The RB Salute attracted a lot of interest from the fans in Zell am See and will now have its permanent home there for five years. It is also planned that the men’s national team will set up camp in the mountain town in spring 2024. An international match is possible.
Impressive how the Red Bull Salute was immediately accepted in Zell am See after moving from Kitzbühel, where the international invitational tournament was based for the past four years. On the opening Saturday, over 2,000 ice hockey fans were in the ice rink for the evening game. Which, like on Sunday’s final day, got their money’s worth and created a great atmosphere. All of this only became possible with the adaptation of the “Polar Bear Cave”. Which now also meets requirements of this size with its generously proportioned cabin wing – including the attached VIP area. “The first plans for this already existed in 2006,” Albert Herzog, the former head polar bear, remembers the really lengthy process leading up to successful completion. Now that the Zell am See location is very interesting again for the men’s national team. “There are plans to hold one of the one-week training camps here in preparation for the next World Cup in April 2024,” said Roger Bader at the welcome meeting in the lofty Schmittenhöhe. Austria’s team boss was of course an interested tournament observer at the salute and also met Vincent Rohrer. The almost 19-year-old from Vorarlberg, who was drafted by the NHL club Montreal Canadiens in 2022, returned to Zürcher SC in the summer after two years overseas. This would end a very long dry spell for Salzburg.
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