Dorn­birner EC sensa­tional derby winners against SC Hohenems – WEV edge Maribor in over­time

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein celebrated their long-awaited home debut in the Division Ost of the Ö Eishockey Liga after four consecutive away games, in the atmospheric WEV Arena in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus, against HDK Maribor. 

With a short line-up of just eleven skaters, the Foxes had travelled to the Austrian capital, but kept the game open in the first period. More than that: Danilo Tomašević – who made headlines by scoring the decisive goal against champions Kapfenberg in the opener with a "Michigan Move" – gave the Slovenians a late 1:0 lead (18 remaining).

In the second period, Daniel Aschauer equalised to make it 1:1 (26nd minute). Just under three minutes after the midway point, Gal Petek stunned the Viennese side, with the forward beating WEV netminder Moritz Merkader to put Maribor 2:1 ahead (33rd minute). The hosts battled their way back into the game in the second period – and how: first, Nils Granitz levelled the scores once again (37th minute). Just under a minute before the end of the period, Lukas Kaider scored to make it 3:2, giving WEV the lead for the first time (39th minute). Head Coach Philipp Ullrich's team had turned the game around. 

The game remained highly dramatic in the final period. The home side were unable to add another goal, while the Slovenians battled back and equalised at 3:3 through Nejc Voh (46nd minute). Daniel Aschauer and Nils Granitz of WEV, along with Žan Kuzman and Rene Zernko of the Füchse, were then sent to the dressing room early for a shower. 

The Draustädter had to continue the game with nine skaters. No further goals were scored in regulation time, and, as in the meeting in Maribor in mid-October, the match went to overtime. As they had in Slovenia, WEV prevailed, with Patrick Bolterle scoring the celebrated winner for the Viennese (62nd minute).

Kapfenberg win Styrian derby at ATSE Graz

ATSE GrazATSE Graz faced champions Kapfenberg. ATSE made a flying start to the game, with Clemens Lennkh giving Kapfenberg netminder Oliver Zirngast no chance from the slot after exactly 73 seconds to make it 1:0 for the underdogs (2nd). However, the defending champions from the Mürztal quickly found the right response and levelled the score: following a fast, superbly executed attack via Pierre Graf, Lukas Draschkowitz scored with a precise shot to make it 1:1 (4th). 

The two teams then cancelled each other out somewhat. Nevertheless, there were chances at both ends, which the two netminders – Oliver Zirngast for Kapfenberg and Florian Zeugswetter for Graz – dealt with. Little initially changed in the character of the game in the second period. The Kangaroos struggled offensively and were not clinical enough in front of goal. 

Eggenberg stood firm and kept the game open. Midway through the game, the visitors had to negotiate a tricky spell with two consecutive penalties. Florian Hoppl then powered through, suddenly finding himself one-on-one with ATSE netminder Zeugswetter, and made it 2:1 for Kapfenberg (37nd minute). Four seconds (!) after the face-off, Stefan Trost scored to make it 3:1 after a pass from Florian Hoppl (37nd minute). 

ATSE Graz responded immediately: Rupert Strohmeier fired from the blue line and the quick goal to make it 2:3 was on the board (38nd minute). Kapfenberg then had a 5:3 power play, and Iacopo Granza restored the two-goal lead with a powerful shot to make it 4:2 (39th minute). Four goals had been scored in just under two minutes.

The goal fest continued unabated in the final period: Stefan Trost made it 5:2 on the power play from the left face-off circle (42). Luca Rodiga brought Head Coach Markus Losch’s team back into the game with the 3:5 (43). But Kapfenberg repeatedly managed to pull away. Pierre Graf scored the 6:3, what appeared to be the decisive goal (45). 

However, ATSE refused to give up: after a quick burst, Rodiga made it 4:6 with a superb shot, his second goal in succession (47th minute). Christoph Draschkowitz then played a through ball to Pierre Graf, who netted to make it 7:4 for the Kängurus (49th minute). Graz had nothing left to offer and Kapfenberg ultimately claimed all three points.

