Release from 05.02.2026

Vipiteno coach Johan Sjöquist: “We found a way to get back up”

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The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan managed to qualify for the Master Round in their last regular-season game. Head coach Johan Sjöquist reflects on the season so far and looks ahead to the upcoming battles against the league’s top teams.

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The Broncos last ranked among the top five in mid-October but dropped as low as twelfth during the course of the season. “The regular season has been full of ups and downs – for many reasons. We had some games, or rather weeks, that were really tough for us – also mentally. But we found a way to get back up, to stick together as a team and never give up. The boys worked hard every day in practice and always showed up highly motivated,” recalls head coach Johan Sjöquist.

After Christmas, Vipiteno won eight of its twelve games and clinched fifth place on the final day with a shutout win in Sisak. That result not only secured the Broncos a spot in the Master Round but also guaranteed an early playoff berth. “That’s very important for us – it was our goal for the season up to this point. Now we have eight high-level games ahead of us and we want to be ready for the playoffs,” said the Swede, whose team will visit Zell am See on Thursday (19:15, livestream at www.valcome.com).

The season series so far favors the Pinzgau side with two wins, but the Broncos claimed a 4–3 road victory late in December. “Zell am See is a really strong team – one of the best in the league. They have depth, top players, everything you need. But we know how to play against them, and we’ll be ready. We just have to stick to our game – like in the past weeks: physical, high-intensity, and fast. That’s the key to success.”