Thursday, 08. October 2026 |
DEL Preview, Matchday 7: Red Bull München Hosts ERC Ingolstadt
Our Form
Sitting in fourth place in the standings with twelve points from their first six games, the Red Bulls are right on track so far. We didn’t pick up any points against the Löwen Frankfurt, but other than that, we’ve scored points in five out of six games.
“If you set aside the game against Frankfurt, we’re actually very satisfied. We played our brand of hockey, moved quickly, and were strong on the forecheck,” said Christian Winkler (Managing Director of Sports at Red Bull Hockey) last Sunday ahead of the derby against the Augsburger Panther.
Munich then secured another three points against the Augsburg Panthers—thanks in part to strong special teams—and, following the road win in Cologne, capped off their first six-point weekend. Bottom line: Bring on the ERC Ingolstadt—our guys are in great form.
Highlights: EHC Red Bull München vs. Augsburger Panther (October 4, 2026)
// Gameday
The Opponent
The Ingolstadt team, on the other hand, got off to a rather sluggish start. With five points, the Schanzer are currently in twelfth place. They have two wins but already four losses. Most recently, the ERC lost 1–3 on the road to the newly promoted team in Krefeld and 3–6 at home against the Kölner Haie. Coach Mark French’s team has a goal differential of 14–24—the Danube-side team ranks near the bottom in both goals scored and goals allowed.
Ingolstadt did, however, bring back last year’s championship goalie, Jonas Stettmer, from the Eisbären Berlin to the Danube. The 24-year-old had an outstanding playoff run and was even named MVP afterward. Also new to the team is defenseman Emil Kvernmo Wasenden; the Norwegian national team player came from the runner-up team, Frisk Asker. With Nicolas Appendino and Paul Vinzens—both of whom have played in Munich before—the team added a defenseman for depth and a young forward. Forward Elias Pul is also considered a top prospect.
Otherwise, there have been hardly any changes in the key positions on the roster. This means that Riley Barber, last season’s “DEL Forward of the Year,” remains on the roster. Barber scored an impressive 36 goals in his first year in the PENNY DEL. Currently, the American has three goals.
The Showdown
Last year’s intense playoff quarterfinal series—which the Red Bulls ultimately won convincingly 4–2—showed that neither team gives an inch on the ice. Munich had the edge in skating and playmaking, while Ingolstadt looked to capitalize on transition play and power-play opportunities, especially on the road at the SAP Garden.
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The Sixth Quarterfinal Game in Ingolstadt in Pictures
Elis Hede is well aware of this, too. Our forward warns: “They’re very skilled. We have to play solid defense and stop their counterattacks. And then we have to score our goals.” Tobias Rieder did this particularly well against Ingolstadt last season. Our current leading scorer (four goals) has scored seven times in eight games against Ingolstadt. He found the back of the net six times in the playoffs alone.
Player in the Spotlight
Hede scored his first goal for the Red Bulls last Friday in Cologne. “Of course, that felt good. It’s always fun to score goals. For me personally, it was also really important,” our forward admitted on Wednesday after practice.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old is about to play his 200th DEL game—a number that surprises him: “I have to say, it’s gone by pretty quickly. It’s already coming as a surprise. I didn’t think it would be 200. I would have thought it might be 120 or so,” Hede revealed with a laugh.
Hede is expected to face Jonas Stettmer on Friday. The Panthers’ goalie, who—despite being only 24 years old—ranked among the league’s top goalies last season, has yet to replicate his strong playoff performances in Berlin. A 4.36 goals-against average and an 86.7 percent save percentage are far from top-tier numbers for the German World Championship participant.
Facts and Figures
We’re in for the 78th Upper Bavaria Derby, in which the Red Bulls are aiming for their 46th victory (goal differential: 260–210). Last season, Munich prevailed in three of four regular-season games and didn’t allow a single goal at SAP Garden. Antoine Bibeau kept a clean sheet in both the 2–0 and 4–0 victories.
Match Day Info
Sections 12 and 13 of the Parkharfe will remain closed for this home game. Please also note that Friday’s game is classified as a high-risk event, so only light beer will be served. Radio Gong is the “Partner of the Day” for this game, so you can look forward to some music-themed activities at the SAP Garden.
In addition, our next Student Hockey Night is taking place. That means: Students, apprentices, and high school students over 18 pay only 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. You’ll also get a free Red Bull Vodka.
Mit Video
First goals, intense power plays, and derby celebrations: The Red Bulls are picking up steam// STORIES
Mit Video
Three Points in the Oktoberfest Derby: Red Bulls Defeat Augsburg// GAMEDAY
Mit Galerie
Memory Tournament: Hede, Krening, and Oswald Face Off Against the CheckerBande// FANS