Release from 28.08.2019

EC-KAC heads into Champions Hockey League

Short text 330 CharactersPlain text

As Erste Bank Eishockey Liga’s first team, the EC-KAC heads into the new Champions Hockey League season on Thursday. The reigning champions hosts Finnish top club Tappara Tampere. After 2015-16 and 2017-18 Klagenfurt participates for the third time in CHL. Further, the HC Orli Znojmo hosts MAC Budapest (HUN) in a friendly game. 

Press release 2527 CharactersPlain text

While the spusu Vienna Capitals and the Moser Medical Graz99ers open their Champions Hockey League campaign on Friday, the EC-KAC kicks off the new season on Thursday, hosting Finnish side Tappara Tampere. In their past two CHL-seasons (15-16 and 17-18) the Austrians played ten games, winning three. Getting a 2:1 overtime win against ZSC Lions (CH) was Klagenfurt’s last victory in CHL back on October 3rd, 2017. Since 2014 opponent Tampere always reached the group stage, losing only four out of 26 games in regular time. Four out of five times the 17-times Finnish champion won the group stage too. Past season Tampere dropped in the round of 16, losing to Czech side Kometa Brno.

Kick-off after perfect preseason
During the preseason the EC-KAC remain unbeaten, winning all four friendlies. Only once, the reigning champion received more than one goal (7:4 vs. HC Banská Bystrica). On the other hand, Tappara Tampere had a so-so preparation, grabbing one win out of three games.

Kraus and Haudum will miss the opener
Due to injury reasons (upper body), Lukas Haudum and Niki Kraus both will miss the opening game in Champions Hockey League. Johannes Bischofberger will replace Christoph Duller in KAC’s line-up.

Manuel Ganahl, forward EC-KAC: “After the well-played preseason, we are looking forward to a successful CHL-opener on Thursday. During the past week we sternly worked on some details. But for sure we improved. I faced Tampere past season in Liiga during the regular season and the playoffs, and they are a very solid team protecting the own net very well. It will be up to our performance in the neutral zone. Overall it will be a tough but attractive battle against one of the best teams of Finland.”

Champions Hockey League, 1st game day:
Thursday, 29.09.2019, 19.30: EC-KAC – Tappara Tampere (FIN)
broadcasted live on ORF Sport+ (19.20)

HC Orli Znojmo hosts MAC Budapest in a friendly
While the EC-KAC kicks off the Champions Hockey League, the HC Orli Znojmo plays its fifth preparatory game for the upcoming Erste Bank Eishockey Liga season. The Czech side hosts MAC Budapest (HUN), which lost to Vienna and Villach in the current preseason. Znojmo already played four friendlies, taking only one win. Past year’s quarterfinalist won the last meeting in preseason 5:3 back in 2017. 

Preseason game Thrusday:
Thu, 29.08.2019: HC Orli Znojmo – MAC Budapest (18:00)

Here you find Erste Bank Eishockey Liga's full preseason schedule.