ICEHL preview: The 13th round promises some exciting duels!

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal started the new season strongly. With 24 points, the South Tyroleans are only one point behind the league leaders Ljubljana. With a home win against VSV, Pustertal could take the lead in the table on Friday. However, the Villach team are also in good form and are sixth in the table, only three points behind Pustertal, although they have already played one more game. The home team from Bruneck won five of their last six games and got at least one point in nine of eleven games, eight of which ended in victories. The VSV won seven of its previous twelve games, most recently 5:4 after overtime against FTC. Both teams have already met this season – on September 21st, Pustertal celebrated a 3-0 away win.

Linz wants to end the crisis
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz are still completely out of shape. With five points, the bottom of the table is already 16 points behind the fourth-placed Moser Medical Graz99ers. The Black Wings only achieved complete success at the start of the season against the Pioneers, while the 99ers were able to win five of their eleven games after regular playing time. Last weekend, the Styrians celebrated a 6-1 away win in Villach before being beaten at home by the KAC 2-3 after overtime. The Black Wings lost to Budapest (2:3) and Pustertal (1:4). However, the Upper Austrians generally have good memories against Graz: In a dramatic playoff series last season, the Linz team prevailed 3-2/OT in the decisive seventh game and thus made it to the semi-finals. Six of the seven matches were decided by just one goal difference.

Second duel of the season between Fehérvár and KAC
At the start of the season, Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and EC-KAC faced each other in Klagenfurt. At that time, the Carinthians had the upper hand with a clear 4-0 win. The KAC now has seven wins and 19 points after ten games. As seventh in the table, Klagenfurt is four points ahead of ninth-placed Fehérvár, who have won five of their eleven games so far. Most recently, the Hungarians lost 3-0 in Bolzano, previously they celebrated two wins in a row, including against league leaders Salzburg (3:2). The KAC has won all of its last five league games and currently has the longest winning streak of all teams. Last weekend the Red Jackets celebrated two 3-2 away wins in Vienna and Graz after overtime.

Defending champion Salzburg meets Budapest for the first time
For the first time in the history of the win2day ICE Hockey League, EC Red Bull Salzburg and FTC-Telekom will meet. The league newcomer from Budapest started his debut season strongly with five wins from eleven games and currently 16 points. As eighth in the table, the Hungarians are only five points behind fifth-placed Salzburg, who have 21 points. Last week the Red Bulls qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions Hockey League. In the league this was followed by a 3-4 defeat after overtime at league leaders Ljubljana before defeating Innsbruck 4-2. FTC narrowly lost 4:5 after overtime in Villach on Sunday – it was their first defeat after three wins in a row.

Tyrol Derby: Innsbruck welcomes Bolzano
For the first time this season there will be a Tyrol derby between HC TIWAG Innsbruck and HCB Südtirol Alperia. With 21 points, the guests from Bolzano are currently in third place, while Innsbruck is eleventh with eight points. With two wins from the last five games, the Tyroleans have recently been able to stabilize somewhat, but the last two games against Fehérvár (1:2/OT) and Salzburg (2:4) were lost. Bolzano ended its four-game losing streak across all competitions last weekend with a 3-0 home win against Fehérvár. In the Tyrol derby, the foxes from Bolzano won the last five duels.

Capitals and Pioneers complete 13th round
The 13th round will conclude on Saturday with the Vienna Capitals meeting the Pioneers Vorarlberg. The Capitals parted ways with head coach Gerry Fleming during the week in response to their recent four-game losing streak. The previous assistant coach Fabian Scholz will take over on an interim basis until the international break in November. The 35-year-old from Salzburg is supported by Rafael Rotter, who is temporarily acting as assistant coach, and goalie coach Bernhard Starkbaum. In the table, the Viennese are in tenth place with 13 points, while the Pioneers are in twelfth place with seven points and also have a negative series of three defeats. However, in the first duel of the season, the Pioneers were able to celebrate a 4-2 home win – their sixth success in a row over the Capitals.

Innsbruck and Villach open the 14th round
The first game of the 14th round is scheduled for Saturday: HC TIWAG Innsbruck meets EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV. It is the second meeting within 24 hours for both teams. They only faced each other in Villach on October 11th – with a clear 5-1 home win for VSV. It was the Eagles’ sixth success in a row over the Sharks.

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Fri, October 24th, 2025:
7:15 p.m.: EC Red Bull Salzburg – FTC Telekom
Referees: NAGY, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Gatol

7:15 p.m.: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – EC-KAC
Referees: HRONSKY, SIEGEL, Jedlicka, Muzsik

7:15 p.m.: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: HUBER A., SCHAUER, Bedynek, Weiss

7:15 p.m.: HC TIWAG Innsbruck – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: HLAVATY, SMETANA, Durmis, Konc

7:45 p.m.: HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV
Referees: GROZNIK, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Rigoni

Sat, October 25, 2025:
5:30 p.m.: HC TIWAG Innsbruck – EC iDM heat pumps VSV
Referees: HUBER A., SMETANA, Durmis, Konc

7:15 p.m.: Vienna Capitals – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: FICHTNER, NAGY, Riecken, Wimmler

All games will be broadcast on streaming partner Sporteurope.tv.

ice.hockey , Image: VSV/Stefan