Thursday, 17. September 2026 |
DEL Preview, Matchday 1: EHC Red Bull München Hosts the Adler Mannheim
Our Form
Six wins in eight games, including titles at the South Tyrol Summer Classic in Bolzano and the Warrior Cup in Kaufbeuren, and only one loss after 60 minutes—the Red Bulls had a strong preseason overall.
Both goaltenders, Antoine Bibeau and Mathias Niederberger, were impressive, and our defense was solid overall. In fact, the Red Bulls conceded more than two goals during regulation time only once. On offense, all four of Munich’s forward lines created danger and scored goals; every line has already contributed important goals.
Our guys have also proven their ability to mount comebacks on multiple occasions, turning several games around for a victory in the final period. “Overall, we’ve had a very good preseason and are further along than we were at this point last year,” Patrick Hager summarized during the Open Locker Room. “Now we’re excited that the season is finally getting underway.”
Highlights: HC Bolzano vs. EHC Red Bull München (August 30, 2026)
// Highlights
The Opponent
Things got serious for the Adler Mannheim as early as the beginning of September. The runner-up from the previous season was already in action in the Champions League—and put on a strong showing. The team from the Kurpfalz region secured three wins against Växjö (3–1), Bordeaux (5–4), and Fribourg (4–3); only the home game against Skellefteå was lost (3–4). In their previous five preseason games, they had three wins and two losses. One thing stood out: The Eagles were vulnerable when shorthanded; in almost every game, Mannheim conceded at least one goal while shorthanded.
Even new goalie Jake Hildebrand was powerless to prevent this during his appearances. The American, who holds a German passport, came from the champion team Eisbären Berlin and has so far been alternating with Maximilian Frazreb between the posts. Also new to the team are the skilled defenseman Jeremie Poirier, who came from the Texas Stars (AHL), as well as AHL veteran Patrick Brown (most recently captain of the Providence Bruins, 54 points) and Brooks Macek on offense. The goal-scorer came from Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL. In addition, Lennard Nieleck, the current “DEL2 Rookie of the Year” (Lausitzer Füchse, 43 points), has joined the Adlerhorst.
“The basic philosophy they adopted two or three years ago hasn’t changed. They’ve once again made targeted additions,” says Hager, referring to the Mannheim roster. Sharpshooter Nicolas Mattinen (27 goals, 33 assists)—last year’s top scorer for Mannheim and “DEL Defenseman of the Year”—remains on the team as well.
The Showdown
Both teams know each other well; last season alone, they faced off nine times. After four regular-season games, their paths crossed again in the playoff semifinals. Coach Dallas Eakins’ team came out on top with two 4–1 victories—even though the best-of-seven series was much closer than the scores suggest.
With a win to kick off the season, the Red Bulls are looking not only to get revenge but also to send a strong message right from the start. “We’re really looking forward to the game. Especially given what’s happened recently, facing Mannheim to start the season is, of course, a special matchup for us and for both sets of fans. When these two teams face off, there’s also a lot of prestige at stake,” emphasizes our number 52. Based on past experience, we can expect another intense game on the ice this Friday, where only the smallest details will make the difference.
Player in the Spotlight
Munich’s top scorer during the preseason was Tobias Rieder, who scored four goals. And the Eagles seem to be a good match for the former NHL player: Rieder scored four goals against Mannheim last season (with two assists). Yasin Ehliz also showed strong early form in the first few weeks of this season with three goals—against the Eagles, the forward racked up nine points in the previous round.
When it comes to the Kurpfalz team, there’s no getting around Brooks Macek. The now 34-year-old played for the Red Bulls for two years between 2016 and 2018. During that time, we brought two championship titles back to Munich together. The right-handed shooter then joined the Las Vegas Golden Knights organization. But despite scoring 66 points for the Chicago farm team in the AHL, the German-Canadian’s NHL dream did not come true.
Macek spent the past seven years in the KHL in Yekaterinburg. With a total of 162 goals, the Pyeongchang Olympic silver medalist was among the league’s top scorers there.
Facts and Figures
In total, these two powerhouses have faced off 85 times in Germany’s top ice hockey league, with Mannheim winning 47 of those games. Looking at the last ten matchups, the Kurpfalz team also has the edge (eight wins). So it’s time for the Red Bulls to improve that record.
Hager emphasizes: “We’re aware of their strengths, but we also have confidence in our own. That’s what we want to focus on.” Last season, Munich won two of four games at SAP Garden (4–0, 5–1), while the visitors took two games in the Bavarian capital (2–4, 2–3 in OT).
Match Day Info
Of course, a new game day intro awaits you for the new season. So don’t just be excited—be in your seats early so you don’t miss the show.
A note to all game attendees: Due to a concurrent event at the Olympic Park, we recommend using public transportation, as the Parkharfe parking garage is experiencing higher-than-usual occupancy. In addition, a new digital parking system is available to all visitors.
The home game against Mannheim is also our first Student Hockey Night. That means: Students, apprentices, and high school students over 18 pay just 20 euros for a reserved-seat ticket, and with your ticket, you get free admission to the “DiscoBox” or the “089 Bar” after the game. Plus, you’ll get a free Red Bull Vodka.
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