Thursday, 26. March 2026 |
First Contract extensions
Thomas Raffl remains captain and a key player for the Red Bulls
He has become an integral part of Salzburg. Thomas Raffl, who turns 40 in June, continues undeterred and aims to win another title with the Red Bulls. The forward came to Salzburg from Luleå (SHL) 16 years ago and has since been a major influence on the Red Bulls' level of play and success. He has already lifted the win2day ICE Hockey League trophy in Salzburg seven times and has led the team as captain since 2019. Time seems to have passed him by almost without leaving a trace; even at 39, the oldest player in the league is still among the fittest.
With his 1,000th league game, played on January 5th in Bolzano, the forward also reached a true milestone, achieved by only one other player before him: Thomas Koch. Raffl's dedication and commitment to training make him a great role model for the younger players. Last season, Raffl tallied 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) in 47 regular-season games, matching his performance from the previous year. The upcoming season will be the Villach native's 16th with the record-holding champions of the win2day ICE Hockey League.
Thomas Raffl: “It takes time to process defeats. But now it’s time to put it behind us, learn from it, and come back even hungrier next year. I’m happy that I can continue to help the team and attack again with the Red Bulls.”
Michael Raffl has lived up to the high expectations
After nine years in the NHL and three subsequent years in the Swiss National League, Michael Raffl has returned to the win2day ICE Hockey League after a total of 15 years and immediately took the lead in Salzburg’s internal scoring race. With his incredible vision and fine stickhandling, the 37-year-old from Villach impressively demonstrated why he was able to hold his own in the best league in the world for so many years.
The younger brother of captain Thomas Raffl finished the season as Salzburg’s top scorer with 52 points and was also the Red Bulls’ leading goal scorer in the regular season with 20 goals (in 45 games). In the overall league comparison, Michael Raffl finished as the fourth-highest scorer in the win2day ICE Hockey League regular season.
David Kickert impressed with a top performance
Last season, David Kickert once again proved that he is among the best Austrian goaltenders and among the best goaltenders in the league. With a remarkable save percentage of 94.1% in 20 games, the 32-year-old topped this ranking and also recorded five shutouts, a feat achieved by only three other goalies in the league.
Over the past four years with EC Red Bull Salzburg, Kickert has developed into a reliable goaltender who provides additional security in conjunction with the defensemen. For Kickert, the past season, measured by his save percentage in the regular season, was also the best of his professional career. This strong performance has been a consistent feature of the Korneuburg native's game for the Austrian national team in recent years, making him a key player for the red-white-red squad.
The Red Bulls thank all three players for their commitment and performances last season and look forward to another year together in Salzburg.
Lucas Thaler Seeks New Challenge// TEAM UPDATE
Mit Galerie
Red Bulls congratulate Pustertal on their sporting success// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE | FANS
Mit Video
Fourth defeat against Pustertal | Red Bulls eliminated in the quarterfinals// WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE | PLAYOFFS