Division West:

League leaders Lustenau win top clash at HC Kufstein

The highlight of the round in the West Division was HC Kufstein against league leaders EHC Lustenau. And the match fully lived up to its billing as a highlight from the spectacular opening period onwards. Defence was a foreign word for both teams from the outset, with the opening minutes unfolding at a furious pace. The Dragons took the lead on their first power play through a powerful shot by Valentin Hammerle for 1:0 (3rd minute). Barely a minute later, Hammerle scored from the right to make it 2:0 (4th minute).

Just 22 seconds later, the Lions pulled one back for 1:2, with Philipp Koczera turning the puck over the line after being set up perfectly (5th minute). After a brief scoring lull, during which both teams still had several chances, Lustenau equalised while shorthanded: following an error at the blue line, Chris D'Alvise took possession of the puck, went in alone on Kufstein netminder Patrick Fuchs and scored for 2:2 (14th minute).

Shortly after this power play had expired, the Tyroleans took the lead again: Valentin Hammerle volleyed his own rebound out of the air to make it 3:2 (15th minute). This completed the hat-trick for the Vorarlberg-born player in Kufstein colours. Kufstein were unable to enjoy their lead for long, however, as Philipp Koczera equalised quickly (16th minute).

Emotions boiled over for the first time in the second period, with the match now also featuring the element that makes a game a true highlight. Both teams now sought to bring more stability to their defensive lines. Nevertheless, the game remained highly attractive, with intense battles and scoring chances at both ends.

As the middle period wore on, the players grew increasingly nervous and emotions flared again. After six goals in the first period, this one remained scoreless, also because both netminders – Felix Beck for Lustenau and Patrick Fuchs for Kufstein – were now fully alert and allowed nothing through. A tense final period was in store.

The action continued to swing back and forth, with Kufstein surviving a tricky shorthanded spell. Then crunch time arrived in the fortress town and the league leaders from Vorarlberg suddenly had the lead: Josef Kutzer surprised Dragons netminder Patrick Fuchs to put his side 4:3 ahead (56th minute). Barely half a minute later, Christopher D’Alvise made it 5:3 into the empty net (57th minute). When Philipp Koczera made it 6:3 with his third goal just 27 seconds later, the highlight clash was finally decided (57th minute).

Lustenau returned to winning ways after their defeat in Hohenems.

EHC Crocodiles Kundl gain derby revenge against Wattens Penguins

On Friday, EHC Crocodiles Kundl hosted WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins in the West Division for a back-to-back derby. The previous Friday, the Crocodiles had suffered a 0:2 defeat at Wattens' Alpenstadion in snowfall and were eager for revenge exactly one week later.

And that was exactly how Jaroslav Betka's team started the game: following a quick attack down the left, Simon Brandner was completely unmarked in the slot and scored to give the hosts a 1:0 lead (8th minute). Kundl then controlled the match. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Maximilian Ager fired the puck under the crossbar to make it 2:0 (11th minute). Wattens then had their first power play and the apparent chance to pull one back, but it turned out differently: Daniel Frischmann took possession of the puck, left the Penguins defence in his wake and fired home clinically for 3:0 (18th minute).

As in the first period, both teams engaged in lively end-to-end action in the second. Major chances were initially scarce until Penguins forward Noah Polig took matters into his own hands and gave Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny no chance with a superb shot to make it 1:3 (28th minute). Barely four minutes later, the visitors pulled one back to 2:3 during a delayed penalty after a fine cross-ice pass by Lorenz Klingler (32th minute). Suddenly, the Unterinntal derby was wide open again.

Both teams also tried to move quickly through the neutral zone in the final period. Sebastian Schild restored the two-goal lead early on with a fine shot from the left face-off circle to make it 4:2 (45th minute).

Immediately afterwards, the Crocodiles did not concede while shorthanded. Five minutes after the fourth goal, Tobias Dinhopel added Kundl's 5:2, surprising Wattens netminder Wotan Knecht from a tight angle (50th minute). Tobias Dinhopel again had the final say, sealing the successful revenge for last week's 0:2 defeat with the 6:2 from close range (59th minute).

