# Special Teams Spark Cologne's Comeback Win Over KAC in Krefeld

**By Petra Nowak**  \nPublished September 14, 2026  \nUpdated September 14, 2026

> Kölner Haie leaned on decisive power-play execution in Krefeld to overturn an early EC-KAC opening goal and secure a 3-1 Champions Hockey League victory.

When EC-KAC took the ice at the Yayla Arena in Krefeld on Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Austrian side sought to stabilize a demanding Champions Hockey League road trip against a Kölner Haie squad making its mark after an 11-year absence from continental competition. Although Klagenfurt struck first to grab an early lead, Cologne answered with superior special-teams execution, turning the contest around on the power play to earn a 3:1 victory.

## Special Teams Shift the Momentum in Krefeld

The Round 4 fixture was relocated to Krefeld due to venue scheduling conflicts in Cologne. Despite playing at an alternate facility, the German hosts maintained their composure after giving up an early opening goal. Klagenfurt brought sharp intensity out of the gate, but penalty trouble eventually tilted the ice. Cologne adjusted effectively during man-advantage situations, leveraging their power play to reverse the deficit and pull ahead with three unanswered goals.

**Roster Context:** Cologne dressed a defensive unit heavily featured by 31-year-old Swedish blue-liner Robin Press, who arrived in the offseason following five seasons in the KHL. The Haie competed without forward Juhani Tyrväinen (#21), who served a suspension handed down by the CHL Disciplinary Committee following a reviewable incident in an earlier fixture.

## Navigating a Grueling European Road Stretch

For EC-KAC, participating in their seventh Champions Hockey League campaign, the loss in Krefeld represented a third consecutive setback amidst a formidable stretch against reigning champions from across the continent:

- **September 3, 2026:** Klagenfurt opened the CHL campaign at home against French champions Bordeaux Boxers, battling to a hard-fought victory in overtime.
- **September 5, 2026:** Hosting Swiss champions Fribourg-Gottéron, KAC fell 1:3 after a costly penalty phase resulted in conceding three short-handed goals.
- **September 10, 2026:** Facing Norwegian champions Storhamar Hamar—who secured their 10th national championship overall and third straight title in the spring—KAC suffered a narrow 1:2 loss despite a strong surge in the third period.
- **September 12, 2026:** At the neutral venue in Krefeld, Klagenfurt claimed the initial lead against Kölner Haie before Cologne flipped the narrative on the power play to finalize a 3:1 defeat for KAC.

## Cologne's Unbeaten Start and Continental Return

The result preserved an unbeaten start for Kölner Haie in the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League group phase. Through three matches, Cologne accumulated eight points from three victories, demonstrating rapid cohesion on the European stage. Qualifying for the tournament for just the second time in franchise history, the traditional German club—currently seeking its ninth national title after a 24-year wait—looks sharp following pre-season preparation that featured a 3:1 win against German league foes Iserlohn Roosters.

## Television Schedule and October Schedule

Austrian hockey supporters can catch delayed highlights of the match via ORF Sport+, which has scheduled coverage of the Kölner Haie vs. EC-KAC meeting alongside other Round 4 action.

caption{ORF Sport+ CHL Broadcast Schedule}Broadcast DateTime (CET)Match CoverageTuesday, Sept 15, 202603:00 / 15:00Kölner Haie vs. EC-KAC HighlightsWednesday, Sept 16, 202615:00Växjö Lakers vs. Red Bull Salzburg HighlightsFollowing the European road trip, Klagenfurt pauses CHL action until October, when they resume group play with two important fixtures:

- **Tuesday, October 6, 2026:** KAC Klagenfurt vs. KooKoo Kouvola (19:15 CET)
- **Wednesday, October 14, 2026:** Eisbären Berlin vs. KAC Klagenfurt (19:30 CET)

## Sources

- [tvprogram.online](https://tvprogram.online/stanice/orf-sport) — original
- [kac.at](https://www.kac.at/champions-hockey-league/) — original
- [eishockey-magazin.de](https://eishockey-magazin.de/category/deutschland/del/koelner-haie) — original