Release from 21.12.2025
The Vienna Capitals capped off a perfect road trip weekend in South Tyrol. After an unexpected win against HCB Südtirol Alperia on Saturday night, the Caps added another three points less than 24 hours later with a victory over HC Falkensteiner Pustertal. Those six additional points see Vienna leapfrog the Steinbach Black Wings Linz into tenth place. From the outset, HC Pustertal and the Capitals were involved in a high-quality contest with true playoff intensity. After a scoreless opening period, Randy Gazzola put the Caps ahead in the middle frame. Pustertal equalised early in the final period, but a quick brace from Jeremy Gregoire proved decisive. The Wolves did manage to pull one goal back but were unable to force overtime.
Salzburg win top clash
EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated their first win of the season against the Moser Medical Graz99ers with a 3:0 home victory. In front of 3,400 fans at a sold-out Eisarena Salzburg, the first two periods remained scoreless in a battle between two defensively strong teams. The Red Bulls then struck twice early in the third period to decide the game. Travis St. Denis (44th) and Troy Bourke (46th) found the net just over a minute apart, before Lucas Thaler sealed the result with an empty-net goal. Goaltender David Kickert recorded his fourth shutout of the season – the most by any goalie in the win2day ICE Hockey League. Salzburg climbed to fifth place in the standings ahead of the holidays. For the Graz99ers, it marked their first scoreless outing since Daniel Lacroix took over as head coach.
KAC extend lead with emphatic win over FTC
EC-KAC remain the benchmark of the win2day ICE Hockey League and will spend Christmas on top of the standings. In Sunday’s game, the Klagenfurt side shut out FTC-Telekom Budapest 5:0. Finn van Ee stood out in the opening period with a quick double. League top scorer Mathias From made it 3:0 before the first intermission. Ferencváros never found their way back into the game and ultimately suffered a 5:0 defeat, with van Ee completing a hat-trick. EC-KAC now lead the standings with a margin of … over their closest challenger.
Western teams surprise against Ljubljana and Villach
Pioneers Vorarlberg claimed a 5:2 home win over Olimpija Ljubljana in their final game before Christmas. After Oskar Maier opened the scoring early (2nd), the Slovenian visitors turned the game around in the first period. The Pioneers took control in the middle frame, however, with goals from Collin Adams and Maier again giving the hosts a 3:2 lead after 40 minutes. Ramon Schnetzer extended the advantage early in the third period (44th), and the Pioneers then defended resolutely, keeping Ljubljana at bay with the help of a strong performance from David Madlener. Gallant capped the night with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
HC TIWAG Innsbruck secured a 5:2 victory over EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV on Sunday. The Haie were rewarded with three points after a strong performance. Innsbruck enjoyed a dream start as Matt Wilkins opened the scoring after just 17 seconds. Villach replied through Adam Helewka, but the hosts regained the lead in the second period. After further goals at both ends, Benjamin Corbeil and Stefan Klasser ensured a 3:2 lead after 40 minutes. Sebastian Benker decided the game with a shorthanded breakaway goal in the 49th minute, before Corbeil added an empty-netter. HCI headed into the Christmas break on a positive note.
Fehérvár keep Linz at distance
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 won their home game against the Black Wings Linz, ending their losing streak and keeping the Upper Austrians at distance. The Hungarians made a strong start, controlled the opening period and took a 2:0 lead thanks to two goals from Trevor Cheek. Linz responded in the middle period and tied the game, but Fehérvár enjoyed more possession in the final frame and eventually secured a 4:2 victory. Cheek completed his hat-trick. As a result of the defeat, Linz dropped out of the top ten in the standings.
win2day ICE Hockey League, 21. Dezember:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:0 (0:0, 0:0, 3:0)
Referees: HRONSKY, K. NIKOLIC, Bedynek, Seewald
Goals RBS: St. Denis (44.), Bourke (46.), Thaler (60.)
Hydro Fehervar AV19 – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 4:2 (2:0, 0:2, 2:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, VOICAN, Moidl, Muzsik
Goals AVS: Cheek (16., 20., 50./pp1), Hari (44.)
Goals BWL: Neubauer (31.), Lebler (33.)
Pioneers Vorarlberg – Olimpija Ljubljana 5:2 (1:2, 2:0, 2:0)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, SCHAUER, Fleischmann, Martin
Goals PIV: Maier (2., 33.), Adams (31.), Schnetzer (44.), Gallant (60.)
Goals OLL: Brennan (8.), Pance (19.)
FTC-Telekom Budapest – EC-KAC 0:5 (0:3, 0:1, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, REZEK, Hribar, Zgonc
Goals KAC: van Ee (2./sh1, 54./pp1), From (18.), Petersen (28./pp1)
HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 5:2 (1:1, 2:1, 2:0)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Nothegger, Riecken
Goals HCI: Wilkins (1.), Sproule (24.), Klasser (37.), Benker (49.), Corbeil (58.)
Goals VSV: Helewaka (8., 31./sh1)
HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Vienna Capitals 2:3 (0:0, 0:1, 2:2)
Referees: KAINBERGER, OFNER, Mantovani, Rigoni
Goals HCP: Rueschhoff (43.), Bardreau (58.)
Goals VIC: Gazzola (33./pp1), Gregoire (50., 52.)
Foto ©Foppa Iwan - HC Pustertal