Austria’s U16 win high-scoring thriller against hosts Slovenia in over­time

Austria started their final game at Ledna dvorana Kranj against the Slovenian Lynxes, aka Risi, with Aron Schlager in goal and conceded 0:1 to Jakob Vanič on their first penalty kill (7 minute). The ÖEHV selection hit back in the first period, with Lucas Gritznig equalising at 1:1 (13 minute). It got even better: on the first power play, Leo Brandstätter gave the red-white-red a 2:1 lead just eleven seconds before the first intermission siren (20 minute).

Austria remained efficient on the power play in the second period, with Rafael Latusa extending the lead to 3:1 at the halfway point of the game (33 minute). Barely two minutes later, Matteo Filipitsch made it 4:1 (35 minute). The final minutes of the middle period were turbulent. First, Rafael Latusa again extended the lead to four goals with the 5:1 (38 minute), before Jakob Vanič reduced the deficit to 2:5 for the hosts with a shorthanded goal.

Vanič also made the game exciting again in the final period with his third goal (44 minute). Austria responded perfectly, as Rafael Latusa – also scoring his third goal of the afternoon – made it 6:3 (45 minute). The goal fest continued, with Lev Berc reducing the deficit to 4:6 for Slovenia on a power play (48 minute), before scoring again shortly afterwards (51 minute). Then matters got even worse: Filip Petković equalised at 6:6 just 41 seconds later (51 minute). 

The high-scoring contest went to overtime, where Anton Wandaller netted Austria’s winner for 7:6 (62 minute).  

Head Coach Johannes Leitner: "The first two periods were tactically very good, although not as assured as against Hungary. However, we finally managed to score goals and were particularly strong on the power play. After taking a 5:2 lead, we eased off a little at the start of the third period and gave the opposition the chance to come back. We then failed to keep our composure and return to our game. Fortunately, we managed to do so in overtime. We finished the tournament in third place. It was a good week of training, with significantly better sessions than in August. The players have learned a lot. Our performance was good in all three games too, especially tactically we improved. We were often the better team in terms of play as well, and thankfully it finally clicked for us in the end and we rewarded ourselves with a win." 

U16 men’s national team – Four Nations Tournament (SLO):

Slovenia vs. Austria 6:7 n.V. (1:2,1:3,4:1,0:1)
Sat., 09 November 2025, 13:30, Kranj
Austria goalscorers: Lucas Gritznig (13 minute), Leo Brandstätter (20/PP1), Rafael Latusa (33/PP1, 38/PP1, 45 minute), Matteo Filipitsch (35 minute), Anton Wandaller (62 minute)

Previously played:

Hungary vs. Austria 2:1 (1:0,1:0,0:1)
Sat., 08 November 2025, 15:00, Kranj
Austria goalscorer: Lorenz Kircher (42/PP1)

Austria vs. Italy 0:4 (0:2,0:1,0:1)
Fri., 07 November 2025, 15:30, Kranj

Squad