"Krone" grades the season

There were many model students at runners-up KAC

After an outstanding season, the KAC only lost to Salzburg 2:6 in game seven of the final and finished as runners-up. The "Krone" took a close look at the players' seasons and awarded school grades with ratings.

They dominated the basic round, made it to the final in a rush, but lost it. The Red Jackets also scored the most goals with 241. A dream season with a bitter end in game seven. These are the "Krone's" school grades for the KAC cracks:

Grade 1

Johannes Bischofberger: 27 goals scored, always dangerous! Back like a phoenix from the ashes after more than a year of injury.

Sebastian Dahm: Second-best save percentage in the whole season, the best in the play-offs. The oldie (37 years old) still has a lot left in the tank.

Lukas Haudum: Top play-off scorer in the entire league with 20 points, the forward has really blossomed. Left the Salzburg team standing like slalom poles at times in the final.

Thomas Hundertpfund: The captaincy is good for him! Clearly the best season ever in terms of points and extremely reliable. The Klagenfurt native gets on blindly with Bischofberger.

 Grade 2

Jesper Jensen Aabo: The duel machine, stepped up his game in the play-offs. A very stable duo with Unterweger.

Matt Fraser: 28 goals, the new system suited him. He was always dangerous and also plays in a team-oriented manner.

Manuel Ganahl: 14 play-off points are his best score and he is the fighter par excellence. He often led the one-man line in the play-offs.

Raphael Herburger: Reliable, good with bullies and a strong skater. The returnee and his experience are good for the Red Jackets.

Niki Kraus: 27 points, the best season of his career so far. He never gives up a puck and hurts the opposition.

David Maier: Established himself for good, defends extremely solidly - and lets his fists do the talking when necessary.

Jan Mursak: Klagenfurt's outstanding man in the basic round, in the play-offs he seemed somewhat inhibited after his injury.

Nick Petersen: Less agile than before, still a top player and dangerous. But the number of bad passes has increased.

Paul Postma: Brilliant in the basic round and even the best scoring defender in the league, but a little more error-prone in the final.

Tobias Sablattnig: Seized his chance, came from the farm team. He is very mature for his 20 years. Unfortunately out injured from the quarter-finals onwards.

Steven Strong: The rock of the team, nothing could rattle him. The defender played his best season to date.

Clemens Unterweger: Hardly made any mistakes, got involved in the offense more often. 33 scoring points are his record so far.

Thomas Vallant: Continually improved as the season progressed, scoring six goals to boot.

Finn van Ee: The cheeky and combative youngster shone with the winning goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Is now a permanent fixture.

Marcel Witting: Was already written off, but experienced his third spring at the age of 28! He was always there where he was needed.

Grade 3

Luka Gomboc: The young 20-year-old has a lot of potential, but hasn't been able to make the most of it yet.

Fabian Hochegger: The young striker (22) was the rising star in the pre-season with eleven goals, but hardly got any chances this time.

Daniel Obersteiner: Finally back after a period of suffering with many injuries! He can do even more, but now needs a full season.

Simeon Schwinger: Plays very hard, always shows great commitment. But seems too good at times.

Florian Vorauer: Twelve games in the entire season, only one in 2024. The backup goalie is certainly not happy with that.