leaders EC-KAC. The first meeting of the season in Villach saw the hosts claim a 5–3 victory, followed by two wins for KAC in Klagenfurt (5–2, 4–1). Current form clearly favors the guests, who have won their last two games and lost only three of their past ten overall. VSV, meanwhile, have managed just one win from their last ten outings. In the home standings, the Eagles sit 11th with only 22 points from 16 games, while KAC boast the league’s best road record with 38 away points. The historical head-to-head also favors EC-KAC: 194 wins for Klagenfurt, compared to 149 for VSV and 19 draws. In recent years, KAC have further extended their edge—winning 38 of the last 50 derbies and 11 of the most recent 14 encounters.
Top clash between Graz and Bolzano
Second-placed Moser Medical Graz99ers face fourth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia, with six points separating the two sides. Both teams recently saw five-game winning streaks come to an end: Graz fell 2–5 in Fehérvár, while Bolzano suffered a 1–2 SO home loss to Salzburg. Graz have won both head-to-head meetings this season (6–3, 4–3 SO). Overall, the South Tyroleans have been waiting for a win against the Styrians since November 30, 2024—now four games without success.
Salzburg vs. Ljubljana: second Top-6 showdown
Alongside Graz vs. Bolzano, the matchup between EC Red Bull Salzburg and Olimpija Ljubljana also features two Top-6 teams. The defending champions from Salzburg sit third and are riding an impressive 11-game winning streak. Ljubljana are fifth, four points behind the Red Bulls, and have won three of their last five games. The two teams have already produced two thrilling encounters this season, both narrowly won by Ljubljana (2–1, 4–3 OT).
Vienna and Linz battle for crucial Top-10 points
High stakes are also on the line when eighth-placed Vienna Capitals host ninth-placed Steinbach Black Wings Linz. The Capitals hold just a one-point edge over the Upper Austrians and are only four points ahead of 11th-placed FTC-Telekom. As a result, valuable points in the race for the pre-playoffs are up for grabs. Both teams are in solid form, having collected three wins from their last five games, and both were victorious in their most recent outings against VSV. Linz, however, continue to struggle on the road: they have failed to win any of their last five away games and sit 12th in the away standings with just nine road points. The first meeting of the season in Vienna ended in a high-scoring 7–6 win for the Capitals, while Linz responded with a 4–1 home victory in the return game.
Road trip for Pioneers and Innsbruck
Both the Pioneers Vorarlberg and HC TIWAG Innsbruck embark on a road trip to Hungary this weekend. Within 24 hours, both teams will face the league’s two Hungarian representatives, who are also battling for crucial Top-10 points. On Friday, 12th-placed Pioneers Vorarlberg visit 11th-placed FTC-Telekom, who trail 10th-placed VSV by just one point. Recent form, however, favors the Pioneers: FTC have lost their last five games, while Vorarlberg have won their past two. Still, FTC claimed both previous season meetings (3–1, 6–0). On Saturday, the Pioneers face Hydro Fehérvár AV19, against whom they have won two of three meetings this season (4–1 PIV, 3–0 AVS, 4–1 PIV).
Fehérvár first host bottom-placed Innsbruck on Friday. The Tyroleans have lost six straight games, while seventh-placed Fehérvár come in on a two-game winning streak and have won all three previous meetings with Innsbruck this season (4–2, 2–1 OT, 5–4). Innsbruck then travel to Budapest on Saturday to face FTC-Telekom—another opponent they have yet to beat this season (1–3, 2–6).
win2day ICE Hockey League:
Fri, 09.01.2026:
18:30: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Bedynek, Zacherl | LIVE on DAZN Italia (only available in Italia)
18:30: FTC-Telekom – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Hribar, Muzsik
19:15: Vienna Capitals – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: KAINBERGER, SIEGEL, Gatol, Vaczi
19:15: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: HUBER A., NIKOLIC K., Mantovani, Puff
19:15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – EC-KAC
Referees: HRONSKY, SMETANA, Konc, Riecken
19:15: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SEEWALD E., Durmis, Jedlicka
Sat, 10.01.2026:
17:30: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Hribar, Vaczi
18:30: FTC-Telekom – HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SEEWALD E., Durmis, Jedlicka
Watch all games live on Sporteurope.tv.