ATSE Graz see off Sharks Gmunden and take WEV into the playoffs – Kundl beat Dornbirn

What a Sunday thriller in the East Division: first, Wiener Eislauf-Verein lost their game against EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 3:7. ATSE Graz then celebrated a narrow 4:2 win over Sharks Gmunden, taking the Viennese side into the playoffs with them. In the West Division, EHC Crocodiles Kundl beat Dornbirner EC 4:2. Following today’s matchday, all eight playoff participants in the Ö Eishockey Liga have been confirmed.

28 January 20247 min read

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein faced EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions in glorious conditions outside Vienna’s Konzerthaus – seven degrees and blue skies. The Viennese side, looking to secure their playoff place in the East Division once and for all, started on the front foot and pressed for the opening goal from the outset.

However, it was the Styrians who found it: Kevin Pesendorfer spotted Bernhard Liebscher all alone in the slot, and he fired home to make it 1:0 for the Murtal Lions (in the 5th minute). The team coached by Mario Kubeczka battled their way into the game: following a shot by Christophe Vermeersch, Xaver Emslander deflected the puck in front of goal to equalise at 1:1 (in the 9th minute).

The game then developed into an intense affair, with Zeltweg – already confirmed as second in the group – giving WEV nothing. As the Viennese side once again pressed for the lead, Andreas Forcher went one-on-one with WEV netminder Mathias Lichtenecker and buried the puck for 2:1 (in the 15th minute). The capital side once again had to chase a deficit. Following an attack down the right, the puck fell to Cedric Ehrenreich, who tucked it home backhanded to make it 2:2 (in the 18th minute).

At the start of the second period, WEV increased the pressure on the Murtal Lions’ goal. 3:2 was in the air, and it came: after a forceful drive by Stefan Nador, Nick Kompain forced the puck over the line for WEV’s first lead of the afternoon (in the 24th minute).

The game became tougher and was played with increasing intensity by both teams. Following a mistake by the Viennese side at the blue line, Michal Dudas and Kevin Pesendorfer combined for a one-two, with Pesendorfer scoring the equaliser for the depleted team coached by player-coach Philipp Ullrich to make it 3:3 (in the 32nd minute). Although the Ö Eishockey Liga quarter-finals do not begin until February, the game had long since taken on a playoff character, which did not change in the final period.

After a solo rush from the red line, Michael Grüneis scored to make it 4:3 for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions (in the 45th minute). Zeltweg added another: Stefan Stolz sent Bernhard Liebscher into the offensive zone with a fine pass, and Liebscher gave WEV goaltender Mathias Lichtenecker no chance to make it 5:3 (in the 47th minute).

The Viennese side then tried to fight their way back into this important game. They failed to do so; on the contrary, the visitors moved towards a decisive result through Mario Sulzer, who made it 6:3 (in the 56th minute). WEV also conceded 3:7, with Bernhard Liebscher converting the puck on the power play (in the 58th minute).

The Styrians won the final period 4:0 and the game 7:3. WEV now had to wait for the second Sunday fixture between ATSE Graz and Sharks Gmunden to see whether they could secure a playoff berth despite the defeat.

ATSE Graz see off Gmunden and reach the playoffs

The ATSE Graz faced UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden on Sunday at the main Merkur Eisstadion in a direct clash to secure their playoff place once and for all. The Upper Austrians were fighting for their last chance to remain in the quarter-final race.

Both teams made an attacking and lively start to this explosive and exciting game. The hosts enjoyed the better opening: Luca Rodiga scored from close range following an attack down the right to make it 1:0 for ATSE (in the 4th minute). Dominik Reiner then sent his teammate Cody Wickstrom through, and Wickstrom beat Gmunden goaltender Luka Gračnar to make it 2:0 (in the 10th minute).

ATSE largely controlled the game for the remainder of the first period, but the Sharks still pulled one back late on: with 18 seconds remaining in the period, Adrian Rosenberger brilliantly picked out the net backhanded to make it 1:2 (in the 20th minute).

