ATSE Graz pull off a ‘miracle’ against Kufstein – Kundl edge the Zeltweg Murtal Lions

Quarter-final 1 – second leg: Kapfenberger SV thrash VEU Feldkirch

The Kapfenberger SV went into their home game against VEU Feldkirch at Stadthalle Kapfenberg with a 6:1 lead from the first leg, in front of more than 1.200 fans.

A fast-paced game developed from the outset, with Kapfenberg becoming increasingly dominant as the game went on. Two goals within 24 seconds put the hosts on course for victory and a place in the semi-finals early on.

Christoph Draschkowitz opened the scoring from close range following a cross-ice pass to make it 1:0 (minute 9). Florian Hoppl fired the puck home with a precise shot to make it 2:0 (minute 9). Pierre Graf added the 3:0 on the power play (minute 11). Feldkirch then had their best spell and pulled back to 2:3 with two goals in succession. First, Dominik Hron scored to make it 1:3 short-handed following a swift counter-attack. Leon Peischler then added the 2:3 with a backhander (minute 16).

Just 13 seconds after the goal that brought Feldkirch closer, the Upper Styrians made it 4:2, with Manuel Trost poking the puck over the line (minute 16).

Kapfenberg pulled away for good in the second period, as Lukas Winkler made it 5:2 following a breakaway (minute 28). Julian Stühlinger added the 6:2 (minute 35), before Adrian Stühlinger fired the puck home 61 seconds later to make it 7:2 (minute 36). Another 37 seconds later, Kevin Moderer scored from close range to make it 8:2 (minute 36).

Lukas Draschkowitz scored from the slot to make it 9:2 before the end of the second period (minute 38). In the final period, the home side took things more easily but added the 10:2 and 11:2: Kapfenberg won the puck in the offensive zone, and Lukas Winkler scored from the slot to take the Kängurus into double figures (minute 54).

Just under two and a half minutes from the end, Daniel Oberkofler forced the puck over the line on the follow-up to seal the 11:2 final score (minute 58). The Mürztal side advanced to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 17:3 and will face ATSE Graz there.

Quarter-final 2 – second leg: SC Samina Hohenems beat Wiener Eislauf-Verein

The SC Samina Hohenems established a clear position for the second leg against Wiener Eislauf-Verein with a blistering final period and a 10:3 final score in the quarter-final first leg.

In the first almost twelve minutes at Herrenriedstadion, it was initially the special teams that were mainly in action due to a number of penalties, with five-on-five play a rarity on the ice. However, neither team – with SC Hohenems even enjoying a 5:3 power play – was able to capitalise with a goal during this phase. In addition, both goaltenders – Matthias Fritz for the home side and Mathias Lichtenecker for WEV – were strong and allowed nothing through.

Vienna also held firm for a long time in the second period, with General Manager Michael Vorlaufer taking over coaching duties for the ill Head Coach Mario Kubeczka. WEV netminder Mathias Lichtenecker was in outstanding form and could not be beaten for a long time. However, the clearly dominant SC Hohenems eventually took the lead late on, as Thomas Auer scored from close range to make it 1:0 (minute 35).

Early in the final period, the Vorarlberg side all but decided this second leg: Christian Haidinger first scored from the slot to make it 2:0 for Hohenems (minute 42). Just under two minutes later, Marcel Wolf made it 3:0 for the Steinböcke from close range on the power play (minute 44). The hosts then saw out the game and progressed to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 13:3, where EHC Crocodiles Kundl await.

Quarter-final 3 – second leg: ATSE Graz pull off a ‘miracle’ against HC Kufstein

The HC Kufstein began the second leg at the Eisarena Kufstein in front of more than 900 fans against ATSE Graz carrying a three-goal deficit following the 2:5 result at the Merkur Eisstadion. Graz initially played cautiously and tried to keep the match under control. The Dragons did not go “all in” from the outset either, launching their attacks from a controlled defence in the opening minutes.

The Tyroleans ended this initial feeling-out phase with a swift attack that gave them a 1:0 lead. Maximilian Camondo converted a cross-ice pass from Markus Prock, firing the puck home from close range (14.).

Anyone expecting Kufstein to mount a comeback had not reckoned with ATSE Graz. Luca Rodiga – already the match-winner for the Styrians with three goals in the first leg – struck on the power play to level the score at 1:1 (26.). And the Styrians added another: one second before the halfway mark, the visitors had turned the game around. Stefan Trost scored with a precise shot to make it 2:1 for the Eggenberg side (30.).

And it got even worse for the hosts: Sebastian Fellner sent Marco Scheriau through with a superb pass, and he fired home to make it 3:1 (37.). Barely a minute later, Graz were 4:1 ahead: while shorthanded, Stefan Trost went one-on-one with Kufstein netminder Thomas Hechenberger and scored (38.). 

Kufstein were unable to raise their game in the final period or turn the match around. ATSE Graz saw out the game professionally, winning 4:1 away in Kufstein and sensationally progressing 9:3 on aggregate. Graz will now face Kapfenberger SV in the semi-finals.

Quarter-final 4 – second leg: Crocodiles Kundl edge Zeltweg Murtal Lions

In terms of the first-leg result, the quarter-final second leg between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and EHC Crocodiles Kundl had the most exciting starting position. The Tyroleans eventually turned the game around for a narrow 2:1 win and travelled to the Aichfeldhalle holding the minimum one-goal advantage.

