Austria lose to Hungary Select after taking a 2:0 lead

Image information: Austria's women laid siege to the Hungarian goal at times – Photo: GEPA pictures/Manuel Binder

Austria's women's national ice hockey team started very offensively at the LINZ AG Eisarena against the Hungarians, who were strengthened by the four Canadians Charlea Pedersen, Nadine Edney, Hailey Wilson and Emily Reid from the EWHL – meaning the match is not counted as an official international fixture – and created numerous good scoring opportunities in the first period. Hungary Select goaltender Anikó Németh was under constant pressure and kept a clean sheet for a long time in the opening period.

Lena Maria Maria Artner created the first chance (3.), skating in alone on the Hungarian goal but being denied by Németh. Charlotte Wittich, Lena Dauböck, Katharina Killius and Emma Hofbauer all missed further excellent opportunities. It took a long time before Austria finally got on the scoresheet. Following a pass from Lena Dauböck, Emma Hofbauer made it 1:0 with a lofted shot into the top right corner (18.).

In the second period, the Austrian women, with 15-year-old Anna Marlene Billa in the line-up, quickly extended their lead to 2:0. Hannah Schwarzer sent a relatively harmless shot towards the Hungarian goal, but the puck went into the net via goaltender Németh's stick blade (23.). Little changed in the course of the game: Austria remained dominant, but were no longer as dangerous as they had been in the first period. Selma Luggin had little to do and exuded her customary calmness during Hungary Select's few half-chances.

The visitors then grew into the game a little more, and suddenly the goal that reduced the deficit was there. Imola Horváth redirected the puck, which slid off the boards straight onto her blade, over the line to make it 1:2 (30.). Austria appeared unsettled by the goal, and the Hungarians were now able to make the match far more even. Just under five minutes after the goal that reduced the deficit, Hailey Wilson converted her own rebound with a backhand shot to equalise at 2:2 (34.). The equaliser, surprising at this stage after the clear dominance and many good chances in the first period, meant that Austria lost their rhythm for good offensive plays somewhat.

That continued in the final period, with Austria taking some time to regain control of the game and launch creative attacks again. However, clear-cut scoring opportunities remained scarce. In the end, their poor conversion of chances in the first period was to prove costly: the Hungarians took a 3:2 lead on the power play. Nadine Edney beat Selma Lugin from close range after a fine, quick combination (54.). In the final minute, Head Coach Jari Risku pulled his goaltender, but it remained 3:2 for the Hungarian selection.

Before the start of the World Championship Division IA on Sunday, 24th April 2022, the women's national ice hockey team will complete two further preparation camps and play a warm-up match against Norway on 21st November 2022 in Boulogne-Billancourt (a suburb of Paris), before the red-white-red delegation travels west to Angers – the capital of the Maine-et-Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region of France.

Following the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from all IIHF competitions, Sweden have moved up to the Top Division World Championship, which will be held in Denmark from 25th August to 4th September 2022. Sweden had originally been set to face Austria at the World Championship Division IA in Angers. Following the promotion of the Three Crowns team, the schedule has now been adjusted and Austria will play four matches instead of five.

Warm-up match:
Austria vs. Hungary Select 2:3 (1:0,1:2,0:1)
Sat., 9th April 2022, 17:30, LINZ AG Eisarena
Austria goalscorers:Emma Hofbauer (18.), Hannah Schwarzer (23.)
Hungary Select goalscorers: Imola Horváth (30.), Hailey Wilson (34.), Nadine Edney (PP/54.)

Camp II, Linz from 15th to 18th April 2022

Camp III, Paris from 20th to 22rd/23rd April 2022
21st April 2022, 20:00, Boulogne-Billancourt (a suburb of Paris), warm-up match AUT vs. NOR

World Championship Division IA 24th to 30th April 2022, Angers (FRA)

Netherlands vs. Austria
Sun., 24th April 2022, 16:00

Norway vs. Austria
Wed., 27th April 2022, 16:00

Austria vs. France
Thu, 28 April 2022, 19:30

Austria vs. Slovakia
Sat, 30 April 2022, 16:00