Salzburg. (PM EC RBS) EC Red Bull Salzburg are strengthening their defense with Martin Stajnoch, who played in Salzburg five years ago for a year across all seasons.

The 32-year-old Slovakian comes from the Slovakian top league Tipos Extraliga, where he last played for HK Dukla Michalovce.

When Martin Stajnoch enters the Salzburg Ice Arena again shortly, he will probably feel at home right away. On November 30, 2017, the defender made his debut for the Red Bulls in the home game against Linz and scored a goal straight away. “It was a quick and easy decision for me. I’m very happy to be part of the Red Bull family again and I hope to be able to contribute to the group of team goals,” says the defender in a first reaction.

Total graduated Stajnoch 92 games for the Red Bulls before he left Salzburg for Nürnberg Ice Tigers (DEL) the following season in February 2019. After the brief engagement in Nuremberg (11 games), the strong defender switched back to Slovan Bratislava in the Slovakian top league and returned two and a half years later, in spring 2022, to the win2day ICE Hockey League for 17 games with Black Wings Linz .

This season he has one goal and three assists in 27 games with HK Dukla Michalovce for the first time as an assistant captain. Stajnoch on his departure: “We were always in the top 6 and are fighting to get into the top four, but I’m very happy about the move to Salzburg, both sportingly and personally.” His expectations: “I still know a few guys from my last ones Time in Salzburg and I played against most of them with Linz. I know that there is a good atmosphere in the team and it will help to achieve the goals. Hopefully with a win in the last game of the season.”

Salzburg head coach Matt McIlvane: “We are very happy to have Martin back in our Red Bull family. The last time he was here he left a strong impression on players and coaches. He will help us to consolidate the strong defensive department even more. He’s also a really good skater and a competitive type. We are happy to have another defender on the right who can shoot on the team for the upcoming tasks.”

Before his first engagement with the red bulls Martin Stajnoch once became Slovakian champion with Slovan Bratislava. His wealth of experience also includes a total of 158 games in the Russian-international professional league KHL, as well as two seasons in the Czech top league in Pardubice and Kralove, where the defender also traveled in the Champions Hockey League.

Stajnoch completed the obligatory medical and fitness check at the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy today and will start training with the Red Bulls on Friday, who have two days off after yesterday’s home win against Innsbruck.

The games next of the Red Bulls

So, 01/22/23 | HC Pustertal Wolves – EC Red Bull Salzburg | 18:00
Tue, 01/24/22 | HK SZ Olimpija – EC Red Bull Salzburg | 19:15
Fri, 01/27/23 | EC Red Bull Salzburg – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg | 19:15

Red Bulls beat (old) leaders Innsbruck 3-2

Salzburg is moving closer to the top of the table

EC Red Bull Salzburg won the top game of the win2day ICE Hockey League against HC TIWAG Innsbruck “Die Haie” 3:2 and thus remains successful in the third duel of the season.

In an extremely attractive game on a high technical level, the Red Bulls are already 3-0 up after 40 minutes, after conceding two goals in the final period, but still trembling for the win, which was held in goal by strong Atte Tolvanen, among others. The champion is now only three points behind the new table leader Bozen in third place.

The Red Bulls (without Troy Bourke, Dominique Heinrich, Peter Hochkofler, Nicolai Meyer and Luca Auer) could not have started any better. After an early game with a man down, in which goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen parried the first very good hidden shots, Tim Harnisch extended Dennis Robertson’s flick to take the lead (5th), and only a minute later (6th) Ty Loney completed his shortened solo effort through Innsbruck’s defense the hit from the slot for a 2-0 lead. Innsbruck wanted to focus more and more on speed, and the game was incredibly fast with opportunities for both sides. Innsbruck shot dangerously from all positions, constantly demanding Tolvanen’s utmost attention, while Salzburg’s defenders threw themselves into the shots on two or three counterattacks. However, the Red Bulls increasingly conquered the game and in the end hardly gave up the disc. Lukas Schreier showed a great one-timer from the half-height slot (18th), shortly afterwards Florian Baltram could not get past Innsbruck goalkeeper Thomas McCollum with a backhand at the near post. After 20 exciting minutes, the home side led 2-0 with the better chances.

It continues at a high technical level. In the 23rd minute, the Red Bulls were lucky when Adam Helewka hit the post after being outnumbered. The Red Bulls then increased the pressure again and Lucas Thaler scored 3-0 (28 ‘) with a wrist shot well worth seeing into the short Kreuzeck after strong preparatory work from captain Thomas Raffl. Innsbruck then pressed vehemently and had a lot of time in the offensive zone with repeatedly dangerous moments in front of the goal. However, Salzburg held tight at the back and had advantages again in the final minutes. Dennis Robertson’s shot hit the bar (34′), the very conspicuous Tim Harnisch just failed from the half-height slot (35’). In addition, without conceding a goal and with the 3-goal advantage of the very focused hosts, the second break begins.

In the final third the pace was kept up. Tyler Lewington first touched the post with a hammer long-range shot (43′). But then the guests shortened, the disc bounced off Braeden Shaw’s skate (according to video evidence) into the goal. The Tyroleans stayed on and reduced the lead to 2:3 in the 50th minute, this time played out nicely with the pass in front of goal, where Corey Mackin routinely netted. First Salzburg got back on their feet and had chances again, like Ali Wukovits (53′) with a one-timer right in front of goal, albeit under pressure. The last few minutes belong to the guests. First Corey Mackin, whose solo was first stopped by Atte Tolvanen’s defense (57th) and then two minutes with six field players, who caused real stress again. In the end, the Red Bulls won 3-2 against Innsbruck thanks to the first two thirds and are getting closer to the top of the table.

The Red Bulls continue on Sunday with the away game against HC Pustertal Wölfe, and continue from the away game against HK SZ Olimpija. The next home game will be on January 27 against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg.

Salzburg goal scorer Tim Harnisch “That was very well deserved today, we are catching up to the top of the table. It was a really good game from us, but we just gave them too much at the end. And from such a strong attacking team like Innsbruck, that is punished very quickly. Luckily we still made it, but we can’t allow too much at this stage.”

win2day ICE Hockey League
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck “Die Haie” 3: 2 (2: 0, 1: 0, 0: 2)

Crack:
1:0 | 04:30 | Tim Harnisch
2:0 | 05:35 | Ty Loney
3:0 | 27:41 | Luke Thaler
3:1 | 43:21 | Braden Shaw
3:2 | 49:32 | Corey Mackin

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