The tension was palpable from the start, with another fiercely contested play-off battle awaiting the players and fans. The Crocodiles took a 1:0 lead through Erik Hefke, who fired the puck home from the slot following a fine move (7.). The Tyrolean visitors extended their advantage to 2:0: Alexander Frandl caught Zeltweg goaltender Andreas Brenkusch off guard with a shot from the blue line (13.).

The Murtal Lions then pushed for a goal back, while Kundl remained extremely dangerous on the counter-attack. The Styrians were unable to capitalise even on a 5:3 power play.

Zeltweg also pressed for an equaliser at times in the second period, but American Kyle Plantz kept a clean sheet with some fine saves. The Crocodiles, well prepared by Head Coach Jaro Betka, stood firm and conceded no goals in the second 20 minutes. In the final period, Marco Herzl pulled one back to make it 1:2 for Zeltweg, sending the Aichfeldhalle, which was packed with 800 fans, into raptures (48.).

Four minutes later, Mario Sulzer converted a penalty shot to equalise at 2:2 (52.). It was now crunch time, with the match becoming a genuine thriller. Kundl then struck on a swift counter-attack: Daniel Frischmann scored to make it 3:2 for the Crocodiles (56.).

The Zeltweg Murtal Lions pulled netminder Andreas Brenkusch for an extra skater. The Crocodiles Kundl held on for the narrow 3:2 win and reached the semi-finals of the Ö Eishockey Liga with a 5:3 aggregate score, where they will now face SC Hohenems.

Play-off quarter-final second legs:

Quarter-final 1 – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. VEU Feldkirch 11:2 (4:2,5:0,2:0)
Sat, 17 February 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Goalscorers for Kapfenberger SV: Christoph Draschkowitz (08:32), Florian Hoppl (08:56), Pierre Graf (10:26/PP1), Manuel Trost (15:59), Lukas Winkler (27:29, 53:43), Julian Stühlinger (34:12), Adrian Stühlinger (35:13), Kevin Moderer (35:50), Lukas Draschkowitz (37:48), Daniel Oberkofler (57:29)
Goalscorers for VEU Feldkirch: Dominik Hron (13:53/SH1), Leon Peischler (15:46)

The Kapfenberger SV progress to the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals with an aggregate score of 17:3.

Quarter-final 2 – second leg:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:0 (0:0,1:0,2:0)
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
Goalscorers for SC Samina Hohenems: Thomas Auer (34:28), Christian Haidinger (41:41), Marcel Wolf (43:29/PP1)

The SC Samina Hohenems progress to the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals with an aggregate score of 13:3.

Quarter-final 3 – second leg:

HC Kufstein vs. ATSE Graz 1:4 (1:0,0:4,0:0)
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
Goalscorer for HC Kufstein: Maximilian Camondo (13:00)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Luca Rodiga (25:47 min./PP1), Stefan Trost (29:29 min./PP1, 37:55 min./SH1), Marco Scheriau (36:49 min.)

The ATSE Graz advance to the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals with an aggregate score of 9:3.

Quarter-final 4 – second leg:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 2:3 (0:2,0:0,2:1)
Sat, 17 February 2024, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions goalscorers: Marco Herzl (47:54 min.), Mario Sulzer (51:55 min./PS)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Erik Hefke (06:37 min.), Alexander Frandl (12:05 min.), Daniel Frischmann (55:08 min.)

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl advance to the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals with an aggregate score of 5:3.

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off semi-final match-ups:

Semi-final 1:

Kapfenberger SV vs. ATSE Graz

Semi-final 2:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

The first legs will take place on 24 February 2024, with the return legs scheduled for 2 March 2024. Kapfenberger SV and SC Samina Hohenems will play away first. 

Play-off quarter-final first legs:

Quarter-final 1 – first leg:

VEU Feldkirch vs. Kapfenberger SV 1:6 (0:3,1:0,0:3)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch scorer: Philip Metzler (21:39)
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Christoph Draschkowitz (07:52, 13:56/PP1), Manuel Trost (11:42, 58:37), Lukas Draschkowitz (46:45), Florian Hoppl (47:08)

Quarter-final 2 – first leg:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:10 (0:1,2:3,1:6)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 19:10, STEFFL Arena 3
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Lukas Kaider (25:02), Stefan Nador (34:23), Cedric Ehrenreich (45:15)
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Thomas Auer (04:26/PP1), Matthias Fussenegger (30:31), Johannes Hehle (35:30, 41:55, 56:36), Benjamin Kyllönen (36:39, 40:56, 57:31), Niklas Gehringer (45:35), Marcel Wolf (49:00)

Quarter-final 3 – first leg:

ATSE Graz vs. HC Kufstein 5:2 (2:0,1:0,2:2)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion – Halle A
ATSE Graz scorers: Mario Petrovitz (08:45/PP1), Stefan Trost (11:25/PP1), Luca Rodiga (38:55/PP1, 44:23, 50:47/PP2)
HC Kufstein scorers: David Hrazdira (48:51/PP1), Markus Prock (55:14)

Quarter-final 4 – first leg:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 2:1 (0:0,0:1,2:0)
Sat., 10 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
Goalscorers for EHC Crocodiles Kundl: Vladimir Dolnik (47:15), Alexander Frandl (55:50)
Goalscorer for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Kevin Pesendorfer (36:12)

Play-off format:

From the quarter-finals onwards, ties will be decided in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format over two legs, home and away. The club that finished higher in the regular season begins with the away game. The aggregate score from the two matches played will be used. The team leading on aggregate after the home and away legs advances to the semi-finals.

Should the aggregate score be level at the final siren after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. Each first leg ends after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

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