ECTC Round 1
Preview - Divisional Game
Europe, we’re back!
Vikings host Razorbacks in Divisional ECTC Round
The Dacia Vienna Vikings are back on the big European football stage to compete in the ECTC – the European Club Team Competition. The first opponent in Round 1 of the ECTC bracket are the Triangle Razorbacks, currently the Danish Vice-Champion.
The game takes place on Sunday April 14, in the Vikings home stadium Hohe Warte in the 19thViennese district and will be streamed live with English commentary. Live coverage starts at 2.40 pm, the game kicks off at 3 pm CET.
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The last Vienna Vikings appearance in an international competition goes back to the 24thof April 2016 when the Vikings lost to the then reigning Big6 Champion, the New Yorker Braunschweig Lions, with 21:14. Now, almost exactly three years later, the Vikings are ready to hit the big stage again and are determined to get back to the top. To qualify for the ECTC playoffs in early June, the Vikings have to face the Razorbacks this Sunday at home and the Spanish Champion (the Badalona Dracs) in an away game on Saturday, April 27.
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HC Calaycay won the European Championship five times
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“We really don’t know what to expect from Razorbacks. They just started their season last Sunday with a win, so we are going to scout them a little bit and get ready for our match-up. They have been traditionally one of the best teams in Denmark, I am sure that they will come here to Vienna to compete.”, says Dacia Vikings Head Coach Chris Calaycay when asked what to the expect from the upcoming Danish opponent. Calaycay knows very well how it feels to win the European Championship since his Coaching skills as Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach were essential when he won all five Euro titles with the Vikings in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2013.
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Motivation and the right mindset don’t seem to be an issue for Sunday’s ECTC match-up, since Calaycay adds: “I think we don’t need to get the players fired up because all of them are already hungry to play for a European title again. The Vikings had so much success with the Eurobowl titles and with winning at that top level. Now it is our goal to get back to that and to continue our list of successful performances on the international stage. We are taking one game at a time. So, Sunday’s game against the Razorbacks is the first step back to the European top. We are ready to use that opportunity.”
The guests, the Triangle Razorbacks are certainly ready and prepared for the match-up as well like Head Coach Kristian Worm told Vikings Head of Media, Kiki Klepsch, yesterday: “We are looking forward to the European competitions. Austria is known as one of the strongest leagues in Europe, and the Vienna Vikings have been a top team with a great professional organization through the past many years. Vienna will be a tough opponent and a big test for us Triangle Razorbacks, but we are excited to visit the famous Vikings’ home field Hohe Warte and be a part of a great game.”
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The Dacia Vikings provide livestream with English commentary by Ricky McMurry and Georg Zivko. Coverage starts at 2:40 pm CET.
Visit www.viennavikings.com/fanzone/livestream to watch the ECTC game live!
Vikings QB #8 Austin Herink is ready to hit the big European football stage coming off a strong performance versus the Amstetten Thunder in the AFL which he currently leads with 11 touchdowns. (c) nutville.at
Featured Dacia Vikings Player of the Week
US import DB #21 Dustin Rivas
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Another Viking is eager to play on the weekend: DB #21 Dustin Rivas. The US import player from Colorado will give his Vikings debut this Sunday against the Razorbacks. A minor injury forced him to watch his teammates from the sideline during the first three AFL weeks. “Once I got out here I was looking forward to my first game as a Viking. Now, the day has finally come. It will be an awesome feeling and I am just excited to be out there. And for my first game being an international one, it just creates a bigger stage.”
24-year-old Rivas can’t wait to get the first game action going on as a Viking and adds: “Playing in the European Club Team Competition is going to be great for our organization, as we will be able to match up against teams we don’t see every year. This will enable us to showcase our talents internationally and compete on a bigger scale.”
‘I’m excited to see what’s ahead of us Vikings!’ (D. Rivas)
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It is Rivas first year as a Pro in Europe, actually his first time out of the United States. But the Colorado Mesa University graduate starts to love the city and enjoys Sight Seeing at the famous, historic spots Vienna has to offer. He adjusted quickly also thanks to his defensive back teammates: “The DB unit is great, we have a bunch of different personalities in the group, which makes it a lot of fun. They welcomed me in with open arms which made it an easy transition. We have a lot of talented players in the group, so I am excited to see what is ahead! “
Excitement is certainly in the air, when Rivas and the rest of the Dacia Vienna Vikings face the Triangle Razorback Sunday afternoon.
The hunt for the European football crown is on.
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Key Facts
Dacia Vienna Vikings vs. Triangle Razorbacks
Sunday April 14
Kickoff 3 pm
Hohe Warte Stadium, 1190 Vienna, Klabundgasse 11
Livestream: www.viennavikings.com/fanzone/livestream
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Text: Kiki Klepsch
Photos: Nutville.at