Release from 12.04.2024

Thomas Koch analyses the final series between his former teams

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Thomas Koch ended his successful career almost a year ago, winning a total of nine championship titles with the EC-KAC and EC Red Bull Salzburg since the league was newly-founded. Now the 40-year-old is following the final series between his former teams very closely.

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"For me, it's a dream final with the two best teams in the league," says Thomas Koch about the clash between his two former teams. After 1,163 games in Austria's top division, the league's all-time top scorer (1,043 points) ended his impressive career almost a year ago. In total, the 40-year-old won the title nine times with the EC-KAC and EC Red Bull Salzburg since the league was newly-founded. The 2011 final series was particularly memorable, when Koch scored in overtime to win the title for Salzburg in game seven in Klagenfurt. A few days later, his return to the KAC was announced. "I have particularly fond memories of my career. When you lift the trophy at the end of a season, you never forget those moments as an athlete. You can only achieve such success as part of a team."


Thomas Koch's goal decided the 2011 final series in Salzburg's favour.

Koch is following the current showdown in the win2day ICE Hockey League very closely, keeping an eye on his former teams. "They are very exciting games, great for the spectators to watch. In the last game, Klagenfurt once again played to a strength that they have often shown this season: if a period doesn't go their way, they switch completely in the next period. After trailing 2:0, they were ready to go at the start of the middle period, got pucks goalwards and put pressure on the goalie - you're used to that kind of performance from the KAC in their own arena," explains the former forward, reviewing game three. Klagenfurt ultimately won 4:2 and took the lead in the series for the first time. The comeback success gives the regular season winners further confidence, but Thomas Koch does not believe there will be a sticking point in the series: "It was one game. And especially in the playoffs, it's nothing more and nothing less. Salzburg is just as capable of making up a deficit. They showed that in the series against Bolzano in the third game after going 3:0 down."

Even before the series, Koch saw advantages for the Red Jackets. On Friday, the reigning champions from Salzburg will be under pressure to avoid a third defeat in a row. That would mean match pucks for Klagenfurt. "The Red Bulls have to play more consistently and realise their potential over 60 minutes, otherwise it will be difficult to beat the KAC. Anything is possible in a best-of-seven series. However, Klagenfurt have had a slight advantage in every game so far and the momentum is increasingly in their favour." The fourth clash will be broadcast on PULS 24 and Joyn from 7.05 pm.

Rotjacken-TV - The special programme for Thomas Koch Night: