Release from 06.09.2026

Sam Antonitsch: “The foundations for a good season have been laid”

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The Vienna Capitals are aiming to take another step forward in the upcoming win2day ICE Hockey League season and reach the quarter-finals again. Forward Sam Antonitsch talks about, among other things, new head coach Mike Stewart and the keys to a successful campaign.

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The Vienna Capitals improved steadily over the course of last campaign and finished the regular season in seventh place. In the pre-playoffs, however, the Viennese came up short after three games against Fehérvár. “It was very bitter that we lost in the pre-playoffs. In a best-of-three format, that can happen quickly. The goal has to be that we don’t end up in that situation again, but play directly in a best-of-seven series,” said Sam Antonitsch, who is targeting a top-six finish in the new win2day ICE Hockey League season.

New coach Mike Stewart brings extensive league experience
Among the new signings are Konstantin Komarek, who returned to the league after ten years in Sweden, the KHL and Switzerland, and defenseman Nick Bailen, who moved from champion Graz to the capital. The Caps also appointed Mike Stewart as their new head coach. The 54-year-old knows the league well from his time in Villach, where he even won the championship as a player and gained his first coaching experience. Over the past ten years, Stewart has worked as a coach in the DEL.



“The management has done a great job. We’ve made some very good signings and also brought in an excellent new coach in Mike Stewart. I know him from back when he was still playing himself. I hope we’ll perform accordingly. It’s important that he has a connection to both the Austrian players and the imports. The foundations for a good season have been laid, even though it certainly won’t be easy given the strong competition. Preseason is going well; we still need to grow together as a team, then we can go on the attack,” Antonitsch said. For the 30-year-old winger, it is already his tenth season in the win2day ICE Hockey League, in which he has played more than 400 games.

Long regular season demands consistency
On Saturday afternoon, the Viennese secured their first preseason win with a 3–0 victory over Slovak top-division side HK Dukla Trencin. “Preseason games are important to get back into the rhythm. But they can’t be compared to league games. When it really matters – when after 60 minutes you either have three points on the board or you don’t – that’s obviously something completely different. You go through the tactics; that’s what you need these games for. Still, you’re already looking forward to the real matches.” The Capitals will conclude their preseason next Friday with an away game against Fehérvár.

The black-and-yellows have also learned their lessons from last season. Antonitsch knows what will be crucial from the season opener on 18 September: “Consistency over the entire regular season is extremely important. You always want to start well, but it’s a long season. Looking at last year, the most important thing for all teams is obviously to stay healthy. Injuries are always a major factor.”