Release from 04.12.2025

EC-KAC Eyes Top Spot in Finals Rematch

Short text 555 CharactersPlain text

EC-KAC could take over the top position in the standings with a win in Friday’s top matchup. To do so, they need a full three-point victory in the rematch of last season’s final against EC Red Bull Salzburg (live on Sporteurope.TV), while the Moser Medical Graz99ers are idle. Third-placed HC Falkensteiner Pustertal travels to FTC-Telekom, while Olimpija Ljubljana hosts EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. The Vienna Capitals and Steinbach Black Wings Linz are also playing at home, with the Upper Austrians preparing for a home doubleheader on Friday and Saturday.

Press release 5162 CharactersPlain text

EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. EC-KAC
For the third time this season, the teams meet in a rematch of last year’s final. The first two encounters – as well as all four games of the 2024/25 final series – went to EC Red Bull Salzburg. In total, the Klagenfurt side has lost seven consecutive games against the Red Bulls. Most recently – just under two weeks ago – they fell in overtime after leading by two goals. Should EC-KAC manage to end the streak, the top spot in the standings would await them. Salzburg, meanwhile, dropped out of the top six with their loss on Wednesday and urgently needs wins against top teams. On Wednesday, the KAC made another statement with a 4:0 victory over Pustertal. Sebastian Dahm celebrated his 50th career shutout in the win2day ICE Hockey League, equaling the record held by J.P. Lamoureux.

FTC-Telekom vs. HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
After FTC-Telekom Budapest managed to defeat reigning champion Salzburg on Wednesday, the league newcomer now aims to follow up with another win against a top team. On Friday, HC Falkensteiner Pustertal travels to Budapest, having surrendered the top spot in the standings after a 0:4 loss to EC-KAC on Wednesday. The South Tyroleans have lost two games in a row only once this season: nearly three weeks ago when they first fell in Linz before suffering another defeat shortly after in Budapest. Budapest could now hand Pustertal back-to-back losses for the second time this season. The Hungarians also won both previous matchups with the Wolves this season – each by a score of 3:2. Currently, the league newcomer sits just four points behind the top-six teams.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz vs. Pioneers Vorarlberg
Despite holding a two-goal lead, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz had to settle for just one point in Wednesday’s home game against HC TIWAG Innsbruck. The Upper Austrians continue their push to close the gap to the top six. To do so, they need a three-point win against bottom-placed Pioneers Vorarlberg. The team from Feldkirch has won only one of its last seven games. Additionally, Nathan Burke was recently injured and will be out long-term. For this reason, the Pioneers strengthened their lineup by signing Roberts Bukarts for the offense and Michael Kernberger for the defense. Linz, meanwhile, has alternated between wins and losses over their last seven games. They have already collected the full points twice this season against the Pioneers.

Vienna Capitals vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia
Looking only at the last ten games, the Vienna Capitals are currently the league’s least in-form team. But even in the overall standings, the Viennese are losing ground on the top ten. Their gap to the Steinbach Black Wings Linz has grown to six points. HCB Südtirol Alperia, on the other hand, remains well within striking distance of the top teams. Despite suffering a loss to VSV on Wednesday, they continue to hold fifth place in the standings. The only previous meeting between these two teams took place just a few days ago: the Foxes earned a 2:0 home win over Vienna on Sunday and now look to follow up with an away victory.

Olimpija Ljubljana – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV returned to the top six on Wednesday with a win over HCB Südtirol Alperia. Next up is another top opponent: Olimpija Ljubljana. Ljubljana has won only two of its last five games, dropping from first place down to fourth. However, the Dragons still hold a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Villach, even though the Slovenians have already played two more games. The Dragons have also strengthened their roster once again, signing Slovenian national team forward Jan Drozg. The two previous meetings between the teams this season were both won by Olimpija.

Two Games on Saturday
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz and HC Falkensteiner Pustertal will be in action twice within 24 hours. After visiting Budapest on Friday, the South Tyroleans will stop in Linz on their way back, as Linz hosts two home games in two days.
Also on Saturday, HC TIWAG Innsbruck hosts Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The Hungarians earned an important win over Olimpija Ljubljana on Wednesday and look to build on it. Innsbruck managed to collect at least one point in Linz. The two previous matchups this season were won by Fehérvár – the most recent one in overtime.

ALL GAMES LIVE ON SPORTEUROPE.TV

win2day ICE Hockey League, Friday, 5 December 2025:
18:30 FTC-Telekom – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: HLAVATY, SMETANA, Gatol, Moidl

19:15 Vienna Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SCHAUER, Bärnthaler, Weiss

19:15 EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC-KAC
Referees: OFNER, SEEWALD, Bedynek, Riecken

19:15 Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, SOOS, Hribar, Jeram

19:15 Olimpija Ljubljana – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: GEBEI, STERNAT, Muzsik, Puff

Saturday, 6 December 2025:
17:30 HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: WINKLER, ZRNIC, Dummermuth-Haas, Zgonc

18:00 Steinbach Black Wings Linz – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SCHAUER, Durmis, Konc