Thursday, 03. July 2025 | Red Bulls Salute 2025: Portrait of Rögle BK
50 days until Red Bulls Salute – A portrait of Rögle BK// RED BULLS SALUTEIn exactly 50 days, Red Bulls Salute 2025 will kick off in Zell am See-Kaprun. This year, the star-studded lineup includes Sweden's top team Rögle BK for the first time. Brady Ferguson knows his former team well, of course.The American forward won't have to wait long for his first match against his former club. After the opening game of the international invitational tournament between EV Zug and EC Red Bull Salzburg on Friday (August 22, 4:00 p.m.), EHC Red Bull München and Rögle BK will face off in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m.
“I played with most of the guys for five years, but they also have a few new players and a new coach,” Ferguson said, looking ahead to the encounter. “I'm definitely looking forward to seeing everyone again. There'll certainly be a few bits of banter exchanged on the ice,” our number twelve announced with a wink. We can't wait!
Memories of the Champions League
This summer, not only will Ferguson make his debut at the Red Bulls Salute, but so will the Swedish representative from Rögle. The club, based in the southern Swedish municipality of Ängelholm, is participating for the first time.
Nevertheless, there have been points of contact with our Red Bulls in the past. In the 2021/22 season, the two teams met in the group stage of the Champions League. Rögle initially prevailed 4-3 thanks to two goals in the final seconds, but our boys won the return leg 2-1 at Oberwiesenfeld.
It was to be a victory against the eventual CHL champions. Rögle marched on to the final and claimed the European crown for the first time with a 2-1 win over Tappara Tampere. And that was in their first ever appearance in the top flight! Incidentally, Ferguson's teammates at the time included Ryan McKiernan, a former Munich player.
Brady Ferguson playing for his former club Rögle against the Red Bulls
New coach, same style of play?
While Rögle has already won the Champions League, the club is still waiting for its first SHL title. It almost happened in 2021 and 2024, but both times the team was eliminated in the playoff finals. Last season, after finishing seventh in the main round, the team was eliminated in the round of 16 (best-of-three) after two games against Malmö Redhawks (0-2).
To ensure that the team can also achieve success at the national level in the future, a new coach was hired in the summer. Dan Tangnes, who previously coached EV Zug to two championships and one cup victory in seven years, is now another prominent name behind the bench. The Norwegian follows Roger Hansson, who has taken the opposite route and will be working as assistant coach in Zug in the future.
“Because of the new coach, I'm not quite sure how they'll play yet,” Ferguson said. "They're definitely very good skaters. And if Rögle plays like they have in recent years, they'll want to have a lot of puck control,“ said the 30-year-old, assessing our opponents' strengths.
A Scandinavian-North American mix
The largely experienced squad can certainly rely on an excellent goalkeeper. ”Arvid Holm is really strong," confirmed Ferguson. It's no coincidence that the 26-year-old Swede was recently awarded the “Honken Trophy” as the league's best goalie. On offense, his compatriots Dennis Everberg and Linus Sandin are among the top performers, with Ferguson usually forming the top line between the two forwards as center. However, the best scorer was Canadian Josh Dickinson (nine goals, 21 assists).
That was the Red Bulls Salute 2024
// RECAP
With Fredrik Olofsson (most recently EV Zug, 30 points) and American Karson Kuhlmann (Lukko Rauma, 49 points), two new offensive players with NHL experience have already been signed to provide even more scoring power.
Two defenders, Mark Friedman (Milwaukee Admirals) and Paul LaDue (MoDo Hockey), who have also spent many years overseas, have also joined the team. Rögle is therefore relying on a Scandinavian-North American team.
Red Bulls Salute 2025 games at a glance
Semifinal 1 | August 22, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. | EC Red Bull Salzburg – EV Zug | Tickets
Semifinal 2 | August 22, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. | EHC Red Bull München – Rögle BK | Tickets
Third place play-off | August 23, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Loser SF 1 – Loser SF 2 | Tickets
Final | August 23, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. | Winner SF 1 – Winner SF 2 | Tickets
All previous winners of the Red Bulls Salute:
2024: Växjö Lakers (SWE)
2023: IFK Helsinki (FIN)
2022: Mountfield HK (CZE)
2021: Bílí Tygri Liberec (CZE)
2020: EC-KAC (AUT)
2019: EHC Red Bull München (GER)
2018: SC Bern (SUI)
2017: EHC Red Bull München (GER)
2013: JYP (FIN)
2012: Luleå Hockey (SWE)
2011: EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
2010: Eisbären Berlin (GER)
2009: EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
2008: HC Sparta Prague (CZE)
2007: Los Angeles Kings (USA)
2006: ZSC Lions (SUI)
2005: ERC Ingolstadt (GER)
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