Austria beat Poland 4:1 in Graz

Image information: Austria, with Oliver Achermann, only sealed victory over Poland late on. Photo: GEPA pictures/Christain Walgram

Austria's national team, heavily changed from the previous week – Head Coach Roger Bader had called up twelve new players for the second team camp – and made a quick start to the game against Poland at Graz's Merkur Eisstadion. The red-white-red selection, with David Kickert in goal, demonstrated its skating potential early in the first period, putting the visitors under pressure with good passing play and fine combinations. The opening goal did not take long to arrive: Clemens Unterweger shot from the blue line towards the goal of Poland's netminder David Zabolotny, with David Maier perfectly positioned in the slot to deflect the puck in for 1:0 (7th). The early goal gave Austria even greater confidence, and they pinned Poland in their own zone for spells. In particular, the first line of Manuel Ganahl, Lukas Haudum and Nico Feldner showed their enjoyment of the game and moved the puck very well.

The Austrians also created good opportunities in the offensive zone during the only power play of the first period. The only downside was that the dominant hosts were unable to find a second goal before the break. Poland, coached by Slovak Róbert Kaláber and preparing for their home IIHF Ice Hockey Championship Division I, Group B (26 April to 1 May 2022) in Tychy, stood firm defensively but created little going forward.

Little changed in the nature of the game at the start of the second period. Austria put Poland under pressure with intensive forechecking in the neutral zone. The visitors were only dangerous due to lapses and a lack of concentration in Austria's defence, with Mateusz Gościński testing Austrian netminder David Kickert. Austria then had a double chance to make it 2:0. First, Manuel Ganahl played a fine pass to set up his teammate Lukas Haudum perfectly, but the Upper Austrian was denied by netminder Zabolotny with a backhand effort. Moments later, the situation was exactly reversed. Lukas Haudum passed from behind the goal onto Manuel Ganahl's stick, but he missed from close range.

From the middle of the second period onwards, Poland were able to make the game more even, also because Austria gave the visitors encouragement with some risky passes. The game remained fast-paced, with very few stoppages. David Kickert had to make a sensational glove save after Jakub Bukowski went through alone on goal following an Austrian error in build-up play. Towards the end of the middle period, Austria again created good opportunities in the offensive zone. Oliver Achermann had the best chance following a fine combination involving Sam Antonitsch and Niki Kraus.

In the final period, Nico Feldner fired at goal after just a few seconds and hit the outside of the post from a tight angle. Shortly afterwards, Clemens Unterweger unleashed a slap shot, but the puck went over the goal. At the other end, Adrian Jaworski tested the well-positioned David Kickert. Following a misplaced pass by Dominic Hackl in his own defensive zone, Filip Starzynski scored the 1:1 equaliser (47th). Austria's response came relatively quickly, with Kevin Macierzynski first hitting the post from the left side. Shortly afterwards, Alexander Rauchenwald played a fine pass to Simeon Schwinger, who scored from the slot to give Austria a 2:1 lead (49th). Towards the end of the game, Austria's quality then prevailed. On the power play, Alexander Rauchenwald shot at the Polish goal and Oliver Achermann made it 3:1 with a "tip in" (57th). Sam Antonitsch completed the scoring for 4:1, sealing the final score from the slot after a wonderful pass from Achermann behind the goal (58th). Austria thus recorded their first win in their current World Championship preparations after the two defeats against the Czech Republic (1:5 and 1:4).

Head Coach Roger Bader analysed the game against Poland after the final buzzer: "I wasn't happy with everything, but as head coach you never are, although I am happy with how the game went. I knew and expected that it would be a difficult game because I knew the Poles are a very tenacious opponent, who play aggressively and physically. We have played them twice in the last twelve months and it has been like that every time. And it is actually good to experience a game like this in preparation, or even more than one game, because we will face such a challenge against Great Britain or other opponents at the World Championship. That is why it was important that we got this game under control. I would say that from the final period onwards, despite conceding the goal, it was clear that we came out on top, and overall I was satisfied with the performance!"

The next warm-up game against Poland takes place in Graz on Saturday, with face-off at the Merkur Eisstadion at 16:00.

Tickets for the game are available HERE!

Ticket prices
Seated ticket, full price €15
Seated ticket, reduced price €10
Standing ticket, full price €10

Camp II, Graz, 11 to 16 April 2022

Austria vs. Poland 4:1 (1:0,0:0,3:1)
Thu, 14 April 2022, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion
Austria goalscorers: David Maier (7th), Simeon Schwinger (49th), Oliver Achermann (PP/57th), Sam Antonitsch (58th)
Poland goalscorer: Filip Starzynski (47th)

16. April 2022, 16:00, AUT – POL in Graz

Camp III, Innsbruck, from 20 to 25 April 2022
23 April 2022, 17:30, ITA - AUT in Bruneck, ITA
24 April 2022, 14:30, AUT – ITA in Innsbruck, live on ORF Sport+

Four Nations Tournament Ostrava from 28 April to 1 May
28 April 2022, 19:00, AUT - SWE, Vienna
30 April 2022, 12:00, AUT - FIN in Ostrava
1 May 2022, 16:00, CZE - AUT in Ostrava

Camp IV, Schwenningen
8 May 2022, 17:00, GER - AUT in Schwenningen

Already completed:

Camp I, Linz, from 2 to 8 April 2022

Austria vs. Czech Republic 1:4 (1:1,0:1,0:2)
Fri, 08 April 2022, 17:30, LINZ AG Eisarena, 1.850
Austria goalscorer: Erik Kirchschläger (12th)

Czech Republic vs. Austria 5:1 (3:0, 2:0, 0:1)
Wed, 06 April 2022, 17.30, Znojmo
Austria goalscorer: Nico Feldner (48th)

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat, 14 May 2022, 11:20

Austria vs. USA
Sun, 15 May 2022, 15:20

Czechia vs. Austria
Tue, 17 May 2022, 15:20

Norway vs. Austria
Wed, 18 May 2022, 15:20

Latvia vs. Austria
Fri, 20 May 2022, 19:20

Austria vs. Finland
Sat, 21 May 2022, 15:20

Austria vs. Great Britain
Mon, 23 May 2022, 19:20