Release from 18.08.2022

Twelve ICE teams in action this weekend

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Almost all teams of the win2day ICE Hockey League will play one or more Preseason games this weekend - one month before the start of the season. In total, 16 games with ICE participation are scheduled from Friday to Sunday. The weekend will be opened on Friday by the only ICE-internal duel between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and EC-KAC. The absolute highlights of the weekend will be played first by Steinbach Black Wings Linz and then by EC Red Bull Salzburg, when the two ICE teams will meet the German record champions Eisbären Berlin.

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Both EC-KAC and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 open their respective preseason campaigns on Friday in a head-to-head clash. For EC-KAC, newcomers Jesper Jensen Aabo and Lucas Lessio will make their debuts. Steven Strong, Rok Tičar and Johannes Bischofberger, who were all out injured at the end of last season, are back in the lineup healthy. Kele Steffler, who is currently suffering from a lower-body injury, will be absent in Maribor and will not return to ice training until next week at the earliest. There are more new faces to see on the side of the runner-up. Four new Canadians - with Brett Findlay, Olivier Roy and Ben Betker already known from the league - and a US American strengthen the team of head coach Kevin Constantine. While it is the only preseason game for Hydro Fehérvár AV19 this weekend, EC-KAC travels on to Bled where they will face EC Bad Nauheim on Sunday.

Also making their first preseason appearance on Friday is HC TIWAG Innsbruck, who have also energetically strengthened themselves on the transfer market. Among others, Brady Shaw, who played for runner-up Fehérvár last season, moved to Innsbruck. The first test for the Sharks is against DEL team Iserlohn Roosters on Friday at 6:00 p.m., before they host the Bietigheim Steelers from the DEL on Sunday.

The Moser Medical Graz99ers have already played one game. After their narrow defeat against HC Banska Bystric, the Styrians want to prevail against EC Bad Nauheim and further establish their newly developed system in the process.

Black Wings and Salzburg with highlight games

The Steinbach Black Wings Linz celebrate a highlight of the still young preparation and invite to a test match against the German record champion and reigning champion of the Penny DEL. On Friday (7:00 p.m.), the steel cities will challenge the Eisbären Berlin at the Linz AG Eisarena. Afterwards, the German record champions will travel on to Salzburg to face the champions of the win2day ICE Hockey League in a duel of champions on Saturday.

Champions in the German Ice Hockey League a total of nine times, most recently winning the title two years in a row and regulars in the Champions Hockey League since 2014. Eisbären Berlin have always been among the most resounding names in European ice hockey. Responsible for the run in recent years is Serge Aubin, 2017 championship coach for the spusu Vienna Capitals, has been setting the direction for the Berliners since 2019. Under his leadership, the capital club marched into the playoffs in the last two seasons as sovereign main round winners and there to the title in the German Ice Hockey League.

The Black Wings will also duel with HC Motor České Budějovice from the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Pioneers give premiere as ICE club

The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg start their pre-season program with a friendly game against EHC Freiburg. It is the Pioneers' first test in preparation for the win2day ICE Hockey League. A total of six friendly games are on the program of the Feldkircher, before a new chapter of ice hockey in Vorarlberg starts on 16.09.2022 with the away game in Bolzano. On Friday, the Vorarlbergers will meet the Wolves from Breisgau (DEL2).

An intensive test match Friday will be concluded with two games of HC Pustertal and EC IDM Wärmepumpen Villach, who still faced each other in a direct duel on Tuesday. The South Tyroleans, who are already playing their third test match, welcome the Bietigheim Steelers from the Penny DEL before they face HC Thurgau on Sunday.After test against Jesenice and VSV, the record of the Wolves is currently balanced. The EC IDM heat pumps VSV guest at the traditional "world class tournament" in Will / Switzerland. There, with the SC Rapperswill-Jona Lakers and the EHC Olten, two traditional teams are waiting for Andrew Desjardines and Co.

On Saturday, there will also be away games of HK SZ Olimpija Ljubjana and HCB Südtirol Alperia. The Slovenians meet the Augsburg Panthers in their third preparatory game, while the South Tyroleans host HC Meran/o.

On Sunday, the spusu Vienna Capitals will play their second test in the current preseason campaign. After the narrow defeat against HC Banska Bystrica, the Viennese are traveling to SC Kolin in the Czech Republic.

Preseason games from 19.08. to 21.08.:

Fri, 19.08.2022 AVS - KAC 17:00
Fri, 19.08.2022 HCI - IRO 18:00
Fri, 19.08.2022 BWL - EBL 19:00
Fri, 19.08.2022 G99 - NAU 19:15
Fri, 19.08.2022 PIV - FRE 19:30
Fri, 19.08.2022 PUS - BST 19:45
Fri, 19.08.2022 RJL - VSV 20:00 hrs
Sat, 20.08.2022 AUP - HKO 14:30
Sat, 20.08.2022 HCM - HCB 15:00
Sa, 20.08.2022 EHO - VSV 16:00
Sun, 21.08.2022 HCI - BST 16:00
Sat, 20.08.2022 RBS - EBL 16:30
Sun, 21.08.2022 MCB - BWL 17:30
Sun, 21.08.2022 SCK - VIC 17:30
So, 21.08.2022 NAU - KAC 18:30
So, 21.08.2022 PUS - HCT 19:00

Click here for the full preseason schedule.