This Friday, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz will start the new Win2day Ice Hockey League season. At the start, an opponent is waiting with the Pioneers Vorarlberg who has realigned himself over the summer and goes into the season with high demands.
This Friday the Steinbach Black Wings Linz start the new season and receive the Pioneers Vorarlberg in Linz AG Eisarena. The team of Head Coach Philipp Lukas wants to score the first points in front of their own fans. The Pioneers ended the past season to 11th place and thus missed the playoffs. In summer the squad was almost completely renewed. After a difficult season, the previous assistant coach Johannes Nygård is now taking over the office of head coach. The club separated from almost all import players and in the future increasingly relies on regional forces and young talents. Routine like Ivan Korecky brings experience, while young players like Ben Summer are supposed to drive their development in the highest league. Particular attention is paid to newcomer Matthias Mader: After his training in North America, the 20-year-old defender dares to make the leap into the European professional area and is intended to provide more stability on the defensive. Ramon Schnetzer, who returns after a station in Switzerland, also strengthens Vorarlberg with his experience. For additional offensive power, Feldkirch obliges the 28-year-old Casey Dornbach, who can be used both as a wing and as a center. The American brings experience from North America and the highest Finnish league and will provide more goal risk in the coming season.
In the preparation, the Pioneers played six test games, of which they were able to win four. It was only against league competitor HC Innsbruck two tight defeats (2: 4, 4: 5). However, the balance of direct duels from the previous year clearly speaks for the Linz: three victories from the last four matches went to the Black Wings, only once you had to give up the Vorarlbergers just 1: 2. Particularly gratifying: In two of these games, the Stahlstadt even celebrated a shutout.
Loose room update
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz starts the new season for the first time since the 20222/23 season. Head Coach Philipp Lukas can almost draw from the full. In addition to Sean Collins, who fails for a long time, Luka Maver will also be missing in the line-up of the Stahlstadt, and an assignment this weekend comes too early for him. Jonathan Oschgan ensures a fresh wind: The 17-year-old fought for a place in the line-up with strong appearances in preparation and will run against Feldkirch tomorrow. In the first test against the Pioneers on Rasmus Tirrons, the Stahlstädter trust between the posts.
Seats for the homeopener are almost sold out. The remaining tickets and standing room cards for the big season opener on September 12th in Linz AG Eisarena are available online at tickets.blackwings.at and at the box office.
Voices:
Gerd Kragl: “It is very tingling, we have a long pre-season behind us and I think we worked well on ourselves, it is a long season ahead of us and we are already looking forward to it. Of course you are also motivated in front of our fans at home, you have already seen that you are highly motivated, it is something special.”
Head Coach Philipp Lukas: “Of course we are all happy that the Regular Season starts now. We have tried to make progress in our game week and it will be interesting to see when we first meet the competition where we stand. I am in good spirits that every player of us and our collective tomorrow will be fire and flame here in front of our own audience. Emotions and control in the game and that will be interesting. “
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Friday 12th September, 7:15 p.m., Linz AG Eisarena
www.blackwings.at, Image: BwL / Eisenbauer
