With the home game of the red jackets against Sparta Prague in the Champions Hockey League on Thursday evening, top European ice hockey returns to Klagenfurt.
In contrast to the previous year, the EC-KAC (at an international level: KAC Klagenfurt) opens the Champions Hockey League 2025/26 with two home games. At the start in the premier class, the red jackets receive the Czech top club and last year’s Chl semi-finalist Sparta Prague in the Heidi Horten-Arena on Thursday, August 28th. The game starts at 8:20 p.m.
Personnel:
At the EC-KAC, the recovered defender Maximilian Preiml returns to the contingent compared to the last test game. From the game against Rosenheim on Sunday, on the other hand, Tobias Sablattnig (upper body, probably a few weeks out) and Matt Fraser. With the striker, the worst initial fears regarding his lower body injury have not come true, but it will be revaluated by the medical department in the coming week, but should not be missing in the long term. The participation of Fabian Hochegger (upper body injury) is not possible in the coming weeks. Jordan Murray, who was slightly ill on Monday and Tuesday, returned to training on Wednesday, he gives his competitive debut for the red jackets against Sparta Prague like Mario Kempe.
Pre-Game comment-Daniel Obersteiner:
“We can be reasonably satisfied with the pre-season. There were already many good things, but there were also aspects that we still have to work on, as you saw. The preparation is finally there. Overall, I see ourselves on the right track, now we are looking forward to the Chl games.”
“The anticipation for the Champions Hockey League is very large. First because we are in the competition so early in the season, because test games are just test games that are not about anything. Each of us wants to have any importance. Secondly, it is always great to be able to compete against such top-class opponents as they gave us the CHL draw this year.”
“I personally am a big fan of the Champions Hockey League. To compete against such strong opponents of European class – whether they come from Sweden, Finland or the Czech Republic – every time they are cool. This also affects the trips: you come to new countries, get to know the culture there a little. I think it is great to play in the Chl, and I am happy that we are there again.”
“From my 20 CHL inserts so far, my first goal in this competition has probably remembered in 2019 in the first group game at home against Tappara Tampere, which we could then win after a strong team performance. I will never forget that.”
“To be honest, I don’t know much more specific about Sparta Prague, just that you are a top team. You can do everything that belongs to the ice hockey, you will surely be ice-speed and playful.
“It is a bit stupid to have to do without a few players so early in the season, but unfortunately that is the case in professional sports. We cannot change it. We have to do the best with the lineup that we have on the respective day. If each of ourselves, we can also get a good performance with a so -called shorter lineup.”
www.kac.at, Image: VSV/Krammer
