EC Red Bull Salzburg has strengthened for the final phase of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League and is looking forward to striker Brian Lebler. The 33-year-old Austro-Canadian has played for the Steinbach Black Wings Linz this season, for whom the season is over after the regular season ended on Sunday. The Red Bulls are also reacting to the current injury situation of five of their own forwards.
Not just this season, but a total of ten years, interrupted only by a DEL season in Ingolstadt (2015/16), Brian Lebler has already played for the Linz top club and has long since made his mark in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League made a name. The forward has scored the most goals in five ICE (formerly Erste Bank Eishockey Liga) seasons including the last season and was awarded the Ron Kennedy Trophy for league MVP in 2015.
In 2012, Lebler, who played at the University of Michigan for four years until 2011 and became NCAA Champion (CCHA) twice, also celebrated the only championship title in the domestic league so far with the people of Linz. Overall, the forward scored 317 goals and 233 assists in 561 games for Black Wings Linz in the ICE Hockey League. Since 2013, Lebler has also played for the Austrian national team and took part in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. The commitment in Salzburg is his first change within the league.
Brian Lebler: “In the last two years, not making the playoffs with Linz was and is really hard for me. I always want to play for the championship at the highest level and I am therefore very grateful for the opportunity to compete in this phase with the Red Bulls this year. That’s like a bonus for me. I know the mentality of the Red Bulls and the claim to play for the title every year. I’m happy to be part of the Salzburg team this time and I’ll do everything I can to help the team.” And adds: “It will be a bit strange, after so many years with the Linz team, a different helmet and a different one to wear jersey. But I know most of the team and the head coach a little bit and at the end of the day it’s all about playing hockey. And it’s a good opportunity for me to learn how the Red Bulls work as an organization.”
Despite the last place in the table and the associated early elimination of Black Wings Linz from the current championship, Lebler is also one of the top scorers in the league in the current season with 25 goals (together with Znojmos Radek Prokes). Only Salzburg’s Peter Schneider has scored more often with 28 goals.
Brian Lebler could already make his Red Bulls debut on Friday in the home game against HC TIWAG Innsbruck “Die Haie”.
ecrbs.redbuls.com, image: GEPA pictures/ Manfred Binder
