Release from 19.04.2024

Salzburg wins Championship 2023-2024

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EC Red Bull Salzburg have been crowned champions of the 2023/24 win2day ICE Hockey League season. This makes the Red Bulls the first team in league history to win the title three times in a row. In the seventh final game, the team led by captain Thomas Raffl celebrated a 6:2 road win at EC-KAC on Friday. This is already the ninth ICE title win for the "Red Bulls".

Following Game 7, RBS captain Thomas Raffl was voted playoff MVP by journalists. The 37-year-old veteran, who lifted the Champions Trophy for the seventh time today, scored eleven goals in the playoffs - more than any other player in the post-season of the win2day ICE Hockey League.

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EC Red Bull Salzburg started the game stronger and had their first good opportunity with a break down the right wing from Peter Schneider. However, Sebastian Dahm was able to fend off this chance. In the eighth minute, the man for the "big games" made his big appearance again: Nicolai Meyer scored immediately after Drake Rymsha had won a face-off to make it 1:0 for Salzburg. In Meyer's ICE career, this was already his third goal in his third Game 7. Even after the opening goal, the visitors had more of the play and were rewarded with the 2:0 in the 17th minute: Peter Hochkofler successfully deflected a shot from Dennis Robertson.

Johannes Bischofberger opened the second period with a great chance for the KAC, but missed alone in front of Atte Tolvanen's box. Captain Thomas Raffl made it 3:0 almost immediately with his eleventh playoff goal: Raffl was set up by Peter Schneider in the 22nd minute and the top scorer of the playoff campaign finished with his backhand. The EC-KAC continued to press for their first goal of the evening, but the puck did not bounce the way the home side wanted and EC Red Bull Salzburg blocked numerous shots. Even during a 100-second double overtime spell, in which Atte Tolvanen excelled, Klagenfurt were unable to score. Haudum had the best chance in this pressure phase, but he also failed to beat the RBS goalkeeper. Nicolai Meyer, on the other hand, remained "on fire" in "big games": In the 38th minute, the 30-year-old Dane returned from the penalty box, was immediately served by Schneider and made it 4:0.

And it got even worse for the EC-KAC at the start of the final period: Lucas Thaler made it 5:0 in the 43rd minute. However, Klagenfurt did not give up: First Paul Postma scored the first KAC goal of the evening a little later, before Raphael Herburger gave the Heidi Horten Arena some hope once again in the 53rd minute by making it 2:5. However, Klagenfurt, who were already without goalkeeper Sebastian Dahm at this point, then had to accept the final decision with an "empty-netter": Benjamin Nissner extended his scoring streak, making the final score 6:2 and sealing EC Red Bull Salzburg's ninth title win - their third in a row.

Thomas Raffl is playoff MVP
Red Bulls captain Thomas Raffl was named playoff MVP. The 37-year-old veteran, who lifted the Champions Trophy for the seventh time today, scored eleven goals in the playoffs - more than any other player in the postseason of the win2day ICE Hockey League. Raffl also recorded seven assists.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 20.04.2024 | Finals - Game Seven | Result:
EC-KAC - EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:6 (0:2,0:2,2:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., STERNAT, Nothegger, Riecken.
Goals KAC: Postma (44.), Herburger (53.),
Goals RBS: Meyer (8; 38.), Hochkofler (17.), Raffl (22.), Thaler (43.), Nissner (57.)