VSV Opens New League Campaign with Friday Clash in Budapest
Budapest, Hungary – September 12, 2025 – EC IDM heat pumps VSV begins its quest in the new league season tonight, facing FTC-Telekom Budapest at Tüske Hall-Arena. The Villach squad arrives with key players demonstrating strong pre-season form, poised to make a statement in their opening match.
Offensively,the team will look to Brady Shaw,who averaged 21:15 minutes of ice time across three pre-season games,registering two goals and two assists with a +3 rating and averaging over 80 puck contacts per game. Supporting Shaw will be 23-year-old Gergely Mattyasovszky, who boasts a 70.6% faceoff win rate, the highest Expected Goals rating among teammates, a 53.2% success rate in offensive duals, and averaged 1.5 created top-class scoring chances per game. Mattyasovszky previously showcased his potential last season with 13 goals and 14 assists in 46 appearances.The starting goaltender remains undecided, with Nagy and Arany having shared pre-season duties and posting comparable statistics, leaving Head Coach Sarrikoski to make a final decision prior to puck drop.
Defensively, VSV can rely on Dylan Macpherson, who logged an average of 18:50 minutes per game, winning 53.95% of his duels, completing 83.3% of breakouts, and committing a league-low 1.3 turnovers per game among VSV defenders. He also contributed an average of 3.2 checks and 1.1 blocked shots.
In net, Joe Cannata impressed during pre-season, stopping 90.41% of the 96 shots he faced, allowing nine goals for a 2.95 goals-against average.He recorded an 80.55% save percentage on “Grade-A” chances and stopped 90.01% of shots from the “slot” area, despite a 33.3% win rate across three games. Veteran René Swette also demonstrated stability, posting a 92.00% save percentage on 75 shots, conceding only six goals for a 2.38 goals-against average, and securing a 66.6% win rate.
Forward Nikita Scherbak led the offensive charge in pre-season, winning the puck in 61% of offensive situations, recording 385 puck contacts (77 per game) – the most of any VSV forward – and firing 20 shots on goal. Young defender Nico Uchan (18) also made a positive impression, achieving a Corsi value of 51.3% and delivering 2.4 hits per game, integrating effectively into the defensive structure.
