Thursday, 22. October 2026 |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck "Die Haie" vs. Red Bulls
With a narrow but hard-fought 1:0 home victory against the Slovenian side on Wednesday, the Red Bulls sent a strong signal that they are back in the mix. Now, they must demonstrate that same form against the unpredictable Innsbruck Sharks, who sit just one point behind Salzburg in the standings.
Next Home Game
On 25 October vs. Pioneers Vorarlberg | 3 p.m.
Initial Situation
The fresh start on Wednesday—featuring new head coach Teemu Levijoki and assistant coaches Daniel Petersson and Ilkka Pakarinen—could not have gone better. Putting in a compact performance, the Red Bulls stood their ground against the Slovenian side from Ljubljana (who have slipped from third to fourth place in the standings). Through selfless defensive work, Salzburg secured a three-point victory, even if it was decided by just a single goal. Many qualities that had been missing from Salzburg’s game of late resurfaced, laying the foundation for the first win under head coach Teemu Levijoki, who had only managed two training sessions with the team prior to the match.
In a post-game interview, Benjamin Nissner remained cautious, noting that the team is by no means "out of the woods" yet. The next challenge is Innsbruck—a tough test, considering the Red Bulls lost their first encounter of the season at home (2–3 in a penalty shootout). Furthermore, other teams—including Villach, Pustertal, and Milano—have recently struggled to find a way past the "Sharks" (Innsbruck).
A Clash Between 10th and 12th Place
Statistically, the two teams are nearly neck and neck. The Red Bulls, currently in 10th, have one more point than 12th-placed Innsbruck; with a goal difference of 34:42, they also hold a slight edge over the Tyrolean side (30:41). Once again, a solid defensive performance will be key if Salzburg hopes to pick up points in Innsbruck.
In terms of goaltending, Innsbruck currently has the upper hand. Sam Harvey, who arrived from Bolzano this summer, has started 12 of the HCI’s 13 games so far, maintaining a strong save percentage of 91.9%. Salzburg’s goaltenders, Atte Tolvanen (8 games) and David Kickert (5 games), currently hold save percentages of 88.7% and 84.4%, respectively—figures partly influenced by some occasionally dismal defensive performances in recent matches. In yesterday’s game against Ljubljana, Atte Tolvanen kept a clean sheet; following his shutout in the 3–0 CHL victory over Liberec, this marked his first shutout of the season in the ICE Hockey League.
Personnel Situation
In addition to Thomas Raffl—who has been sidelined for some time—defenseman Olivier Galipeau will also be missing in Innsbruck (lower-body injury). Peter Schneider’s status is also uncertain (upper-body injury). Definitive information regarding these injuries will only be available once medical examinations are complete.
Meanwhile, defenseman Jakob Schnabl is looking forward to a potential professional debut. The 19-year-old, a native of Linz, has been with the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy for five years and will be on the team bus to Innsbruck tomorrow.
Highlights last home game vs. Innsbruck | 23.9.26
Statement from Lukas Hörl
"The win against Ljubljana gave the team a real boost. We tried to change a few things and act more as a cohesive unit, and that worked well. We respect Innsbruck, just as we do any other opponent, but our focus remains primarily on our own game. I’m confident that we’ll get the job done again in Innsbruck."
All-time record: Red Bulls vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck "Die Haie"
Since 2012: 63 games | 47 wins for RBS | 16 wins for HCI
Last ten games: L W W W W W W W W L
Last ten away games: W L W L L L W W W W
win2day ICE Hockey League
HC TIWAG Innsbruck "Die Haie" – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Fri, Oct 23, 2026 | Innsbruck, 7:15 PM
Sporteurope.tv
Next Home Game
win2day ICE Hockey League
On 25 October vs. Pioneers Vorarlberg
Eisarena Salzburg | 3 p.m.
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