Tinkering with the future

Bischofberger even cancels Europe’s champion for KAC

Johannes Bischofberger (hi.) played a top season and is staying in Klagenfurt.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

A great KAC season was marred by a 2:6 loss in the decisive seventh game. After the bitter defeat, the course for the future is set at a barbecue. Bischofberger canceled top club, captain Hundertpfund is also facing an extension.

It hurts to fail just before the final seven! But the KAC is on the right track - the club has once again relied on just six legionnaires this season (Salzburg had ten) and has pushed Austrians and young talent. They dominated the basic round, with only two defeats to reach the final - where they now suffered a nasty 2:6 defeat in the showdown with the Bulls.

The KAC cracks after the bitter 2:6 defeat in game seven against Salzburg.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Munich watched Haudum
With Lukas Haudum (DEL club Munich has been watching him and is interested - he would also have an exit clause with Graz!) and Manuel Ganahl (moving to Graz), the KAC loses two key players. But there is one piece of positive news: forward Johannes Bischofberger is staying!

KAC arrow canceled Geneva
"Bischi" had a mega offer from top Swiss team Servette Geneva (champions 2022/23 and current Champions League winners!) for several years. But the package in Klagenfurt suited the KAC arrow better and he will soon sign a longer-term contract. As announced in the "Krone", the coaching duo Kirk Furey and David Fischer will also stay - the only thing missing is the signature on the new two-year contract. Goalie Sebastian Dahm, backup Florian Vorauer, David Maier, Steven Strong, Clemens Unterweger, Raphael Herburger, Fabian Hochegger, Jan Mursak and Finn van Ee have officially signed contracts.

Loan clubs are being sought
Homegrown defenseman Thimo Nickl (Wheeling) comes from the USA. Negotiations are still ongoing with the remaining legionnaires (Fraser is almost certain to stay), as there were no talks during the play-offs. Things look just as good for captain Hundertpfund. After Stefan Klassek (Innsbruck), three or four more talents are to be loaned out.

KAC captain Thomas Hundertpfund congratulates Salzburg's MVP Thomas Raffl.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"Blown it in the most important match!"
After the bitter 2:6 defeat, general manager Oliver Pilloni, like many others in the club, did not have a good night: "The defeat still really hurts. The whole season was great, but we blew it in the most important match. This time we didn't manage to catch up either." Pilloni invites the coaching team to a barbecue on Monday: "That's when we'll discuss what happens next!"

Hundertpfund also doesn't understand the performance in the showdown: "We were nervous at first, then never got into the game. But I think we lost the series beforehand. In game five at home when we conceded the 2:2 with 4.8 seconds to go - and then lost."

KAC forward Manuel Ganahl found it visibly difficult to say goodbye to Klagenfurt.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

A tough farewell
While the Salzburgers celebrated on the ice, the Klagenfurt players quickly disappeared into their dressing room on Friday. There they were comforted by family and friends until 2 am. The retiring Ganahl didn't want to take off his red jersey. Then it was off to the city center to the "Teatro" bar, where some of the Red Jackets were celebrated by fans until the early hours. Instead of the champions' party at Neuer Platz this Sunday, there will now be an internal farewell dinner on Monday before the final talks with the players.