Red Bull Salzburg are a young team, but within seven years of ascending to Austria's top league in 2004 won four titles, solidifying the club's name in Austrian hockey history. They enter the 2016-17 season defending their sixth EBEL title.

by Daniel Autengruber

Red Bull Salzburg are a relatively young club, formed in 1995 by the merger of two smaller clubs. In 2000, energy drink manufacturer Red Bull became the team's title sponsor and began investing heavily, so that the team won the championship of Austria's second tier in 2004 and joined the country's highest league, EBEL, for the 2004-05 season.

After a tough rookie season, Red Bull Salzburg played a strong 2005-06 season and reached the finals versus Villach SV. They were defeated in the overtime in game six of a best-of-seven series. The following year, they dominated the EBEL season, winning 27 of 28 home games, then avenged their loss against Villach in a finals re-match to win their first championship under the guidance of Swedish coach Hardy Nilsson.

Pierre Pagé took over as coach in 2008, and in a four-year span added three more national titles, plus the IIHF Continental Cup and European Trophy both in 2010, to the Red Bull trophy case. This made them one of the most powerful teams in Austria and a very recognisable name in European hockey.

Salzburg . . . not only Mozart

The Salzburger Volksgarten is the home arena of Red Bull Salzburg. A stone's throw away from the city's famous historic district, it is a small, multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 3,400 spectators.

Although they don't have the lengthy tradition that many other Austrian clubs have, they have developed a passionate fan base and consistently have a large number of fans who travel to their away games.

Big names and fan favourites

Many big names have worn Red Bull's colours of red, blue and silver over the years.

In the early years, Jay Pandolfo, who won two Stanley Cups and played 899 NHL games, as well as Marty Reasoner and Rob Tallas, fascinated the Salzburg fans. Swede Greger Artursson was also a fan favourite. In goal, established international stars Arturs Irbe and Marty Turco have played for Salzburg.

Planning for the future

Red Bull Salzburg has a great development program for young prospects. Three different programs are the pillars for the Red Bull Hockey Model. Twin programs in Austria and Germany develop for Red Bull-owned clubs in Salzburg and Munich, respectively. A third program, which is more international in nature, is an academy and its team plays in the international Alps Hockey League. Formerly, the team played in the MHL, the junior league of the KHL.

The current situation

Red Bull Salzburg went to the EBEL finals in 2014 and played an exciting series against HC Bolzano, losing the decisive fifth game in overtime. After the loss, head coach Don Jackson moved to Red Bull's sister club in Munich. Under new coach Dan Ratushy, the club returned to dominance, winning two more EBEL titles in 2014-15 and 2015-16, as well as reaching the Champions Hockey League Round of 16 in the fall of 2014. 

Team facts

CHL seasons

2015-16: 2nd in Group C, Round of 32
2014-15: 1st in Group I, Round of 16

Click here for current information about the club.

NOTE: This article has been updated since its original publication.