Benjamin Nissner: “I have always said that I would come back”

At just 28 years of age, Benjamin Nissner is one of the oldest players in the ÖEHV squad for the February Break. With 51 international caps, he is one of the more experienced players. Last year, the forward took some time out to get his back problems under control. It proved successful. Benjamin Nissner is back with Team Austria and is motivated for the tournament in Oslo and the spring.

04 February 20263 min read

“I was able to use the break last year to recharge my batteries,” says the Viennese, who is playing his fifth season for serial champions EC Red Bull Salzburg this year. In 44 regular-season games, Nissner recorded twelve goals and 20 assists. Within the club, this puts him in 4th place behind Michael Raffl, Travis St. Denis and T.W. Bourke.

He now wants to bring his qualities back onto the ice for the national team as well and put himself forward for the 2026 World Championship: “I want to show that I am back, that I want to play for the team and that I will give everything to be part of the World Championship.”

Of the young squad that flew to Oslo (NOR) on Wednesday lunchtime, Benjamin Nissner is convinced: “We have a young, hungry squad and I am looking forward to the games. The young players’ training quality is incredible. Almost every pass comes off, and the willingness and motivation are fully there.”

The four-time champion also enjoys his role as one of the more experienced players: “It is nice to be one of the oldest players for once. I still have a lot to learn, but I think I also get a lot of help from others.”

As one of the team’s leaders, Benjamin Nissner immediately sets out the approach for the Three Nations Tournament in Oslo, where Austria will face Hungary and Norway: “Just go full throttle from the start. In other words, do not test the waters at all, just jump straight in and show that we are young and hungry.”

The game against Hungary will be broadcast live on ORF SPORT + on Friday at 19:00. Leon Wallner has had to withdraw from the tournament at short notice. Lenz Moosbrugger has been called up as his replacement and, like Maximilian Preiml, Devin Steffler, Johannes Neumann and David Waschnig, is set to make his senior national team debut.

February Break 2026

Three Nations Tournament/European Cup of Nations, Oslo (NOR)

Schedule
Austria vs. Hungary
Fri., 6 February 2026, 19:00, live on ORF SPORT +

Norway vs. Austria
Sat., 7 February 2026, 16:00

Squad

No.	Surname	First name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Date of birth	L/R	Club	GP	G	A	PIM
1	VORAUER	Florian	GK	187	79	09.12.99	L	EC-KAC	28	0	0	0
29	BRANDNER	Jakob	GK	190	90	16.05.01	R	Hockey-Club TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie	3	0	0	0
30	WIESER	Nicolas	GK	183	78	30.08.97	L	Moser Medical Graz99ers	3	0	0	0

2	PREIML	Maximilian	D	186	80	12.06.03	R	EC-KAC	0	0	0	0
11	SABLATTNIG	Tobias	D	183	79	14.05.03	L	EC-KAC	9	0	0	8
4	SCHNETZER	Ramon	D	178	83	12.08.96	L	Pioneers Vorarlberg Eishockeyclub	67	3	6	24
13	SÖLLINGER	Patrick	D	186	93	05.08.04	L	Steinbach Black Wings Linz	15	1	0	12
24	STAPELFELDT	Paul	D	197	100	20.09.98	L	Moser Medical Graz99ers	40	0	0	14
3	STEFFLER	Devin	D	185	80	14.07.00	R	Hockey-Club TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie	0	0	0	0
32	WOLF	Bernd	D	178	84	23.02.97	L	EHC Kloten (SUI)	115	4	17	62
14	ZÜNDEL	Kilian	D	180	80	17.01.01	R	Moser Medical Graz99ers	74	2	8	26

27	HUBER	Paul	F	193	101	10.06.00	L	Moser Medical Graz99ers	76	9	3	16
15	KAINZ	Lukas	F	184	83	02.09.95	L	Moser Medical Graz99ers	57	4	12	10
28	MAXA	Felix	F	187	93	14.11.97	L	EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV	52	2	3	14
18	Moosbrugger	Lenz	F	183	79	16.10.04	L	Moser Medical Graz99ers	0	0	0	0
25	Neubauer	Henrik	F	183	90	15.04.97	R	Steinbach Black Wings Linz	26	1	4	0
9	NEUMANN	Johannes	F	175	82	10.05.06	L	Rögle BK (SWE)	0	0	0	0
7	NISSNER	Benjamin	F	181	80	30.11.97	L	EC Red Bull Salzburg	51	8	10	24
19	ROHRER	Vinzenz	F	178	73	09.09.04	R	ZSC Lions (SUI)	33	7	7	43
10	SCHWINGER	Simeon	F	182	75	07.10.97	L	EC-KAC	39	2	0	20
16	VAN EE	Finn	F	180	83	12.01.03	L	EC-KAC	2	0	0	0
22	WALLENTA	Elias	F	182	85	04.01.99	L	EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV	7	0	1	0
21	WASCHNIG	David	F	180	79	24.04.07	L	EC-KAC	0	0	0	0
				183,6	84	24,8			720	47	74	294