For the third time in a row, the international invitation tournament “Red Bulls Salute” is increasing in Zell am See-Kaprun and, with four top European teams, is once again offering top-class ice hockey.
EC Red Bull Salzburg begins against the EV Zug (4:00 p.m.) on Friday, then the EHC Red Bull Munich Rögle BK asks the Ke-Kelit Arena (7:30 p.m.).
It is always exciting when the Red Bulls get a real endurance test just before the start of the Chl season-it starts only a week after the Red Bulls Salute and meet the EV Zug on one of the best Swiss NL teams. Founded in 1967, Zug has won the National League championship three times so far, the last two titles Back to Back 2021 and 2022. Last season, the EVZ ended the basic round on the 4th place, but had to be content with the quarter -finals in the playoffs.
A lot of experience in the team
The EV Zug has a number of young players in Lineup, but can also build a lot of experience. At 28.5 years on average, this is (after Genève-Servette) the second oldest team of the NL. Her oldest player is Raphael Diaz, who grew up right next to the stadium and has now returned home in Friborg after four years. The defender is 39 years old and therefore half a year older than Salzburg’s captain Thomas Raffl, who is currently the oldest player in Win2day Ice Hockey League at the moment.
With Lino Martschini (32), the striker with the most points (589) for the EVZ in Zell am See also runs. The striker lacks only four ‘booths’ on the club record of 260 goals. And simply legend status has long since had goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni (37). The 7-time Swiss champion and two-time World Cup silver medalist played his complete career in Switzerland and goes into his seventh season with the EV Zug.
Train in good shape
The Red Bulls are preparing for a hard opponent who is not unknown to them. In the past two years, the Salzburgers lost to the Swiss in the first pre-season game in Zell am See (1: 4, 3: 5). In addition, the Zugers won the Lehner Cup in Sursee (SUI) last weekend and made Motor České Budějovice (3: 2) and Red Bull Munich (5: 2).
The Red Bulls, who lost 1-2 after extra time ago, received the last victory against Zug, who lost to the Slovakian champion HC Kosice in a game with 1: 2 after extension, three years ago at the Red Bulls Salute in Kitzbühel. At that time, the Salzburgers moved into the final with the 3-1 win, but had a look against Mountfield HK with 0: 2.
Statement Peter Hochkofler
“Train is a first strong opponent, so we know exactly what is waiting for us. We want to implement our tactics, which we have now rebuilt again, implement them as well as possible and try to press them down to the Swiss. We are definitely there to play good ice hockey.”
Livestream
All games of the Red Bulls Salute are available in the livestream: Servuson
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ecrbs.redbulls.com Image: Manuel Mackinger
