Icehl squad presentation 2025: EC VSV (8/13)

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.

For VSV, after three quarter-final bankruptcies in a row, this season is about finally taking the next step. The goal was again the qualification for the playoff. While the competition was partly with large purchases, the squad in Villach remained largely unchanged – only selective reinforcements should help the eagles to achieve their goal. At the beginning of the summer, club legend Herbert Hohenberger officially took over the office of sports director. At the same time, the former board said goodbye to its functions. The construction of the second hall in Villach also creates challenges: changes in capacity and fan distribution within the town hall are currently an issue. However, the direction of march remains clear: the eagles want to go to the playoff.

TRAINER

Head coach remains Tray Tuomie. The American came to Villach with the championship title last season with the championship title and previously gained many years of experience in Germany, including as an assistant coach of the Augsburg Panther. Marco Pewal is new at his side. The long-standing VSV Crack returns to the eagles Kitzbühel after a successful last season and takes over the office of assistant coach. Patrick Machreich remains a goalie coach.

GOALKEEPER

An era came to an end: JP Lamoureux, a true league legend with over 650 games, ended his career and leaves great footsteps. The new number one is Joe Cannata, who was already hired after Lamoureux ‘injury last winter. The experienced American convinced right away and had a significant part in the historical winning streak for the Christmas season. In the playoff, he still shared the missions with Lamoureux, but his contract for the next two years now makes him clear.

As a backup, the experienced Rene Swette is still ready, who goes into his third season with the eagles. It remains to be seen whether he is also used regularly in the championship as in the preparation. The trio is complemented by the young Lukas Moser, who is run as the third goalkeeper in the squad.

DEFENDER

The core of the team was also preserved on the defensive. The key players Dylan Macpherson and Alex Wall already extended during last season. Macpherson convinces with his offensive advances and his dust -dry defensive game, while Wall has been one of the most constant defenders in the league for years.

With Philipp Lindner, the VSV also has one of the best Austrian Defender who goes into his fifth season in Villach and has established itself as a leading player. Mark Katic, formerly top defender of the Adler Mannheim, also stays on board and, as a strong ice skaters and veteran, has enormous experience.

New in the team is Steven Strong, who comes from the KAC and replaces misunderstanding Patrick Holway. Strong is considered an uncompromising defender to ensure more stability. The contingent also includes Thomas Vallant, youth hopping Nico Uchan, who convinced in preparation, and Julian Raspotnig, who should initially collect play practice.

Kader 2025/26 (under contract)	Goal: Joe Cannata, Rene Swette, Lukas Moser Defense: Philipp Lindner, Alex Wall, Thomas Vallant, Nico Uchan, Dylan Macpherson, Julian Raspotnig, Steven Strong, Mark Katic, Nico Uchan, Julian Raspotnig Storm: Kevin Hancock, John Hughes, Felix Maxa, Guus van Nes, Maximilian Rebernig, Alexander Rauchwald, Elias Walla, Paolo Wieltschnig, Johannes Tschurnig, Dominik Prodinger, Luca Erne, Nikita Scherbak, Nick Hutchison, Elias Walla, Adam Helewka, Guus van Nes, Paul Sintschnig, Jakob Sintschnig, Paolo Wieltschnig, Johannes Tschurnig
Confirmed approaches:	Luca Erne (Pioneers Vorarlberg), Steven Strong (KAC), Nick Hutchison (Landshut), Adam Helewka (Bozen)
Confirmed departures:	Florian Lanzinger (Red Bull Salzburg), JP Lamoureux (career end), Marco Richter, Benjamin Lanzinger (both Vienna Capitals), Patrick Holway (Rouen), Chase Pearson (Michalovce), Daniil Kulintsev (Torun), Niklas Wetzl, Tim Geifes (Linz), Max Coatta
Any approaches/contract extensions:
Any departures:

STRIKER

The VSV also focused on continuity in the attack. The top line around John Hughes, Kevin Hancock and Maximilian Rebernig remains. Hughes has been an exceptional player in the league for over a decade and continues to shine as a template. From last season, Rebernig experienced his breakthrough with over 20 goals and benefited enormously from Hughes’. The fact that this formation stays together in the long term – Hughes and Hancock extended by two years, even by three – is a great advantage for the Draustärter.

In addition, Guus van Nes and the talented, albeit moody Nikita Scherbak, remain in the squad. The latter is given a new chance to play his great potential more constant. This year Adam Helewka is added as a center. The Canadian has already successfully played in Innsbruck and Bozen, brings experience from the KHL and Extraliga and combines scoring, physique and hardness that gets under the skin of the opponent – attributes that Villach can use in the playoffs.

Nick Hutchison from the DEL2, which is supposed to cause danger before the goal, is also new. With Marco Richter and Benjamin Lanzinger, two offensive forces left the club towards Vienna, but important domestic supports such as Alexander Rauchwald, Felix Maxa and Elias Walla remain loyal to the eagles. The attack is complemented by new signing Luca Erne (by the Pioneers Vorarlberg) as well as talents such as Johannes Tschurnig, Paolo Wieltschnig, Dominik Prodinger and the brothers Jakob and Paul Sintschnig. The only 16-year-old Paul Sintschnig particularly drew attention to himself in preparation with two goals and two assists-including a remarkable solo against KHL SISAK.

With targeted reinforcements, the VSV turned the correct adjustment screws. Helewka is supposed to replace Pearson and ensure more balance on the offensive. The first line around Hughes will remain the heart, but the eagles now also have scoring potential in the second row and in the “Bottom Six”.

It will be crucial how coach tuomie forms the lines – and whether Youngster Paul Sintschnig actually makes the leap into the front rows. One thing is clear: the eagles have positioned themselves well to move back into the playoff and maybe even achieve more there than in recent years. At the beginning, the fact that the team has largely remained the same can be an advantage for the drowned towns that they should convert into points.

Now you are on: Where do you see the EC VSV in the coming season?

Image: VSV/Krammer