Euphoria in Feldkirch: Red Bulls crown comeback with overtime victory

Euphoria in Feldkirch: Red Bulls crown comeback with overtime victory

In a thrilling ice hockey game on October 4, 2024, EC Red Bull Salzburg defeated Pioneers Vorarlberg 6:5 in overtime. The game took place in Feldkirch as part of the win2day ICE Hockey League and offered the spectators a real spectacle.

After the first third, Salzburg was behind the Pioneers 0-1. The Red Bulls started strong, but were unable to capitalize on their chances. After the first wake-up call with a determined shot from Thomas Raffl right at the start of the second period, the team was motivated to turn things around. The pressure on the opposing defense increased and a power play goal from Peter Hochkofler put the Red Bulls in the lead. But the Pioneers quickly countered.

A dramatic final third

The second section revealed the Red Bulls' challenges. Despite stable defensive performances from goalkeeper David Kickert, who defused several shots, the Pioneers quickly turned the tide with two goals from Luca Erne and Joshua Passolt. By the 40th minute at the latest, the spectators knew that it would remain exciting as the Pioneers led 3-2.

The final third then became the scene of a thrilling exchange of blows. First, Ross MacDougall increased the lead to 4:2 for the Pioneers, but Troy Bourke was able to restore the lead shortly afterwards. After Joshua Passolt briefly increased the lead to 5:3, the Red Bulls did not allow themselves to be discouraged and fought for every inch. Thomas Raffl, who was particularly in the mood that evening, scored his brace and made it 5:4. Peter Schneider's equalizer in the 54th minute was the culmination of a dramatic final and meant the decision for extra time.

In overtime, Ryan Murphy was finally able to seal the victory by scoring the decisive goal on the power play. “The Pioneers really outplayed us a few times today,” said coach Oliver David after the game. “But in the final third we started to win the duels, became more aggressive and finally turned the game around.” Despite the difficulties, the team looked to gain an important point.

The Red Bulls now have a short break ahead of them as they have no games on Sunday. The team's next game is on Tuesday against the Växjö Lakers in the Champions Hockey League, which represents an exciting challenge for the team. The pressure to perform both in the domestic league and at international level will grow, and every point is crucial for positioning in the table.

The Red Bulls' next games have already been determined, with the home opener against HC Pustertal Wölfe taking place on Friday, October 11, 2024. The team hopes to be able to maintain the positive mood with their recent successes, including in front of their home crowd on October 13th against the spusu Vienna Capitals.

The entire game, which took place in front of 1,943 spectators, showed once again why ice hockey is one of the most exciting sports. The Red Bulls demonstrated that they can remain strong and resilient even in difficult situations while remaining focused on the challenges ahead.