Release from 01.04.2025

KAC makes final repeat perfect | Bolzano third CHL participant of the ICE

Short text 778 CharactersPlain text

The EC-KAC is again in the final of the win2day ICE Hockey League. The Klagenfurt team won a dramatic seventh semi-final game against Steinbach Black Wings Linz with 2:0. Raphael Herburger (38.) and Nick Petersen (53.) scored. In the final, the KAC, for whom this is their twelfth appearance in the final since the league was founded, will face Salzburg, as they did last season. The “best-of-7” final series begins on Friday in the Heidi Horten-Arena in Klagenfurt.

The elimination of the Black Wings means that HCB Südtirol Alperia has secured its ticket for the upcoming Champions Hockey League season. The “Foxes” finished third in the regular season and will therefore represent the win2day ICE Hockey League in the 2025/26 CHL season together with the KAC and Salzburg.

Press release 1395 CharactersPlain text

The deciding game was also not for the faint-hearted. The defensive lines of both teams again dominated proceedings at first, meaning it took until the 37th minute before the first goal of the match was scored. Raphael Herburger deflected a shot from Jasper Jensen Aabo unstoppably.

The score remained 1:0 for the home side until the 53rd minute, when Nick Petersen increased the lead to 2:0 with a precise shot in the powerplay. It was the Canadian's 29th postseason goal for Klagenfurt.

Linz failed to get back into the game in the final minutes as Brian Lebler was given a penalty. Although Linz's goalkeeper Rasmus Tirronen left the ice in favor of an extra player, the visitors were unable to find a way back into the game. This was only the second time Linz had to concede defeat in a game seven. The KAC, on the other hand, won a decisive seventh game for only the second time.

The final will now be a rematch against Salzburg. The “best-of-7” final series begins on Friday in the Heidi Horten-Arena in Klagenfurt.

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Tuesday, 01.04.2025:
EC-KAC – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 2:0 (0:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Mantovani, Nothegger. | Spectators: 4.403
Final standings in the „best-of-7“ series: 4:3
Goals KAC: 1:0 Herburger R. (38.), 2:0 Petersen N. (53./PP1)