Release from 14.08.2021

Vienna Capitals back on the ice and challenged immediately

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The spusu Vienna Capitals, last year's semi-finalists of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, returned to the ice on Thursday in front of around 500 fans and led by neo-head coach Dave Barr. Just two days later, this Saturday, the Viennese will play their first of seven preparation games for the new season. In Bratislava the HC Slovan Bratislava is the opponent.

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"I landed in the morning. After that, I went immediately to the Erste Bank Arena. Then it was time to get to know the players personally. We started with a team meeting in the afternoon. We discussed our system, how we want to play this season and what kind of attitude we're going to have," said head coach Dave Barr, describing his first hours in Austria's capital. The 60-years-old Canadian replaces Dave Cameron, who left Vienna after three years.

For almost the entire past season, no spectators were allowed in the Erste Bank Arena due to Covid-19. At the first public training session, therefore, around 500 fans did not miss the chance to finally see their idols again. "This is really something special. On a Thursday, at 6:00 p.m., so many fans come to the arena for a training session. It was a great atmosphere. The players couldn't hear my instructions now and then, though. But that's all right. We all really enjoyed the super atmosphere and are happy that our fans can support us so loudly again," said Barr.

The acclimatization period for the neo-head coach at the Capitals is, however, only a short one, because just over 48 hours after his arrival, the Viennese already play the first test match. The opponent on Saturday evening is the HC Slovan Bratislava. The Slovakian capital club lost to local rivals iClinic Bratislava Capitals just last Wednesday with 0:5. Face off is at 18:00 at the Ondrej Nepela Ice Hockey Arena in Bratislava. There will be free livestream of the match here.

You can watch the first public training session here: