The eagles are guest on Sunday evening (Ke Kelit Arena, beginning 6:00 p.m., live on Valace) in Zell am See and meet the ruling Alpshl master, the EK the Zeller Eisbären. For the team of head coach Tray Tuomie, the duel now offers the ideal opportunity to process the mistakes from the game against the Kassel Huskies and to better implement the rehearsed moves and the game system.
The starting situation:
With the second of a total of six planned test games, the EC IDM heat pumps VSV continues its season preparation in Zell am See again. After the intensive meeting with the Kassel Huskies and the narrow 3: 4 defeat after penalty shooting, another real caliber is waiting in Zell am See with the polar bears. After winning the title last year, the Salzburgers are again considered a top favorite in the Alpshl. For the blue-whites, the encounter is a valuable location determination against a strong opponent who acts tactically disciplined and physically robust.
For head coach Tray Tuomie, the focus – as against Kassel – is also in the foreground in this test to sharpen the coordination and automatisms under competition conditions. Particular attention is paid to the coordination in outnumbering and outnumbered as well as the interaction of the new line combinations.
The opponent:
The EK Zeller Eisbären, under the direction of ex-VSV coach Marcel Rodman, took an impressive development in the past season. By winning the Alpshl last season, they crowned themselves for the champion and underpinned their role as one of the top addresses in Austrian ice hockey away from the icehl. This year the Pinzgauer is again considered a hot title candidate, since they have strengthened with some well -known players, such as Tim Coffman (Bad Nauheim), Sebastian Zauner (Lausitz), Paul Schmid (Kitzbühel) and Ethan Szypula (rides).
In their game system, the polar bears rely on a balanced mix of routine leader players and young talents that occur with speed and physical presence. Especially on the offensive, the Zeller have plenty of individual quality, which can ensure danger at any time, while the defensive is to be used as compact and difficult. The Slovenian trainer of the Pinzgauer focuses primarily on a quick bridging of the middle third, an uncompromising forecheck as well as a lot of train and presence to the goal. With Alexander Schmidt, the Salzburgers also have a strong support, which often knew how to profile themselves in Kitzbühel last season.
In addition, Christian Jennes, Alexander Lahoda, Sebastian Zauner, Alexander Schmidt and Dominik Prodinger (cooperation player) will appear five actors with a blue and white past in the blue and yellow dress of the Zeller.
Sunday, August 17, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
EC IDM heat pumps VSV – EK The Zeller Eisbären (Alpshl) Ke Kelit Arena, Zell am See
ecvsv.at, Image: VSV / René Krammer
