CHL preview: EHC Red Bull München receives HC Kosice

Thursday, 07. September 2023 | CHL preview: EHC Red Bull München receives HC Kosice

Journey to the past! Red Bulls want to repeat historyMunich hosts Kosice in the top flight on Friday// CHL - PREVIEWThe first two home games of the new season are scheduled for next weekend. On Friday, the Munich team will face the Slovakian champions HC Kosice in the Champions League. For us, it's also a trip to our own CHL past.

After four away points from the first two preliminary round games, the start of the season on the international stage was quite positive. EHC Red Bull München now wants to build on the 2-0 win against Czech champions Ocelari Trinec in particular.

Highlights: Oceláři Třinec vs. Red Bull München (03.09.2023)

// HIGHLIGHTS

The aim is to succeed on Friday (7:30 p.m.) in front of a home crowd for the first time this season. "It's always nicer to play in front of your own crowd. Then everyone will be there: fans, staff and our families and friends - we want to offer the spectators something as well," announced our goalie Mathias Niederberger, who managed his first shutout in the Champions League against Trinec.

In the "already pretty good shape" in which Niederberger saw himself and the defense recently, it should continue against an opponent with whom we were allowed to make nice experiences in our own history. Here you can buy tickets for the game.

Red Bulls celebrated CHL debut against Kosice

On August 20, 2015, the paths of the Red Bulls and HC Kosice crossed for the first time. In the first-ever Champions League match in our club's history, Michael Wolf scored a hat-trick and Jeremy Dehner scored in a 4-2 opening win in what was then the group stage.

For the second leg eight days later, Mads Christensen scored the golden goal for a 1-0 win at the Olympia-Eisstadion. The win made Munich the first German club to advance to the knockout round of the CHL.

Die K.o.-Phase der CHL erklärt

// CHL - AKTUELLES

Niederberger does not want to underestimate Kosice

The current Slovakian champions should not be underestimated. Niederberger: "The fact that they recently lost two games in the Champions League doesn't mean anything for now. I think they will play very robustly and work hard, just like our Czech opponents. They will be very defensive. We have to break through that so that they don't get any momentum in the first place."

Top players and an old acquaintance

In the goal of Kosice are the two master goalies Dominik Riečický and Jaroslav Janus, who recently shared the assignments. With Jordon Southorn, the Slovaks have lost their best defenseman in terms of points (40 scorers) to the Augsburg Panthers, but the US newcomer Cooper Zech brings experience from a proud 148 AHL games to the defense despite being only 24 years old. Munich hockey fans will also be familiar with the Swede Jens Olsson. The 38-year-old played 50 games for EHC Red Bull München in the 2011/12 season. Today, the veteran wears the blue-orange jersey and is still one of the top performers. Otherwise, many Slovakian cracks are under contract.

The top scorer on offense is a Finn. Joona Jääskeläinen scored 54 points last season. The attacker is supported by captain Michal Chovan (47 points). Brett Pollock has already played for Nuremberg and Schwenningen in the PENNY DEL, Chase Berger played for the Bietigheim Steelers last season.