Release from 09.01.2026
League leaders EC-KAC edged past EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 3–2 in the fourth Carinthian derby of the season, pushing their local rivals down to 11th place in the standings. KAC now hold a five-point lead over the Moser Medical Graz99ers, who claimed a 3–2 overtime win at home in the round’s top matchup against HCB Südtirol Alperia. Unstoppable once again are third-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg, who gave Olimpija Ljubljana no chance in a 5–1 home victory, thereby matching the longest winning streak in club history with 12 consecutive wins. Elsewhere, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz celebrated an important 3–2 overtime road win at the Vienna Capitals. Home victories were also recorded by the Hungarian teams in the win2day ICE Hockey League, all of whom – along with the Pioneers Vorarlberg and HC TIWAG Innsbruck – will be back in action on Saturday.
In a high-quality Carinthian derby played in front of 3,465 fans at a sold-out Villach Stadthalle, EC-KAC prevailed 3–2 to claim their third derby win in four meetings this season. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV made the better start and took the lead in the 24th minute through Adam Helewka. The league leaders from Klagenfurt struggled to find their rhythm and only came alive late in the game. In the 44th minute, KAC equalised during a 5-on-3 power play, with Steven Strong and Adam Helewka in the penalty box for VSV. The game then turned into an open end-to-end battle with plenty of scoring chances. In the 53rd minute, Simeon Schwinger made it 2–1 for KAC, but the hosts responded perfectly as Philipp Lindner tied the game on the power play in the 57th minute. The final say, however, belonged to the league leaders: Jan Muršak scored the game-winning goal with just under two minutes remaining. KAC secured their third straight win and extended their lead over Graz to five points. VSV, meanwhile, suffered their 10th loss in the last 11 games and slipped to 11th place, two points behind 10th-placed Budapest.
Salzburg match their longest winning streak
For the third time in club history, EC Red Bull Salzburg have won 12 consecutive games. The Red Bulls previously achieved this feat in the 2013/14 season and during the 2021 playoffs, when they captured the championship with a 12-game sweep. Salzburg sealed their 12th straight victory with a commanding 5–1 home win over Olimpija Ljubljana. Prior to face-off, Thomas Raffl was honoured by the league and his club for reaching 1,000 career league games, a milestone he achieved on Monday in Bolzano. In front of more than 3,200 fans, it was his brother Michael Raffl who opened the scoring in the 4th minute. Olimpija levelled the score at 1–1 in the 16th minute, but from that point on Salzburg took control. The Red Bulls led 3–1 after two periods and pulled away to 5–1 in the final frame. It marked Ljubljana’s first loss in three meetings with Salzburg this season.
Graz win top matchup against Bolzano in overtime
A thrilling top-of-the-round clash between the Moser Medical Graz99ers and HCB Südtirol Alperia ended with a 3–2 overtime victory for the home side. Graz led 2–0 after 22 minutes, but the visitors stormed back with a two-goal burst between the 32nd and 35th minutes. With no further goals in regulation, the game went to overtime, where Josh Currie scored the decisive goal to secure the extra point for the 99ers. With 72 points, Graz remain second in the standings, now seven points ahead of fourth-placed Bolzano. It was Graz’s fourth win in their last five games and their third victory over Bolzano in three meetings this season.
Big points for Linz in Vienna
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz edged the Vienna Capitals 3–2 in overtime in a tightly contested matchup. In front of more than 6,200 fans at the STEFFL Arena, the visitors jumped out to a 2–0 lead with goals in the 12th and 13th minutes. The middle period belonged to the Capitals, who tied the game with two goals from Zane Franklin, the equaliser coming just two seconds before the end of the period. With no goals scored in the third period, overtime was needed, and Graham Knott, who had also scored Linz’s opening goal, netted the game-winner. The victory saw Linz overtake Vienna for eighth place in the standings. Both teams now sit on 46 points, four points clear of 11th-placed VSV.
Narrow home win for Fehérvár
Important points in the race for the pre-playoffs were also claimed by seventh-placed Hydro Fehérvár AV19, who extended their cushion over 11th place to nine points and moved to within six points of sixth-placed Pustertal. The 4–2 home win over bottom side HC TIWAG Innsbruck was hard-fought. Rasmus Kulmala scored the 3–2 game-winner with just 70 seconds remaining, after Sebastian Benker had equalised for Innsbruck only 50 seconds earlier. Csanád Erdély sealed the result with an empty-net goal.
Budapest hold on for home win and return to winning ways
FTC-Telekom recorded a 5–4 home win over the Pioneers Vorarlberg, snapping a six-game losing streak. The Hungarian side raced to a commanding 5–1 lead after the first period, but the Pioneers refused to give in, cutting the deficit to 5–3 by the 40th minute. New signing Mathias Böhm scored his first goal for Vorarlberg during the comeback. When the visitors made it 5–4 in the 48th minute, the hosts were forced to hang on, but ultimately held firm to secure the win. The victory lifted Budapest back into the top 10, pushing VSV down to 11th place.
win2day ICE Hockey League:
Fri, 09.01.2026:
Moser Medical Graz99ers – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:2/OT (1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 1:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Bedynek, Zacherl
Goals G99: 1:0 Bailen N. (17./PP1), 2:0 Collins C. (22.), 3:2 Currie J. (62.)
Goals HCB: 2:1 Gazley D. (32.), 2:2 Gersich S. (35.)
FTC-Telekom – Pioneers Vorarlberg 5:4 (5:1, 0:2, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Hribar, Muzsik
Goals FTC: 1:0 Green G. (5.), 2:1 Lindgren J. (7.), 3:1 Antonen J. (9.), 4:1 Coulter T. (13.), 5:1 Green L. (15.)
Goals PIV: 1:1 Erne L. (6.), 5:2 Gallant C. (25.), 5:3 Böhm M. (40.), 5:4 Bukarts R. (48.)
Vienna Capitals – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 2:3/OT (0:2, 2:0, 0:0)
Referees: KAINBERGER, SIEGEL, Gatol, Vaczi
Goals VIC: 1:2 Franklin Z. (32.), 2:2 Franklin Z. (40.)
Goals BWL: 0:1 Knott G. (12.), 0:2 Collins S. (13.), 2:3 Knott G. (63.)
EC Red Bull Salzburg – Olimpija Ljubljana 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0)
Referees: HUBER A., NIKOLIC K., Mantovani, Puff
Goals RBS: 1:0 Raffl M. (4.), 2:1 St. Denis T. (24./PP1), 3:1 Huber M. (40.), 4:1 Coe B. (47.), 5:1 Corcoran C. (48.)
Goals OLL: 1:1 Masic B. (16./PP1)
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – EC-KAC 2:3 (0:0, 1:0, 1:3)
Referees: HRONSKY, SMETANA, Konc, Riecken
Goals VSV: 1:0 Helewka A. (24.), 2:2 Lindner P. (57./PP1)
Goals KAC: 1:1 Herburger R. (44./PP2), 1:2 Schwinger S. (53.), 2:3 Mursak J. (59.)
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – HC TIWAG Innsbruck 4:2 (0:0, 1:1, 3:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SEEWALD E., Durmis, Jedlicka
Goals AVS: 1:0 Kuralt A. (32.), 2:1 Messner J. (57.), 3:2 Kulmala R. (59.), 4:2 Erdely C. (60.)
Goals HCI: 1:1 Coatta M. (38./PP1), 2:2 Benker S. (59.)