Linzer with a test, Salzburg aims at title
Austria’s national ice hockey team started in Znojmo on Wednesday (5:30 p.m. / live ORF Sport +) with an international match against the Czech Republic in intensive preparation for the A World Championships from May 13 in Finland. With Leon Sommer (Steel Wings), Gerd Kragl, Ramon Schnetzer, Niklas Bretschneider (all Black Wings), Erich Kirchschläger (Graz) and Lukas Haudum (KAC), six Linzers from team boss Roger Bader can recommend themselves for the highlight of the season.
“Everyone has a chance of winning the A-WM”
“Every single player has a chance of winning the A World Cup,” emphasized Bader, who nominated his squad based on the play-offs with 14 players who have played a maximum of five international matches (including debutants).
The Czech Republic will be the first real benchmark for the newly assembled team. “I see it very positively that we are playing against such a world-class team at the beginning of the pre-season. This allows us to see where we need to be in the next five to six weeks. It’s all about development,” said the team boss, who also relies on the expertise of Neo Black Wings coach Philipp Lukas (assistant coach) and Linz goalkeeper coach Jürgen Penker.
“Are perfectly adjusted”
In the domestic ICE Hockey League, EC Red Bull Salzburg started on Tuesday (7.45 p.m./live Puls24) with a home game against Fehervar in the final series (best-of-seven). “We’re looking forward to it, we know that we’re playing top ice hockey at the moment and that we’re perfectly positioned,” said Salzburg captain Thomas Raffl confidently before the title duel with Hungary, who made it into the final round for the first time ever.
It is the first final appearance for the Mozart city-dwellers since 2018. The last of six league titles was six years ago. “A final is always something big and when you have the opportunity so close in mind, then you want to implement it,” said Raffl, flexible about the ICE trophy.
A power at home
In the regular season, Salzburg Fehervar showed their limits, especially in the home games (3:0 and 8:2). “Nevertheless, it will definitely be a tougher fight. But we can go into the series with a lot of self-confidence,” explained veteran Dominique Heinrich.