Winterthur vs EHC Frauenfeld

Winterthur started brightly and carved out several good chances in the opening period, but Frauenfeld's defence held firm and the first period ended goalless.

The deadlock broke nine minutes into the second period. Filip Sluka found the net in the 24th minute to put Winterthur 1–0 up. Frauenfeld responded through Adrian Wetli, who equalised in the 33rd minute to send the teams level at the second intermission.

Winterthur suffered a brief lull in concentration after the equaliser but regained their composure in the final period. William Rais restored the home side's lead in the 44th minute, and Silvan Furrer made it 3–1 just three minutes later — a quick double that proved decisive.

Filip Sluka added his second of the night in the 55th minute to make it 4–1, effectively sealing the result. Wetli pulled one back for Frauenfeld in the 58th minute, but Winterthur saw out the final moments without alarm.

Furrer's goal in the 47th minute, arriving only 180 seconds after Rais had restored Winterthur's lead, was the decisive sequence. Frauenfeld had weathered the initial third-period pressure, but the quick-fire double stretched their defence beyond recovery. From 3–1, Winterthur could control the tempo and hit on the counter — which Sluka exploited eight minutes later.

• Filip Sluka (Winterthur) — Two well-taken finishes (24', 55'), the first breaking the deadlock and the second killing the game. Clear player of the match.
• William Rais (Winterthur) — Scored the crucial go-ahead goal in the 44th minute, his first in a Winterthur shirt since joining the club on 2 August.
• Silvan Furrer (Winterthur) — Made it 3–1 just three minutes after Rais, effectively ending the contest.
• Adrian Wetli (EHC Frauenfeld) — Both of Frauenfeld's goals (33', 58'), a bright individual performance in a losing cause.

Winterthur's 4–2 scoreline flattered their efficiency rather than dominance. The hosts created several good chances in a goalless first period but lacked sharpness in the final third — a pattern consistent with their 1–8 and 1–3 losses earlier in the week. The breakthrough came after the interval, and the decisive third-period burst (three goals in 11 minutes) reflected a team that grew into the game rather than one that controlled it throughout. Frauenfeld, for their part, matched Winterthur for long stretches and were only two goals adrift inside the final five minutes.

Winterthur's first win of the pre-season campaign comes at an important moment after back-to-back heavy defeats. The result — against a team they will face in MyHockey League regular-season action — also carries a psychological edge. The club's next friendly is at home against EC Bregenzerwald on 19 August, followed by a trip to Bellinzona Snakes on 22 August.

For EHC Frauenfeld, this was their first pre-season outing of the recorded campaign. They continue their build-up with further friendlies ahead of the MyHockey League season start in September.

Winterthur were far from full strength but showed character to recover from consecutive losses and grind out a deserved win. Sluka's double was the headline, but the collective response after a disjointed middle period was the more encouraging sign for head coach and staff. Frauenfeld will take positives from Wetli's performance and a respectable showing on the road.

A crowd of 385 at Eishalle Deutweg witnessed the first-ever friendly between these two MyHockey League rivals — a fixture that will be repeated when the regular season begins.