Release from 18.12.2025

Linz hosts Salzburg in live game on ORF Sport+ | Ljubljana faces Pustertal in clash of top teams

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On Friday, EC Red Bull Salzburg visits the Steinbach Black Wings Linz in the ORF Sport+ live game. Meanwhile, Ljubljana and Pustertal meet in a top-tier battle of the win2day ICE Hockey League, as league leaders EC-KAC host the Pioneers Vorarlberg. Additionally, Graz and Villach face the league’s two Hungarian clubs.

On Saturday, the Vienna Capitals begin their road trip at HCB Südtirol Alperia, who have signed a new goaltender, Christopher Gibson.

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EC-KAC – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Klagenfurt reclaimed the top spot with a 6–3 road win in Fehérvár and continues to impress at even strength with a goal differential of +23. Current top scorer Mathias From has recorded points in twelve consecutive games. The Pioneers, sitting in 12th place, travel to Carinthia following a heavy 0–7 defeat in Salzburg. Despite celebrating back-to-back wins for the first time this season before the international break, they still struggle against top teams, collecting just 5 of a possible 39 points. History clearly favors the Red Jackets: KAC have won 14 of the last 20 meetings since 2022, including seven straight with a combined score of 31–12. Their most recent matchup, on November 28, ended in a convincing 6–2 victory for Klagenfurt.

Olimpija Ljubljana – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Ljubljana returned from the international break with a shootout win in Graz. New signing Jan Drozg scored his first goal for the club, while top scorer Nicolai Meyer netted the late equalizer. Pustertal snapped their losing streak with a strong home win over Innsbruck. Only three points separate the two — Olimpija sits second, Bruneck fourth. The Wolves have lost their last six away games. In head-to-head meetings this season, the home team has won each time.

Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Graz’s winning streak ended with a shootout loss against Ljubljana on Wednesday. Fehérvár fell to KAC. While the 99ers rank among the league’s top road teams, their home record is much weaker with six defeats in 13 games at Merkur Eisstadion. The Styrians will aim to build on their spectacular 9–4 home victory over Fehérvár in October, though the Hungarians took the upper hand in their most recent encounter.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg
After a commanding home win over Feldkirch, EC Red Bull Salzburg travels to Linz looking to extend their three-game winning streak. The Black Wings’ form has been inconsistent: wins and losses have alternated over their last ten games. Offensively (88 goals, 5th-most), Linz are dangerous, but defensively (95 goals against, 11th) they remain vulnerable. Salzburg boasts the league’s second-best defense (62 goals against), just behind Graz. The matchup promises another heated battle: Linz claimed a 3–2 overtime win in the first encounter, while the defending champions responded with a dominant 4–0 home victory last month.

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – FTC-Telekom
After a one-week break, Villach returns to league action five points behind sixth place but with two games in hand compared to Salzburg. Budapest have lost two straight, most recently a close contest in Vienna on Wednesday. Villach won both previous meetings this season.

HCB Südtirol Alperia – Vienna Capitals
On Saturday, the Vienna Capitals open their South Tyrol road trip, which continues Sunday in Bruneck. A home win over Budapest brought the Caps closer to the top 10. Bolzano enjoyed a successful debut under new head coach Doug Shedden, beating Linz 7–4. In both previous meetings this season, the home team has emerged victorious.

New Goalie for Bolzano
HCB Südtirol Alperia has signed Finnish goaltender Christopher Gibson as a temporary replacement for the injured Gianluca Vallini. The 32-year-old, under contract until early February, brings extensive experience with 16 NHL and 254 AHL appearances. Last season, Gibson played in Germany and Slovakia.

win2day ICE Hockey League
Fr,i 19. 12. 2025:
18:30: Moser Medical Graz99ers - Hydro Fehervar AV 19
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Gatol, Muzsik

19:15: EC-KAC - Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: HUBER, SEEWALD, Durmis, Jeram

19:15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - FTC-Telekom
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Puff, Seewald

19:15: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC Red Bull Salzburg 
Referees: NAGY, PIRAGIC, Bedynek, Martin  | LIVE on ORF Sport+ and on.orf.at

19:15: Olimpija Ljubljana - HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Riecken, Zgonc

Sat, 20. 12. 2025:
19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - Vienna Capitals
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STERNAT, Nothegger, Rigoni

Watch all games live on Sporteurope.tv.