For the first time in the 2025/26 Alps Hockey League season, the derby between the Zeller Eisbären and the Adler from Kitzbühel is on the program today. The rivalry between the two clubs was “fueled” again by two transfers.
Today the polar bears welcome the Kitzbühel eagles at Lake Zell. The champions got off to a solid start and are in 6th place with five wins from eight games, the Gamsstädter are in fourth place with six wins from ten matches with 18 points. So the first derby can come. And this is also important for both sides: “We need the derbies, the atmosphere and the emotions. We don’t care about sideshows,” said EKZ managing director Patrick Schwarz to the “Crown newspaper“.
Two transfers a few months ago caused a lot of excitement. Both goalie Ali Schmidt and striker Paul Schmid moved from Gamsstadt to Pinzgau. However, the manner in which the Tyroleans were upset: “The two players were contacted during the season. In our opinion, this is also a question of style because those involved knew that we wanted to keep them. We would never do that,” said Kitzbühel’s sports director Wilfrid Wetzl. Exciting: Wetzl even played for the Eisbären as an active player. “We’re certainly not friends. Luckily, at my age, you can choose,” said the 55-year-old.
In keeping with the rivalry between the polar bears and eagles, the Salzburg team had a suitable answer ready: “If those responsible in Kitzbühel haven’t understood how the transfer business works to this day, then I’m almost sorry. They deliberately wanted to cause unrest – we gave the sporting answer with the sweep against the team that they failed against. We simply work much more professionally,” said the 34-year-old EKZ managing director.
Image: EK Zeller polar bears
