Roster Update at the Red Bull Hockey Juniors

Monday, 19. May 2025 |

Roster Update at the Red Bull Hockey JuniorsChanges and new impetus for the 2025/26 season// JuniorsThe Red Bull Hockey Juniors - the oldest team in the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy - will continue to be an integral part of the Alps Hockey League in the 2025/26 season.

After two strong years with semi-final appearances, the past season was characterized by a generational change: many key players left the team for the professional ranks, while young talents took on their first responsibilities.

The targeted development of young players through playing in adult ice hockey has always been part of the Red Bull Hockey Juniors philosophy. This approach will remain a central component of the training strategy in the coming season: a young, development-oriented team will continue to gain valuable experience in the Alps Hockey League. The squad will be selectively supplemented by experienced newcomers to ensure a healthy mix of talent development and stability.

Continuity is the name of the game at the helm: the tried-and-tested Finnish coaching duo of Head Coach Teemu Levijoki and Assistant Coach Ilkka Pakarinen will remain at the team's side in the new season. They will be joined by goalkeeping coach Lukas Schluderbacher, athletics coach Roland Brunner, physiotherapist Mario Gruber and equipment manager Heinz Gabbauer.

Head Coach Teemu Levijoki:

“We are facing another intense and challenging season. The league is getting stronger every year and we have a young team that is ready to take the next step. Some of our young players will have to take on leadership roles this season - that's a great opportunity, but also a challenging task. The decisive factor will be how quickly the boys get used to the speed and physicality of adult ice hockey. That is precisely the biggest challenge. Our goal remains clear: we want to play successfully - but the focus remains on training and developing our players.

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Goalkeeping coach Lukas Schluderbacher, athletics coach Roland Brunner, physi...

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Head Coach Teemu Levijoki

First reinforcements from the Red Bull Hockey Academy

Four young players from the academy program have been signed to multi-year contracts and will join the Red Bull Hockey Juniors squad:

Moritz Warnecke (17, defenseman | GER): The strong defensive left winger already played eleven games for the Juniors last season.

Matteo Schroth (18, defender | GER): Made four appearances for the Juniors and is now set to become a permanent fixture in the defense.

Paul Oberhauser (17, forward | AUT): The Austrian-born forward impressed in 19 AHL appearances with his high level of dedication and game overview.

Justus Kaufmann (18, forward | GER): After a strong development in the academy, he is now set to make his mark in attack.

Warnecke, Schroth, Oberhauser, Kaufmann

// Juniors

International newcomers from Finland

Two attacking players from Finland join the team and bring valuable international experience with them:

Maxim Eliseev (19, winger): The attacker last played for Jokerit Helsinki - with appearances in the Mestis as well as in the U20 SM-sarja.

Juhola Jesse (20, center): The center forward played 63 games for the Minot Minotauros in the North American NAHL last season, recording 66 scoring points (21 goals, 45 assists). He was previously a member of Lukko Rauma's youth program, which he played through to the U20 SM-sarja.

Call-up to the pro team of EC Red Bull Salzburg

With Lukas Hörl and Vadim Schreiner, two more academy players have made the step up to the professional team of EC Red Bull Salzburg. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors would like to congratulate both players and wish them every success in their future careers.

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Lukas Hörl

Farewells from the Juniors

Several players are leaving the team to pursue new athletic endeavors:

Goalkeeper: Thomas Pfarrmaier

Defenseman: Jesse Kauhanen Lars Bosecker

Forwards: David Cernik Daniel Assavolyuk Maximilian Mackner Paul Vinzens

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors would like to thank all the players who have been part of the organization over the years and have continued to develop both in the academy and in the Alps Hockey League - and wish them all the best on their future sporting and personal journey.

Special thanks go to the home-grown players Thomas Pfarrmaier and David Cernik. Pfarrmaier, a native of Salzburg, went through all age groups of the academy and was most recently a regular member of the EC Red Bull Salzburg professional team. Cernik also developed into a valuable part of the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy system over many years.

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Thomas Pfarrmaier

Departures from the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy

There are also changes in the academy area: Julian Beck, Robin Krening, Lukas Wieselthaler, Nikita Kessler, Aaron Kaiser, Christopher Sollinger, Daniel Strainovic and Ben Wotschiski are leaving the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy to take the next step in their sporting development.

The academy would like to thank all the talented players for their time together and wishes them every success and perseverance on their future careers.

Current Red Bull Hockey Juniors roster (as of 19 May 2025)

Goalkeeper: 31 | Mika Haim 45 | Valentin Ankirchner

Note regarding the Red Bull Hockey Juniors roster: The squad for the 2025/26 season has not yet been finalized. Talks are still being held with some players.

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