Release from 07.05.2025

Salzburg extends with captain Thomas Raffl

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Thomas Raffl is entering his 15th season with EC Red Bull Salzburg. The 38-year-old has captained the Red Bulls since 2019 and has even scored the championship-winning goal in three of the last four title wins. The forward has won the championship seven times with Salzburg and once with Villach (2006). The veteran has played a total of 966 games in the win2day ICE Hockey League to date.

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The Red Bulls and Thomas Raffl have been inseparable for 15 years. Born in Villach, he came to Salzburg from Luleå (SHL) in 2009 and only missed the 2015/16 season, when he made his American appearance in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. In all that time, the 1.94m tall model athlete has matured into a player who constantly tries to give his best on the ice and has also led the team as a strong personality with the "C" on his chest since 2019.

Currently the oldest player in the league at 38, he impresses year after year with his incredible fitness, which allows him to continue to play a long season at a high level. With 12 goals in the regular season and 4 goals in the playoffs, he was once again one of Salzburg's assets in the offensive zone last season. His experience and mental strength will also benefit the Red Bulls in the post-season, with Raffl scoring the championship-winning goal in three of the last four championships in the win2day ICE Hockey League alone.

The Austrian national team is also relying on the experience of the forward, who starts his seventh World Championship as captain in Stockholm on Friday and has played the most games of any active Austrian national player with 135 appearances in red-white-red.

Henrik Neubauer continues to fly for the Black Wings
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz also announced the contract extension with winger Henrik Neubauer. After moving to the steel city in the summer of 2024, the 28-year-old quickly became an indispensable component in key defensive moments. The Austro-Swede recorded four goals and six assists in the past season.