Thursday, 08. January 2026 |
Red Bulls vs. Olimpija Ljubljana
The Red Bulls enter the game with great confidence, currently enjoying an 11-game winning streak, but have yet to secure a victory against the Slovenian team in their two previous encounters. During the game, Salzburg captain Thomas Raffl will be honored; the 39-year-old forward played his 1,000th league game in the last match in Bolzano.
Statement Devante Stephens
Background
Things couldn't be going better for the Red Bulls right now. After some ups and downs in the fall of last year and a brief stint in eighth place at the beginning of December, the reigning champions found their winning form again later in December, holding onto third place and winning their last 11 games (!) in a row. Salzburg last achieved this feat in the spring 2022 playoff series, when they won 12 games in a row – a club record! Now the Red Bulls want to beat Olimpija Ljubljana. Not only to extend their winning streak, but primarily to defeat the Slovenians for the first time this season. They have come out on top in both of their previous encounters.
The Slovenians' development has been almost the complete opposite. With new head coach Ben Cooper, they made a sensational start to the season with six wins and immediately catapulted themselves to the top of the table, where they have remained for a considerable time. From November onwards, defeats began to mount, and currently the Slovenians are only in fifth place. They have only managed three wins in their last eight games, including a 5-1 victory at home against FTC Telekom Budapest last Monday.
Ljubljana boasts two players among the league's top five.
The Slovenians possess a wealth of talent. Forward Nicolai Meyer leads the ICE Hockey League scoring charts with 17 goals and 27 assists, while defenseman T.J. Brennan is the fifth-highest scorer in the league with 15 goals and 26 assists. Salzburg's top scorer, Michael Raffl, is ranked 17th in the league with 13 goals and 19 assists.
This is also reflected in the team's performance. Ljubljana remains the league's most potent offensive team with 134 goals scored. The Red Bulls have already moved up to fifth place with 115 goals. Defensively, it's a completely different story. Salzburg remains the league's bulwark (71 goals conceded), while Ljubljana boasts the sixth-best defense (100 goals conceded).
Highlights Red Bulls vs. Olimpija Ljubljana | 31.10.25
Statement by Devante Stephens
"It's an important game. We're close in the standings, and the last few games have put us on the right track. We need to be fully prepared and expect another close game between two good teams. But we want to show that we're a different team now than we were in the first two games against them."
Season Matchup: Red Bulls vs. Olimpija Ljubljana | 0-2
October 17, 2025 | Olimpija Ljubljana – EC Red Bull Salzburg 4-3 (1-2, 1-0, 1-1) OT
October 31, 2025 | EC Red Bull Salzburg – Olimpija Ljubljana 1-2 (0-1, 0-0, 1-1)
All-Time Record: Red Bulls vs. Olimpija Ljubljana
Since 2021: 18 games | 12 wins for Red Bull Salzburg 6 wins (OLL)
Last ten games: W W W W L W W W L L
Last eight home games: L W W W W W W L
win2day ICE Hockey League
EC Red Bull Salzburg – Olimpija Ljubljana
Fri, January 9, 2026 | Salzburg Ice Arena, 7:15 PM
Livestream | Student Hockey Night
4.190 Thomas Raffl Joins the Elite 1,000-Game Club// PLAYER PORTRAIT
Mit Video
Thomas Raffl wins his milestone game with the Red Bulls in Bolzano// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE
Mit Video
Tenth Win in a Row | Red Bulls Thrill 6-1 Victory Against Vienna// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE