Austria lose to Slovenia 2:5

After just twelve minutes of play, the red-white-red team found themselves 0:3 behind after the puck ended up in the net twice following a save by Max Zimmermann and a scramble in front of his goal. For the 3:0, the puck slipped over the catching glove of the 24 year old, who nevertheless repeatedly made some fine saves. Slovenia were the dominant team in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second period, Austria were unable to make use of a two-man advantage for their first goal, but had now fully grown into the game and were working towards 1:3. However, instead of pulling one back, they went 0:4 behind from an Austrian perspective in the 34th minute, against the run of play. By then, the game had already become quite heated. Shortly after Slovenia made it 4:0, Rok Macuh provided the low point, striking Max Rebernig after a check even though he was already on the ice. 

The referees immediately sent the Slovenian off the ice and back to the dressing room. Towards the end of the power play, Nico Brunner finally took heart and fired the puck into the net for 1:4. The goal appeared to be a release for the Austrian team.

They began the final period still shorthanded after captain Dominique Heinrich was given a penalty shortly before the break, but then emerged as the more dominant team. In the 47th minute, shortly after a power-play phase had ended, Senna Peeters scored his first goal for the national team to make it 2:4. 

Austria repeatedly pinned Slovenia in their defensive zone for spells. But instead of pulling one back, they conceded the final score of 2:5 in the 58th minute.

Head Coach Roger Bader: “Naturally, I was not happy with the first period. The Slovenians were more aggressive, we were not properly ready, and we arrived by bus relatively late, later than we wanted. From the second period onwards, it was a normal game. I was quite happy with that. The results do not matter to me at all. Tomorrow, we want to start in the same way that we played from the second period onwards.”

Nico Brunner, Man of the Match: “We completely slept through the start. The Slovenians came out of the dressing room really hard, finished every check, forechecked very well and were rewarded with the early 1:0. We found our game more in the second period, but all in all, we did not deserve to win today. We did not execute the intensity, physical play, speed and direct game as well at the beginning. We got into the game better afterwards, but ultimately it was not enough today. Tomorrow, we need to come out of the dressing room physically, skate, finish our checks, play directly and then see what happens.”

World Championship preparations

Slovenia vs. Austria 5:2 (3:0,1:1,1:1)
Thu, 11 April 2024, 19:00, Ljubljana (SLO)
Slovenia scorers: Ken Ograjenšek (2), Nik Simšič (8), Anže Kuralt (12), Jan Drozg (34), Žan Jezovšek (58)
Austria scorers: Nico Brunner (39/PP1), Senna Peeters (47)

Austria vs. Slovenia
Fri, 12 April 2024, 18:00, Villach, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Czechia vs. Austria
Thu, 18 April 2024, 17:10, České Budějovice (CZE), live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Czechia
Sat, 20 April 2024, 18:00, Linz, live on ORF SPORT +

Germany vs. Austria
Thu, 25 April 2024, 19:00, Garmisch (GER)

Austria vs. Germany
Sat, 27 April 2024, 16:15, Zell am See, live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Canada
Sun, 5 May 2024, 19:00, Vienna, live on ORF SPORT +

Tickets for all home games are now available HERE.

Already played

Latvia vs. Austria 3:2 after penalties (0:1, 1:0, 1:1)
Thu, 4 April 2024, 18:00 (CEST), Riga (LAT)
Austria goalscorers: Leon Wallner (16'), Julian Metzler (43')
Latvia goalscorers: Feliks Egils Gavars (26'), Dans Locmelis (46')

Latvia vs. Austria 3:2 after penalties (1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 0:0)
Fri, 5 April 2024, 18:00 (CEST), Riga (LAT)
Austria goalscorers: Nico Feldner (31'), Ian Scherzer (36')
Latvia goalscorers: Martins Lavins (11'), Haralds Egle (34')

2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship

10 - 26 May 2024Host: Czechia
Venues: Prague and Ostrava
Group A – Prague: Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Czechia, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Great Britain
Group B – Ostrava: USA, Germany, Sweden, Slovakia, Latvia, France, Kazakhstan, Poland

Schedule

Austria vs. Denmark
Sat, 11 May 2024, 16:20, live on ORF 1

Austria vs. Switzerland
Sun, 12 May 2024, 20:20, live on ORF SPORT +

Canada vs. Austria
Tue, 14 May 2024, 20:20, live on ORF SPORT +

Finland vs. Austria
Thu, 16 May 2024, 16:20, live on ORF SPORT +

Czechia vs. Austria
Fri, 17 May 2024, 20:20, live on ORF SPORT +

Norway vs. Austria
Sun, 19 May 2024, 16:20, live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Great Britain
Tue, 21 May 2024, 12:20, live on ORF SPORT +