Carinthian derby in the final! KAC Damen take on Villach Lady Hawks for the DEBL title

The KAC Damen and Graz99ers Huskies II made a flying start to the first semi-final clash at the major Final Four of the Austrian Women's Ice Hockey Bundesliga (DEBL) in the Heidi-Horten-Arena. Tamara Grascher gave the Styrians an early 1:0 lead from close range (3.). The Red Jackets quickly found the right response: just 86 seconds later, Valentina Ropatsch also equalised from close range to make it 1:1 (4.).

After that, the hosts had a slight edge, with their superiority also reflected in the shot statistics. In the second period, the Red Jackets moved 2:1 ahead. Four minutes after the halfway point of the game, Carina Arneitz finished off an attack from the right face-off circle, giving Huskies netminder Karla Kronberger no chance (35.).

The match remained a thriller until the end. With one minute remaining, Graz pulled netminder Kronberger, but KAC Damen saw out their narrow 2:1 lead to reach the "final at home".

Villach Lady Hawks defeat defending champions Women Capitals

In the second semi-final at the Sepp-Puschnig-Halle, the Villach Lady Hawks were the dominant team from the outset against defending champions Women Capitals. Following a Villach attack, Mia Aimee Schabkar sent the puck in front of goal, where Capitals defender Anna Unterrieder deflected it unstoppably into her own net to make it 0:1 for Villach Lady Hawks (8.).

The blue-and-whites added another: following a pass from Valentina Prosen, Selina Gentilini scored with a one-timer to make it 2:0 (11.).

Early in the second period, the Falcons from the Draustadt pulled away: Julija Blazinšek scored on the power play from a tight angle to make it 3:0 (26.). Selina Gentilini then produced the goal of the evening: she struck the puck out of the air on the volley to make it 4:0 just 30 seconds later (26.). Then, while shorthanded, prolific scorer Līga Miljone went in alone on the Vienna goal and made it 5:0 (33.).

The Capitals pulled one back to make it 1:5 on the same power play, as Katharina Killius surprised netminder Leonie Lipautz with a shot from the blue line (34.). Still in the second period, Līga Miljone scored while falling to make it 6:1 (38.). In the final period, Selina Gentilini completed her hat-trick to extend the lead to 7:1 (47.), before Katharina Killius again scored from the slot to make it 2:7 from the Caps' perspective (50.).

DEBL Final Four, Klagenfurt

Semi-final 1:

EC KAC Damen vs. Graz99ers Huskies II 2:1 (1:1,1:0,0:0)
Sat, 22 March 2025, 15:15, Heidi-Horten-Arena Klagenfurt
KAC Damen scorers: Valentina Ropatsch (3.), Carina Arneitz (35.)
Goalscorer Graz99ers Huskies II: Tamara Grascher (2nd)

Semi-final 2:

Villach Lady Hawks vs. EAC Women Capitals 7:2 (2:0,4:1,1:1)
Sat, 22 March 2025, 18:15, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle
Goalscorers Villach Lady Hawks: Mia Aimee Schabkar (8), Selina Gentilini (11, 26, 47), Julija Blazinšek (26/PP1), Līga Miljone (33/SH1, 38)
Goalscorer EAC Women Capitals: Katharina Killius (34/PP1, 50)

Third-place play-off:

Graz99ers Huskies II vs. EAC Women Capitals
Sun, 23 March 2025, 10:15, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle >> to the livestream

Final: 

Villach Lady Hawks vs. EC KAC Damen
Sun, 23 March 2025, 13:00, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle >> to the livestream