Thursday, 18. September 2025 |
Red Bulls eagerly await home game against VillachMichael Raffl faces his home team for the first time// win2day ICE Hockey LeagueEC Red Bull Salzburg welcomes EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV in the regular season of the win2day ICE Hockey League tomorrow, Friday, at the Salzburg Ice Arena (7:15 p.m., Sporteurope.tv).In keeping with Salzburg's Rupertikirtag (traditional festival), the Red Bulls are looking forward to a large crowd in traditional costume on the traditional costume match day and are looking to secure another victory against VSV, a team the reigning ICE Hockey League champions struggled to beat last season.
Interview Michael Raffl
Starting Position
After a strong start to the regular season last weekend – the Red Bulls celebrated victories in Bolzano and at home against Klagenfurt – Salzburg are looking to build on this in their second league home game of the new season against VSV. The respect is there: The Red Bulls have also been having fierce duels with Carinthia's second ice hockey club for many years, losing to the Blue and Whites three times in four matches last season.
Like Salzburg, Villach had to cope with only a few changes in the summer and can therefore continue to rely on its strong core. Led by 37-year-old striker John Hughes, who, after a total of eight seasons with the Red Bulls, is now in his seventh season (with interruptions) in Villach and currently holds the league record with an incredible 1,099 points (!). Another focus, alongside new signing Adam Helewka (who joined from Bolzano), is striker Maximilian Rebernig, who trained at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy and is now in his fifth season in Villach. Last season, the 25-year-old from Salzburg was Villach's top scorer with 23 goals.
Villach got off to a strong start last Friday with a 4-2 away win against Hungarian league newcomer FTC Budapest, but were then sent home from Ljubljana with a 2-7 defeat.
Michael Raffl before his debut
For Michael Raffl, the match against VSV has a very special (emotional) significance, as it is the 36-year-old Villach native's first ever game against his former home club. In 2011, Raffl left VSV for Sweden for two years. This was followed by nine years in the NHL and three years in the Swiss NL before returning to Austria this summer and joining the Red Bulls, where his brother Thomas has been playing successfully since 2010 (with a one-year break). In the 2020/21 season, Michael Raffl even played four games on loan for VSV.
This is also the first time for youngster Florian Lanzinger with his former club. The 20-year-old Villach native joined the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy last season and played two ICE games last season, but not against VSV.
There will be no changes to the Red Bulls' lineup for the time being. The convalescents Ali Wukovits, Peter Hochkofler, Mario Huber, Troy Bourke, Philipp Wimmer, Maximilian Wurzer, and Vadim Schreiner are working on rehabilitation and will not be available to the team on weekends.
Highlights Red Bulls vs. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV | 31.1.25
Statement Michael Raffl
"We had a good start to the season. There are still a lot of little things to work on, but we're busy with them every day. Now we're playing against Villach, but I'm not feeling any emotions today. I'm from Villach and I was always able to train there in the summer. But tomorrow they're our opponent. We have a clear game plan, and of course we'll try to win."
Red Bulls vs. VSV All-Time Record
Since 2004: 138 games | 82 wins RBS | 56 wins VSV
Last ten games: W L W L L W L L W L
Last ten home games: W L W W W W W W L L
win2day ICE Hockey League
EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Fri, September 19, 2025 | Salzburg Ice Arena, 7:15 p.m.
Sporteurope.tv | Trachten Gameday
Mit Galerie
New championship banner hangs under the stadium roof// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE
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Red Bulls celebrate 4-1 home win against Klagenfurt// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE
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Red Bulls celebrate 4-3 win in Bolzano at league opener// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE