Release from 22.07.2026

Travis St. Denis moves from Salzburg to Klagenfurt | Bolzano unveil another defenseman

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EC-KAC have announced their fourth new signing for the 2026/27 win2day ICE Hockey League season. Forward Travis St. Denis is leaving EC Salzburg to join Klagenfurt on a one-year contract. Meanwhile, HCB Südtirol Alperia have signed defenseman Jackson van de Leest, completing the construction of their defensive unit for the upcoming season.

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The Canadian was one of Salzburg's offensive leaders last season, finishing second in team scoring with 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 51 league games, trailing only Michael Raffl.

Born in British Columbia, St. Denis developed through the Canadian junior ranks before playing four successful seasons at Quinnipiac University in the NCAA. He turned professional in 2016 and went on to spend five seasons in the American Hockey League, recording 145 points in 294 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Binghamton Devils.

St. Denis then made the move to Europe, where he played in the DEL for the Straubing Tigers and ERC Ingolstadt between 2021 and 2025 before joining EC Salzburg ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The versatile forward, who can play both at center and on the wing, also brings plenty of international experience, with the upcoming season marking his fifth consecutive Champions Hockey League campaign.

St. Denis is equally excited about the next chapter of his career:

"When the opportunity to join EC-KAC came up, it immediately felt like the right fit for me and my family. This is a club with a rich tradition and a winning culture, and it's something I really wanted to be a part of. I've heard nothing but great things about the organization and the city, and I already experienced the incredible atmosphere from the other side last season. I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates and helping the team have a successful year. My goal is simple: I want to win the championship with EC-KAC."

Defenseman Jackson van de Leest joins Bolzano
HCB Südtirol Alperia have strengthened their blue line with the signing of Jackson van de Leest. The 25-year-old left-shot defenseman is set to make his first move to Europe after appearing in 30 American Hockey League games and 117 ECHL contests. With his arrival, the Foxes complete the construction of their defensive unit while adding significant size and physicality. Standing at 200 cm and weighing 108 kg, van de Leest will become the tallest and heaviest player in HCB's ICE Hockey League history.

Jackson van de Leest was born on June 15, 2001, in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. He developed through the Western Hockey League, where he played for the Calgary Hitmen and later served as team captain. After spending two seasons in the U SPORTS program at Dalhousie University, he signed his first professional contract with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL during the 2023/24 season. He also made his first six appearances in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets.

In October 2024, van de Leest played in two preseason games with the New Jersey Devils before signing with the Utica Comets organization for the following two seasons. During that time, he split his campaign between the AHL and the ECHL, also appearing in 16 games for the South Carolina Stingrays. By the end of last season, he had recorded one goal and four assists in 30 AHL games, along with nine goals and 22 assists in 117 ECHL appearances.