The new season of the ICE Hockey League is in the starting blocks. Today at 7:45 p.m., HCB South Tyrol Alperia receives the EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Sparkasse Arena – another chapter of a long rivalry that has shaped the history of the league. For the Foxes it is already the 13th participation in the Central European championship. In the last three seasons they reached the final and twice the semi -finals – the end station was always Salzburg in all three cases. The Red Bulls are the team to beat: Four championship titles in series speak a clear language.
The rivalry
The rivalry between Bolzano and Salzburg has existed since the first year of the white-red in the EBEL 2013/14: At that time the two teams met in the final and Bolzano won the title in the ice arena in the decisive fifth game of the best-of-five series. Four years later, in 2018, the scenario was repeated: Again the Karl-Nedwed Trophy for the Foxes, again in Salzburg, this time in the decisive seventh game. The three most recent playoff duels, on the other hand, were less happy: in 2023 Bolzano lost a painful finale in game 7 in front of their own audience, in 2024 the Red Bulls prevailed again in the semi-finals in the decisions. In 2025 the decision was made for the first time earlier – Salzburg won the semi -finals in five games.
In the past 12 years, both teams faced a total of 93 times, including two encounters in the Champions Hockey League: 42 victories for the South Tyroleans (235 goals), 51 for Salzburg (270 goals). Especially last season Bolzano struggled: Salzburg won seven of the nine direct duels.
The “new” Salzburg
The Red Bulls changed their face compared to the master team of the previous year. Many service providers have remained-including the tireless trio Thomas Raffl, Peter Schneider and Benjamin Nissner, who collected 150 points last season, as well as Playoff-MVP goalie. Nevertheless, there were some painful departures: top defender Ryan Murphy and head coach Oliver David both switched to the Red Bull location in Munich.
Manny Viveiros is now on the gang. The 59-year-old, a formative figure in Austrian ice hockey at VSV and KAC (with a short stop in Sterzing) in the 1990s and 2000s, returns after eleven years. Until 2014 he was head coach and sports director at the EC KAC and also looked after the Austrian national team, most recently he worked in Ahl and WHL. Viveiros won several reinforcements: on the defensive, the Canadian Connor Corcoran and Devante Stephens (both for the first time in Europe), in the attack Travis St. Denis (four DEL season). The most spectacular transfer was Michael Raffl: at the age of 36, he returns to Austria, now plays alongside his brother Thomas-after three years in Lausanne and a total of 629 NHL operations.
Home team Bolzano
The white-red showed promising approaches in the Champions Hockey League, with historical victories against Lukko Rauma and Kommeta Brno and good performances against Frölunda and Mountfield. The team presented itself very closed in phases. But the season is just starting – starting the Icehl will provide important information for coaching Staff.
Coach Kurt Kleinendorst: “The Chl was certainly a big challenge. But now we have to focus on the upcoming tasks – that is, our goal is always the next match with which we want to give everything. I know the rivalry between Bozen and Salzburg, but I have never experienced it myself. It will certainly be a special evening for our fans, and it is important that we play at home.”
All players in the squad are ready for use: Brad McClure trained regularly this week and has completely overcome his muscle problems that braked him in the Chl. However, an actor has to pause for rotation reasons – the decision is made after today’s final training.
Streaming
All games of the ICE Hockey League are transferred to sportsurope in the stream. Information and prices for individual games or subscriptions: https://www.hcb.net/de/alle-spiele-teams-alle-emotion-streaming-paket-jetzt-zum-promo-price-fuegbar/
Friday, September 12th, 7:45 p.m. – Sparkasse Arena, Bozen
HCB South Tyrol Alperia vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg
www.hcb.net, Pic: Vanna Antonello
