Wednesday, 22. July 2026 |
Red Bulls Salute 2026: A Profile of HC Dynamo Pardubice
This year’s Red Bulls Salute kicks off on August 21 with the two semifinal games. The first game, at 4:00 p.m., features EHC Biel-Bienne from Switzerland and HC Dynamo Pardubice from the Czech Republic. The Red Bulls will then take the ice at 7:30 p.m. for the second semifinal against EC Red Bull Salzburg.
The rest of the tournament will determine who we face the following day. Depending on the results of the semifinals, we could face the top Czech team either in the third-place game or in the final. For us, it would be our second matchup against the reigning Tipsport Extraliga champions.
Red Bulls Fall in Overtime
The first matchup between Munich and Pardubice was fiercely contested. In August 2024, the Red Bulls suffered a narrow 2-3 overtime loss to Pardubice in a preseason game in Bad Tölz. Filip Varejcka and Nico Krämmer had turned a 0-1 deficit around in the second period before the Czechs struck back. In overtime, Martin Kaut then scored the game-winning goal for the visitors.
Back on the Throne
While Pardubice had finished as runner-up in each of the previous two years, they pulled off a major upset last season. After finishing first in the regular season, head coach Filip Pešán’s team ultimately prevailed 4–2 against Oceláři Třinec in the best-of-seven playoff final series, celebrating their first championship title in 14 years and their seventh overall.
With this victory, the red-and-whites from the “Gingerbread City” once again qualified for the Champions League. Immediately following the Red Bulls Salute, Pardubice will face Polish serial champions GKS Tychy in their season opener on September 3.
Top Czech Duo Leads Star-Studded Lineup
Two truly exceptional forwards will also be in the lineup: Roman Červenka and captain Lukáš Sedlák. This dream duo recently dominated the league at will, racking up a combined 159 points (58 goals). It’s no wonder that top scorer Červenka scored the decisive goal to clinch the title in overtime of Game 6, assisted by Sedlák.
In the future, the two Czechs can also look forward to top-notch support from two of their compatriots. David Tomasek, who made his NHL debut for the Edmonton Oilers last fall at the age of 29, is a true goal-scorer who has moved from Färjestad BK in Sweden to Pardubice. The team also added another top forward in Matěj Stránský (most recently captain of HC Davos in Switzerland, with 35 goals).
The defense is also led by two Czechs. Goaltender Roman Will excelled in the playoffs and, after four previous runner-up finishes, finally won his first championship. Defenseman Jan Košťálek also shone, finishing as the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 50 points.
So lief das Red Bulls Salute 2025
// HIGHLIGHTS
Red Bulls Salute 2026 Match Schedule
Semifinal 1 | August 21, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. | EHC Biel vs. HC Dynamo Pardubice | Tickets
Semifinal 2 | August 21, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | EHC Red Bull Munich vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg | Tickets
Third-Place Game | August 22, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Loser of Semifinal 1 – Loser of Semifinal 2 | Tickets
Final | August 22, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Winner of Semifinal 1 – Winner of Semifinal 2 | Tickets
All Previous Winners of the Red Bulls Salute
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2025: Rögle BK (SWE)
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2024: Växjö Lakers (SWE)
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2023: IFK Helsinki (FIN)
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2022: Mountfield HK (CZE)
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2021: Bílí Tygri Liberec (CZE)
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2020: EC-KAC (AUT)
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2019: EHC Red Bull München (GER)
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2018: SC Bern (SUI)
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2017: EHC Red Bull München (GER)
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2013: JYP (FIN)
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2012: Luleå Hockey (SWE)
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2011: EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
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2010: Eisbären Berlin (GER)
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2009: EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
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2008: HC Sparta Prague (CZE)
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2007: Los Angeles Kings (USA)
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2006: ZSC Lions (SUI)
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2005: ERC Ingolstadt (GER)
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