Release from 10.08.2017
Half of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga's teams are in action at the first preseason weekend. With EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz, Dornbirner Eishockey Club, EC-KAC and champions UPC Vienna Capitals even four sides play their first matches.
Exactly one week after hitting the ice for the 2017-18 campaign for the first time, EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz open their preseason. The team of new coach Troy Ward plays this weekend twice against Straubing Tigers. On Friday the Upper Austrian host the DEL side and two days later they meet again, this time in the Bavarian city.
Dornbirn Bulldogs have eight friendlies to prepare for the upcoming season. Before they play their home opener against DEL team Ravensburg Towerstars on Sunday, Dornbirn faces SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers on the road on Firday. Both teams already met last preseason with the Bulldogs getting a 7:3 win. In the last two seasons the Swiss NLB side, who have Steve Mason the son of Graz99ers coach Doug on their roster, barely missed promotion.
CHL participants search early form
Two weeks before heading into the Champions Hockey League group stage, EC-KAC starts their preseason. The Carinthinas play all of their three friendlies in maribor, Slovenia. This weekend they meet Slovak champion Banská Bystrica (Friday), and Lyon Hockey Club from France (Saturday). The two international teams play both Carinthian sides. While EC VSV already meets Lyon today, they will play Banská Bystrica in Maribor on Saturday.
While EC Red Bull Salzburg plays their placement match of the Red Bulls Salute in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (
see the preview for Thursday's games), champions UPC Vienna Capitals step into action, too. On Saturday the Viennese play MAC Budapest on the road. As Klagenfurt and Salzburg, the Caps already have their first competitive CHL match in two weeks.
Upcoming preseason games:
Fri, 11.08.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz - Straubing Tigers (19:30)
Fri, 11.08.2017: Rapperswil Lakers (SUI/NLB) - Dornbirner Eishockey Club (19:30)
Fri, 11.08.2017: EC-KAC - HC Banska Bystrica (Maribor, 19:00)
Sat, 12.08.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg - EHC Red Bull München/SC Bern (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 15:00 or 19:00)
Sat, 12.08.2017: EC-KAC - Lyon Hockey Club (Maribor, 19:30)
Sat, 12.08.2017: Banska Bystrica - EC VSV (16:00)
Sat, 12.08.2017: MAC Budapest - UPC Vienna Capitals (19:00)
Sun, 13.08.2017: Straubing Tigers - EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (18:00)
Sun, 13.08.2017: Dornbirner Eishockey Club - Ravensburg Towerstars/DEL2 (20:00)