Release from 02.09.2026

Graz, Klagenfurt and Salzburg start the new CHL season at home

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To kick off the new Champions Hockey League season, all three representatives of the win2day ICE Hockey League will welcome their first opponents on Thursday. While the Moser Medical Graz99ers host Swiss champions HC Fribourg-Gottéron, EC-KAC will open its seventh CHL campaign against French debutants Bordeaux Boxers. EC Red Bull Salzburg will face the Kölner Haie.

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Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. HC Fribourg-Gottéron
The Moser Medical Graz99ers will begin their second CHL campaign against reigning Swiss champions Fribourg-Gottéron (6:30 p.m., live on ORF Sport+). The five preseason games, which produced two wins and three defeats, provided ideal preparation given the quality of the opposition.

Several players who were recently unavailable should return to the lineup. Fribourg are a team packed with quality: almost all of the Swiss players on the roster have already represented their country at international level.

EC-KAC vs. Bordeaux Boxers
On Thursday, EC-KAC will play its 37th CHL game and welcome French champions and CHL debutants Bordeaux Boxers to the Heidi Horten-Arena (7:15 p.m., livestream on sporteurope.tv). The Klagenfurt side has qualified for the CHL for the seventh time and has won all five of their previous games against French clubs in the competition.

Klagenfurt are expecting the comeback of captain Thomas Hundertpfund, who has been training without any complaints again after an absence of almost nine months.

EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. Kölner Haie
EC Red Bull Salzburg will begin its eleventh CHL season against the Kölner Haie (7:15 p.m., livestream on sporteurope.tv). Salzburg’s new coaching staff, led by head coach Alan Letang, has integrated many new players. Following four preseason games and some strong performances at the Red Bulls Salute in Zell am See, the team will be looking to improve further.

Captain Thomas Raffl has recovered from the injury that kept him out during the preseason and will play in his first game of the season.