Right from the start, EV Zug proved to be a real test of strength. The hosts set the pace from the outset and consistently exploited coordination errors by the Juniors. Despite a committed offensive effort, the young Salzburg team suffered a 1-5 defeat in only their second preparatory game.
Just one day later, they faced Finnish top club Tappara Tampere. This time, the Juniors got off to a much better start: a brace from Wurzer and Krainer and a strong performance from goalie Ankirchner secured a comfortable 4-0 victory. This secured the team, coached by Finnish duo Teemu Levijoki (head coach) and Ilkka Pakarinen (assistant coach), second place in the group and a battle for third place against GCK/ZSC Lions.
In the match for third place, the Juniors once again put in a solid performance, but despite numerous chances, they lacked the necessary efficiency. The Lions won the game 2-1, even though Salzburg threw everything forward in the final minutes with a sixth field player and clearly dominated the shot statistics.
Now it's time to look ahead: at the next tournament in Tábor, the juniors will face adult opponents for the first time – the Czech second division teams SK Horacka Slavia Trebic and HC Tábor. With these games, the coaches want to prepare their team optimally for the upcoming Alps Hockey League season, in which both young, dynamic and experienced teams await the Salzburgers.