Dornbirn produce derby sensation against SC Hohenems

To conclude the round, Dornbirner EC on the first Sunday of Advent at the Messestadion in the Vorarlberg derby against SC Samina Hohenems. Christian Haidinger gave the visitors a spectacular lead in a fast-paced game after a solo effort while falling (9th minute), but the Bulldogs equalised at 1:1 through Moritz Reichel, who fired a precise shot into the net, still in the first period (18th minute).

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the second period: Johannes Hehle pounced on the rebound after DEC netminder David Bernhard had made a save to put Hohenems 2:1 ahead (23rd minute). Both sides continued to launch quick attacks, with the derby intense and featuring plenty of good passages of play. Following a face-off, Simon Hämmerle won the puck in his own zone, hit the accelerator and fed the advancing Ricardo Bell, who gave Hohenems goalie Matthias Fritz no chance to make it 2:2 (37th minute).

It got even better for the hosts: Following a quick re-entry over the blue line, Manuel Merk set up Dornbirn's go-ahead goal for 3:2 just under two minutes later. Merk passed to Jonas Meschnig, who sent the puck towards goal, where Merk got the decisive touch (39th minute).

The derby remained exciting and evenly balanced in the final period. Johannes Hehle crossed the blue line after a pass from Lukas Fritz, drove to the net and scored the equaliser for 3:3 (54th minute). There were no further goals in regulation time. Overtime was also fiercely contested for a long time before Matheo Sottopietro hammered the puck into the net from the left face-off circle to make it 4:3 with 13 seconds remaining, securing the Dornbirn Bulldogs' first win of the season in the derby against Hohenems of all games (65th minute).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor 4:3 n.V. (0:1,3:1,0:1,1:0)

Sat, 30 November 2024, 19:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Daniel Aschauer (25:17 min), Nils Granitz (36:12 min), Lukas Kaider (38:56 min), Patrick Bolterle (61:49 min)

HDK Maribor scorers: Danilo Tomašević (17:23 min), Gal Petek (32:49 min), Nejc Voh (45:34 min)

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus 4:7 (1:1,1:3,2:3)

Sat, 30 November 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion

ATSE Graz scorers: Clemens Lennkh (01:13 min), Rupert Strohmeier (37:29 min), Luca Rodiga (42:29 min, 46:46 min)

KSV Kängurus scorers: Lukas Draschkowitz (03:47 min), Florian Hoppl (36:51 min), Stefan Trost (36:56 min, 41:19 min/PP1), Iacopo Granza (38:42 min/PP2,), Pierre Graf (44:21 min, 48:40 min)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden had a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 3:6 (3:3,0:0,0:3)
Sat, 30 November 2024, 17:35, Eisarena Kufstein
Goalscorers HC Kufstein: Valentin Hammerle (02:31 min./PP1, 03:38 min., 14:18 min.)
Goalscorers EHC Lustenau: Philipp Koczera (04:00 min., 15:35 min., 56:30 min.) Christopher D’Alvise (13:48 min., 56:03 min./EN), Josef Kutzer (55:22 min.)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 6:2 (3:0,0:2,3:0)
Fri, 29 November 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
Goalscorers EHC Crocodiles Kundl: Simon Brandner (07:05 min.), Maximilian Agerer (10:43 min.), Daniel Frischmann (17:54 min./SH1), Sebastian Schild (44:30 min.), Tobias Dinhopel (49:25 min., 58:40 min.)
Goalscorers Wattens Penguins: Noah Polig (27:02 min.), Lorenz Klingler (31:14 min.)

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems 4:3 after overtime (1:1,2:1,0:1,1:0)

Sun, 01 December 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Goalscorers Dornbirner EC: Moritz Reichel (17:28 min.), Ricardo Bell (36:06 min.), Manuel Merk (38:18 min.), Matheo Sottopietra (64:47 min.)

Goalscorers SC Hohenems: Christian Haidinger (08:11 min.), Johannes Hehle (22:55 min., 53:57 min.)

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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