Thursday, 20. August 2026 |
Pro-team of the Red Bulls
Every year, several talented players from the Red Bull Hockey Juniors academy prepare to take the next step, namely to earn a spot on the Salzburg professional team. This summer, eight academy players completed the conditioning program and on-ice training with the professionals over the past two and a half weeks.
Before the Red Bulls kick off their Red Bulls Salute season in Zell am See on Friday, seven Red Bull Hockey Juniors have been added to the Salzburg professional roster: goaltender Luca Haitzmann (19), defensemen Fabian Baumann (19), Alexander Rebernig (20), and Jakob Schnabl (19), and forwards Adrian Gesson (19), Nikita Bloch (17), and Maximilian Wurzer (22).
Forwards Luca Kogler (20) and Florian Lanzinger (21), who also trained with the professional squad this summer, along with other talented players from the Red Bull Hockey Juniors, will get the chance to prove themselves in the win2day ICE Hockey League during the season. Since goaltender Luca Haitzmann is playing with the Red Bull Hockey Juniors at the U20 Prospects Challenge in Sweden this week, 20-year-old Mika Haim will take over as the third-string goalie at the tournament in Zell am See.
Professional debut at 17
At 17, Nikita Bloch is currently the youngest player on the Salzburg professional team. The German forward has been playing in the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy since 2023 and, at just 16 years old, already played 31 games in the Alps Hockey League last season (3 goals, 4 assists). In the Red Bulls' recent preseason game in Hradec Králové (a 1-2 shootout loss against Mountfield HK), Bloch already made his professional debut.
Nick Poisson is also hoping for his first game with the Red Bulls at the Red Bulls Salute. The 25-year-old forward (CAN) is Salzburg's youngest new signing and is still awaiting his visa.
Thomas Raffl sidelined for several weeks after surgery
Thomas Raffl suffered a bitter setback at the start of the season, taking a gunshot wound to the lower body in training and requiring surgery two days ago. The 40-year-old Red Bulls captain missed the first two preseason games as a result and is expected to be unavailable for several weeks.
Mit Galerie
Red Bulls Salute 2026: Top Tournament Kicks Off the New Ice Hockey Season// RED BULLS SALUTE 2026
Mit Video
Salzburg loses 2-6 to Munich in Red Bull duel // RED BULLS SALUTE
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