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West derby of excitement: Pioneers Vorarlberg welcome Innsbruck!
On August 24, 2025, the Pioneers Vorarlberg will meet HC TIWAG Innsbruck in the Tiwag Arena for a decisive western derby.
West derby of excitement: Pioneers Vorarlberg welcome Innsbruck!
On Sunday, September 13, 2025, the time has finally come: The Pioneers Vorarlberg will make their debut on home ice in the Tiwag Arena. The opponent is none other than HC TIWAG Innsbruck, and the tension is high after the opening defeat in Linz. The Pioneers are desperate to get their first point of the season after losing 5-2 to Linz in the first round, but were able to score two goals in the final third - a bright spot that the boys want to take with them under new coach Johannes Nygard. Eishockey.net reports that the two teams met in the pre-season, with Innsbruck emerging victorious in both encounters. But last season the balance in the direct duels was even, with two defeats and two wins for both sides.
The omens for the West derby couldn't be more exciting. Innsbruck, under the leadership of head coach Ryan Kinasevich, is experiencing a major upheaval. After a disappointing previous year, many new players have arrived, including former MVP Steven Owre, who signed for two seasons. Unfortunately, new signing Matt Wilkins will be out for a longer period of time due to injury, but with Sebastian Benker as a replacement, the team is determined to turn things around.
Home game with many questions
Whether Daniel Woger can play at the home opener remains unclear until the last minute. His absence could be a bitter loss for the Pioneers. There is optimism in Innsbruck, especially after the positive training reports from Kinasevich and assistant coach Florian Pedevilla, who praised the players' commitment. The Tigers lost another friendly 2-0 against Ravensburg last week, but they want to finally celebrate their first win of the season.
Sunday's game is eagerly awaited by fans. The Tiwag Arena will be open from 3pm and tickets are available for €12. Children, young people and subscribers can even look forward to free entry, which should fill the audience properly. An opportunity to experience ice hockey up close and get to know the newest players and strategies of both teams - after all, it's not an everyday duel!
Pioneers Vorarlberg in transition
The Pioneers have also shuffled up their squad a lot. With Johannes Nygard at the helm, they are pursuing a new game system designed for greater speed. Neo-captain Kevin Macierzynski has stressed the importance of development and firmly believes in the intensity required in the game. In the pre-season, the Vorarlbergers were able to win both test games against HC Thurgau and GCK Lions 2-1, which gives hope for a positive development in the new season.
The rivalry between these two teams is rekindled and both coaches have high expectations heading into Sunday. Who will prevail and take home the first points of the season? The blade warriors will look for the answer to this question directly on the ice, while the fans in the arena cheer along.
The ice hockey season promises to be exciting, not just for the Pioneers and Innsbruck, but for all ice hockey fans and the enthusiastic spectators who appreciate the sport in this region. Dubnetwork expects a thrilling duel. It remains to be seen whether the Pioneers Vorarlberg can use the home advantage or whether Innsbruck will strike back after the upheaval.