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.
As the table, the Pioneers Vorarlberg completed their third Icehl season and thus missed the playoffs for the second time. What followed did not come as a surprise: a new squad break with 13 departures. In addition, the departure of head coach Dylan Stanley, who is going through as a legend in Feldkirch after ten years. The departure of captain Alexander Pallestrang will also leave a gap. In addition, there was a report by the “Neue Vorarlberg daily newspaper” in the summer, according to which the business figures of the Pioneers have been miserable in recent years, which suggests that the budget will not be immersed in new spheres this year. All of the exciting prerequisites under which the Vorarlbergers, who start with the latest squad of their league, can only surprise positively.
TRAINER
Dylan Stanley has been active in Feldkirch since 2014. Eight years as a player for the VEU, the last five of them already “side” as young and later skills coach. As an assistant coach, he was in the coaching staff of the Pioneers foundation and took over the head coach post only a year later. But now the 41-year-old Canadian is ready for the next step, leaves the Montfortstadt towards Switzerland and hires at HC Davos as an assistant coach. His successor is no stranger to Johannes Nygard. The Finn was Assistant Coach in the Finnish Liiga for several years and has been in the Pioneers coaching staff since 2023. Now he is the main trainer and thus also in a more responsible role. His advantage: he knows the organization, people and processes. On the other hand, he goes into his first season as a head coach of a professional team …
GOALKEEPER
There are absolute constancy at the Pioneers in the goalkeeper position. The Montfortstädter also go into the fourth season with the same goalieduo. The 35-year-old Alex Caffi and 33-year-old David Madlener have the experience of 338 icenses and will share the missions in the Pioneers box this year.
DEFENSE
Defensive, especially on the Legionär sector, was changed properly. All legionnaires left the Pioneers after last season, only one came back: Roni Allen was awarded to Tychy for the playoffs in Poland and brought the championship title there, now returned to Feldkirch. Ross Macdougall, Jacob Lundegaard and Jacob Friend, who signed a contract in the American Hockey League (Chicago Wolves), did not come back. Alexander Pallestrang is also no longer part of the squad. The captain ended his career after 17 ICEHL-SAISONS and at the age of 35. So it was clear: fresh blood is needed. With Julius Reini, a second Finn was brought who has some Liiga experience, but spent most of his career in the second Finnish league and has no experience abroad.
All of Europe is new territory for the second new legionnaire, namely Louie Roehl, who recently defended three seasons in Echl after his college career and is now supposed to stabilize the Pioneers defense. The 27-year-old brings leadership and offensive skills and is planned as a fixed item in the power play. The further access? The 21-year-old Mathias Mader, who will play his first professional season after he has been active in various North American young people in recent years, and the only 19-year-old Laurin Wempe, who developed at the EC Bregenzerwald and is ready for the next step. Ramon Schnetzer will play an important role. After the end of the pallestrang career, the 29-year-old is now the domestic leader in the Pioneers Defense. With Ivan Korecky, Mark Mussbacher, Aron Summer and Laurin Wempe, four more cracks from the previous season are still there, unlike Luca Erne, who switched to VSV. Nevertheless, a very sparsely occupied defense that cannot cope with no failures. The 21-year-old Leo Woborsky, who is currently in Try-Out, will not be able to change this either and is still open.
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| Kader 2025/26 (under contract) | Goal: Alex Caffi, David Madlener Defense: Storm: |
| Confirmed approaches: | Matthias Mader (Boston Jr. Rangers), Julius Reini (Tuto Hockey), Collin Adams (Banska Bystrica), Louie Roehl (Wheeling), Cole Gallant (Tolledo Walleye), Eric Florchuk (Univ. Alberta), Nathan Burke (Indy Fuel), Casey Dornbach) |
| Confirmed departures: | Josh Passolt (Nitra), Ross Macdougall (Tencin), Jacob Friend (Chicago Wolves), David Keefer (Zvolen), Brady Gilmour (Manchester), Alexander Pallestrang (career end), Luca Erne (VSV), Janick Wernicke (Zell am See), Tobias Reinbacher, Oliver Cooper (Florida everblades), Orrin Centazzo (Angers), Jacob Lundegard, Lucas Sowder (Kansas City Mavericks) |
| Any approaches/contract extensions: | Leo Woborsky (EA Styria) |
| Any departures: | |
STRIKER
The Pioneers offensive was the big problem child in the past season. With only 113 goals from 48 games, there is strong need for improvement and those responsible believe that they have reached their changes of personnel. However, these happened exclusively on the Legionär sector. Because Oskar Maier, Daniel Woger, Julian Metzler, Marlon Tschofen and Neo-captain Kevin Macierzynski remained loyal to the Vorarlbergers. Quite different from the imports: all legionnaire strikers of the pre -season are history and fresh offensive blood was hired. The only one with at least one season of European experience is Collin Adams. The 27-year-old American comes from Banska Bystrica and showed with 14 goals and 15 assists that you can expect some of him.
In February Casey Dornbach moved to Europe for the first time and played 17 games for Jukerit in the Finnish top league. Nobody succeeded, his European Prime Minister should now follow in the Pioneers dress. Just like Dornbach, the two other US accesses Cole Gallant and Nathan Burke also contested most of their previous careers in Echl. Especially from Burke you can expect a lot of offensive output. Eric Florchuk, a former Washington Capitals draft pick, is also new. The 25-year-old closed his career at the University of Alberta, just like Clayton Kirichenko once and will complete his first professional season in Vorarlberg. Due to the many (European) debutants, the pioneers’ offense is a surprise bag and you will see whether it is qualitatively an increase in the previous season.
Now you are on: Where do you see the Pioneers Vorarlberg in the coming season?
Master
2 (1.14 %)
final
2 (1.14 %)
Semi -finals
1 (0.57 %)
Quarterfinals
16 (9.14 %)
Pre-playoffs
49 (28 %)
Preliminary round
105 (60 %)
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