Little changed in the nature of the game during the second period. Both teams played attacking, high-tempo hockey, with the action going back and forth. Adrian Rosenberger then once again took matters into his own hands, leaving the Graz defence dizzy before scoring a fine equaliser to make it 2:2 (in the 27th minute).

True to the nature of the game, the contest now became even more intense and tougher with every shift. The Sharks were now playing with even more bite, but ATSE also remained dangerous in front of the opposition goal. On the power play, Stefan Trost fired the puck from the slot to make it 3:2 for Graz (in the 38th minute).

Head coach Gregor Baumgartner’s team now had to step up and play even more offensively to turn the game around. Graz were initially unable to capitalise on an early power play, but waited for their opportunities as the final period progressed, with the match remaining on a knife-edge.

There was high drama in the final five minutes when ATSE’s Rupert Strohmeier was sent to the penalty box for two minutes, giving Gmunden a great chance to equalise. The Styrians survived this tricky phase. In the end, coach Gregor Baumgartner pulled his goalie Luka Gračnar for a sixth skater, but Luca Rodiga sealed a 4:2 win for ATSE with an empty-net goal 62 seconds from the end (59 min.).

Graz thus secured their place in the play-offs and simultaneously took WEV into the quarter-finals with them.

Division West:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl defeat Dornbirner EC

The Dornbirner EC hosted EHC Crocodiles Kundl, who were playing their second road game in Vorarlberg within 24 hours, to round off the weekend in Division West. Kundl had secured their second away win against group winners SC Hohenems with a 3:1 victory on Saturday and accordingly went into the game at the Messestadion full of confidence.

However, the young Bulldogs were unfazed at the start and made a flying start: Ricardo Bell scored from close range to give them an early 1:0 lead (2nd minute). The game then developed into a fast-paced affair with few stoppages, with both teams creating good chances. Dornbirn’s Laurin Gehringer and Kundl’s Johann Bauer each made good saves and did not concede any further goals in the first period.

Both teams continued to play freely in the second period. The Crocodiles now stepped up the tempo and turned the game around with a quick double: first, Vladimir Dolnik equalised to make it 1:1 (24nd minute), before Erik Hefke scored to give the Tyroleans a 2:1 lead just 23 seconds later (24th minute).

Kundl now had the upper hand and added another on the power play: Patrik Lithen made it 3:1 for the visitors with a backhander (27nd minute). Bulldogs netminder Laurin Gehringer then suffered an unfortunate injury while making a save. Felix Heinzle took over in goal for the Vorarlberg side from the 32nd minute.

In the final period, Head Coach Jaroslav Betka’s team controlled proceedings and saw out the away game with confidence. Until just under five minutes from the end, that is: Leon Schmeiser finished off a quick Bulldogs rush to make it 2:3 (55.). The game became exciting again.

With two and a half minutes remaining, Patrik Lithen made it 4:2 for the Crocodiles following a quick counter-attack (58nd minute). In the end, the Tyroleans celebrated their third consecutive win with a 4:2 victory.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 3:7 (2:2,1:1,0:4)
Sun., 28 January 2024, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Goalscorers for Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Xaver Emslander (08:52), Cedric Ehrenreich (17:03), Nick Kompain (23:21)
Goalscorers for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Bernhard Liebscher (04:30, 46:34, 57:52/PP1), Andreas Forcher (14:41), Kevin Pesendorfer (31:58), Michael Grüneis (44:58), Mario Sulzer (55:33)

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 4:2 (2:1,1:1,1:0)
Sun., 28 January 2024, 16:30, Merkur Eisstadion – Hall A
ATSE Graz scorers: Luca Rodiga (03:47 min, 58:58 min/EN), Cody Wickstrom (09:46 min), Stefan Trost (37:13 min/PP1)
Sharks Gmunden scorer: Adrian Rosenberger (19:42 min, 26:25 min)

Ö Eishockey Liga – West Division:

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 2:4 (1:0,0:3,1:1)
Sun, 28 January 2024, 17:30, Messestadion
Dornbirner EC scorers: Ricardo Bell (01:37 min), Leon Schmeiser (54:43 min)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Vladimir Dolnik (23:26 min), Erik Hefke (23:49 min), Patrik Lithen (26:27 min/PP1, 57:23 min)