The Preseason is coming to an end and the new season of Icehl is just around the corner. Time to take a look at the teams and deal with the squads with which the 13 clubs go into the new season. We present the squad, you take over the evaluation: with our survey tool at the end of the article.
The EC Red Bull Salzburg also crowned the master of Win2day Ice Hockey League in 2024/25. The Mozartstadt ended the basic round in second place, two points behind the later final opponent EC-KAC. In the playoffs, they presented themselves again as usual, in the final around Karl Nedwed Trophy, they prevailed with 4: 0. Despite an unprecedented series of success, there were some changes on the Salzach, which ran through many areas of the organization.
TRAINER
The Salzburgers celebrated two titles with the Californian Oliver David. But this faces a new task and followed the reputation of the EHC Red Bull Munich. So it was necessary to find a replacement for Management around Helmut Schlögl. At the end of May, Manny Viveiros was finally presented as a new strong man on the gang of Mozartstadt. After many years in North America, the former striker returns to the local league. Between 2006 and 2012 he already looked after the KAC as the main trainee. Former Assistant Cooper Ben Cooper took over the head coaching post at Olimpija Ljubljana, Adam Maglio, with which Viveiros worked for the Vancouver Giants in the last two seasons, decided to engagement in Austria.
GOALKEEPER
There are no experiments between the posts. The goalie tandem is called Tolvanen-Kickert again. Since his arrival in the 2021/22 season, Atte Tolvanen has won the title every season and was an enormously important piece of puzzle on the way to success. In three out of four playoffs, he was able to show a countercut of 1.38 or lower. It seems that the 30-year-old Finn, who is now also eligible for the Austrian national team, can still play a gear up in PostSeason. David Kickert has been with the Salzburgers since 20222/23 and was able to win 32 season games in the dress of the red bulls. The 31-year-old Korneuburger, who is already in his 15th ICE season, will probably also have to “accept” with the role of #2 in 2025/26.
DEFENSE
There was some change on the defensive of the EC Red Bull Salzburg. With Ryan Murphy and Chay Genovay, two first -class defenders who were guarantors for success have left the club. Paul Stapelfeldt has also been reoriented and defended himself for the Moser Medical Graz99ers in the future. The young German Phillip Sinn completes the “departure quartet”. After many years in the RBS organization, he follows Oliver David to Munich.
So it was necessary to find adequate replacement for management. Two new defenders were welcomed in the Mozart city. The other places will be occupied internally. Two Canadians could be pretended to Salzburg: Devante Stephens started after eight years in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League in its European adventure. For the Connor Corcoran (25), which was three years younger, it is also the first commitment outside of North America. He has also been able to gain experience in the NHL substructure in recent years. It remains to be seen to what extent the two can compensate for the departures of Murphy and Genovay.
In addition to the two new additions, there are three other legionaries in the Salzburg line. The 34-year-old Dennis Robertson goes into his fourth season with the Mozartstadt-in his sixth in the Icehl, because between 2019 and 2021 he defended HCB South Tyrol Alperia. In the past season, he was the second best point collector among the defenders with 29 points – Ryan Murphy led this list of strong 43 points. The physically very present Tyler Lewington, who was able to collect exactly 13 points in every season, also goes into his fourth season. Nash Nienhuis can look back on a good debut season in the ICE. The 25-year-old will probably play a larger role this year.
The defense lawyer is rounded off by the Austrians Lukas Hörl, Maximilian Kirchebner and Philipp Wimmer. All three cracks have already gained experience in the single set of Salzburg. Philipp Wimmer in particular has played out with good performance in the past two years.
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| Kader 2025/26 (under contract) | Goal: Atte Tolvanen, David Kickert Defense: Storm: |
| Confirmed approaches: | Florian Lanzinger (VSV), Michael Raffl (Lausanne), Connor Corcoran (Bakersfield Condors), Devante Stephens (Colorado Eagles), Travis St. Denis (Straubing), Mathias Böhm (Vienna Capitals) |
| Confirmed departures: | Andrew Rowe, Chay Genovay (career end), Phillip Sinn, Philipp Krening, Ryan Murphy (all Red Bull Munich), Paul Stapelfeldt (Graz99ers), Leon Kolarik (Peterborough Petes), Scott Kosmachuk (VLCI Zilina) |
| Any approaches/contract extensions: | |
| Any departures: | |
STRIKER
Andrew Rowe, Philipp Krening and Scott Kosmachuk left the reigning master, three new faces are likely to be greeted in the Mozart city. The 22-year-old Austro-Crack Mathias Böhm went through the entire youth stations of the Vienna Capitals, last year he spent the city. Now he wants to develop in the Salzburgers. With Travis St. Denis, a “sandpaper guy” was brought into the contingent. For the past four years he spent the DEL, where he was able to collect 132 points in 192 games.
The king’s transfer was of course that of none other than Michael Raffl. After many years abroad, the brother of Salzburg captain Thomas Raffl returns to the domestic league and goes hunting with the Salzburgers. At the age of 36, the Villacher native has a lot of experience and playful class, now it is important to stay fit, which has not always been the case in Lausanne in the past three years. A 100% operational Michael Raffl is certainly an enrichment for the EC Red Bull Salzburg – and probably also for the entire league.
The series master is again led by Thomas Raffl and Peter Schneider. Raffl goes into his 22nd season in the home league at the age of 39. The national team crack in the “Regular Season” was already able to collect 595 points, so the 600 mark will soon fall. So far, Peter Schneider has cheered four titles with the Salzburgers and has developed into a real top performer on Salzach. After 262 season games, Schneider, who also runs for the national team, holds 275 points. So far, he has been awarded the Ron Kennedy Trophy, MVP. With their experience, the two important cornerstones are in the contingent of Manny Viveiros.
In addition to St. Denis, there are two other legionnaires, namely the young German Vadim Schreiner, as well as the strong center forward Troy Bourke, who goes to his fourth season in the ICE at the age of 31. In the past season, he posted 42 points and was the fourth best crack of the red bulls. Top scorer was Benjamin Nissner, who was also the most dangerous player with 21 goals. For the second time in his ICE career, Nissner cracked the 40-point brand. The long-term bulls Flo Baltram, Peter Hochkofler and Mario Huber are also on board again. Lucas Thaler, who has already made some foreign clubs aware of, Luca Auer, Niki Kraus and the versatile Lukas Schreier round off the balanced and experienced striker contingent. Ali Wukovits will be missing the red bulls for some time, he is on the way back after a hip surgery.
Now you are on: Where do you see Salzburg in the coming season?
Master
27 (42.19 %)
final
21 (32.81 %)
Semi -finals
10 (15.63 %)
Quarterfinals
3 (4.69 %)
Pre-playoffs
0 (0 %)
Preliminary round
3 (4.69 %)
www.hockey-news.info, Image: EC Red Bull Salzburg
