The Steinbach Black Wings Linz are strengthening their offensive with the American striker Trenton Bliss. The 28-year-old is moving from Norway to the Lower Donaulände for the new season.
The sporting leadership of the Stahlstadt-based company has struck gold for the first time in the import sector when rejuvenating the squad for the upcoming championship in the win2day ICE Hockey League. With the 28-year-old striker Trenton Bliss, the Upper Austrians have signed a speedy points guarantee. For the American, the steel city is the second stop in Europe after a successful debut year in Norway. Last season, the attacker played outside of his home country for the first time and played for the Stavanger Oilers in the Eliteserien. With the top team, the left-handed shooter recorded 33 points (13 goals) after the basic round and thus played a large part in fourth place. While he led the secondary scoring in the first championship phase primarily as a center on the third line, he also flourished in the top 6 on the wing in the playoffs. With four goals and three assists, he was his team’s third-best scorer in the postseason, but was unable to prevent elimination in the semifinals against eventual champion Storhamar.
Already noticeable in North America
Before moving to Europe, Bliss also attracted attention in his home country and was one of the most consistent scorers in the East Coast Hockey League for years with almost a point per game. In 158 games for the Toledo Walleye, the neo-Linzer native was directly involved in a total of 154 goals, scoring 58 of them himself. In three consecutive playoff appearances, he was even able to exceed these figures again and recorded 45 points (17 goals) in 43 appearances. In 2024/25 he led his team to the final of the Kelly Cup with an outstanding 22 points (9 goals) in 19 games. He also demonstrated his instinct for goal in 39 games in the second division, the American Hockey League, with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Chicago Wolves.
Trenton Bliss is moving to the steel city for the 2026/27 season and will wear shirt number 72 for the Steinbach Black Wings Linz in the future.
Statement Trenton Bliss
“It was a disappointing season for Linz, so I’m very motivated to be a part of it and help bring back the success. You can currently see how close the Austrian league is in the final and next season it will be a long road from the first puck drop. In all the conversations I had, it was immediately clear to me that the well-being of the players and fans is the top priority for this organization. There is also only positive feedback about Phil and the coaching team, which is why the decision was quick for me “I see myself as a two-way player, no matter where the coach needs me, whether in the middle or on the wing. Of course, it’s fun to score goals and support my teammates in the attack, but I also see my strengths in defensive play. I’m not a loud character, but I’m not afraid to talk about things directly when it matters.”
Statement Head Coach Philipp Lukas
“Trenton quickly convinced us with his work ethic and his character and he has the perfect prerequisites. He is a reliable scorer who still has potential for improvement after a tough year in Norway. At 28, he is also in his prime, fast and also strong in the game against the target. We are convinced that he fits in very well with our style of play and are pleased that he was immediately hooked on the Black Wings.”
www.blackwings.at, Image: BWL / Eisenbauer
“), i.text = “window._taboola = window._taboola || ();_taboola.push({mode:’alternating-thumbnails-a’, container:’taboola-below-article-thumbnails’, placement:’below-article’, target_type: ‘mix’});”, n.appendChild(l), n.appendChild(i), e(n, t) } Array.prototype.filter || (Array.prototype.filter = function(e, t) { if (“function” != typeof e) throw TypeError(); let n = (); for (let l = 0, i = this.length >>> 0; l < i; l += 1) if (l in this) { let r = this(l); e.call(t, r, l, this) && n.push(r) } return n }), window.insertAfter = e, window.getElementByXPath = t, window.injectWidgetByXpath = function e(l) { let i = t(l) ||. document.getElementById("tbdefault"); i && n(i) }, window.injectWidgetByMarker = function e
