Story Summary
The Vienna Capitals will be without defencemen Nelson Nogier and Raphael Wolf for the coming months after both players required surgery for separate upper-body injuries.
Nogier was injured in a pre-season game against EC-KAC in late August. The injury was initially treated conservatively on the advice of the medical department, but the anticipated improvement did not materialise and surgery has become necessary. The Capitals stressed that it is different from the injury that ended the 30-year-old Canadian’s previous season.
Wolf, who was born in Salzburg, also needs an operation to recover from his upper-body injury. He played the first five games of the current campaign and has made 54 competitive appearances for Vienna.
Key Facts
- Nelson Nogier and Raphael Wolf are both facing absences of several months following operations for separate upper-body injuries.
- Nogier sustained his injury during a pre-season fixture against EC-KAC in late August.
- The Capitals initially treated Nogier’s injury conservatively, but surgery became necessary when his condition did not improve as hoped.
- Nogier, a 30-year-old Canadian, played four pre-season games this season and made 43 regular-season appearances in the previous campaign.
- Wolf played Vienna’s first five games of the current season and has 54 competitive appearances for the club.
IHM Discussion
The double injury setback removes two established defensive options from the Capitals for an extended period. Nogier had only featured in pre-season before his absence, while Wolf had been involved at the start of the campaign, leaving Vienna to manage without both players as they undergo treatment and rehabilitation.
Why It Matters
Defencemen are a specialised part of any roster, and losing two at once for months reduces the Capitals’ available depth on the blue line. The club now faces a prolonged spell without Nogier and Wolf rather than a short-term injury absence.
Mini Q&A
Why is Nelson Nogier having surgery?
Nogier’s upper-body injury was first managed with conservative treatment, but the desired improvement did not occur, making surgery necessary.
How long will Nogier and Wolf be out?
The Vienna Capitals expect both defencemen to be unavailable for the coming months.
How many games has Raphael Wolf played for Vienna?
Wolf has made 54 competitive appearances for the Vienna Capitals.