Dream final! Eastern winners Kapfen­berg take on Western winners SC Hohenems for the title

Semi-final 1 – return leg: Kapfenberger SV comfortably defeat ATSE Graz

The Kapfenberger SV went into the return leg at Stadthalle Kapfenberg with a six-goal lead after their 8:2 victory over ATSE Graz in the away game in Graz, in front of around 1.500 fans.

They picked up exactly where they had left off the previous Saturday: with forceful attacks, the Kangaroos put ATSE under pressure. The 1:0 came quickly, as Florian Hoppl scored after a fine cross-ice pass after 81 seconds (2nd minute). Kapfenberg dominated at will, continued to put on a show and combined for the 2:0. It was Florian Hoppl again who beat ATSE goaltender Simeoni Kyllönen (4th minute).

The Graz side, who had travelled to Böhlerstadt with a short line-up, had little to offer in response and were focused on limiting the damage. Kapfenberg were ruthless offensively and conjured up some fine combinations on the ice. Following a wonderful attacking sequence, Lukas Draschkowitz made it 3:0 in the 15th minute.

Just under two minutes before the first horn, the game was interrupted due to medical treatment being administered in the stands and was completed at the start of the second period.

Little changed in the character of the game in the second period. Kapfenberg continued to produce an offensive fireworks display. Maximilian Ramsbacher made it 4:0 early on (22nd minute). The Upper Styrians did not let up, with Adrian Stühlinger converting a wonderful individual effort for 5:0 (29th minute).

Halfway through the game, Graz finally got on the scoresheet: with a delayed penalty against Kapfenberg, Marco Scheriau scored with a backhander to make it 1:5 (34th minute). Kapfenberg continued to treat the fans to an entertaining ice hockey game, missing further chances or being denied by ATSE netminder Simeoni Kyllönen.  

The hosts also started the final period with a quick goal. Following a fine attack, player-coach Kris Reinthaler picked out the net to make it 6:1 (42nd minute). After another fine attack, Florian Hoppl swept the puck over the line from close range for 7:1 (45th minute).

Lukas Winkler added Kapfenberg's 8:1 (47th minute). Florian Hoppl then intercepted a cross-ice pass, went through alone on the Graz goal and scored for 9:1 (56th minute), his fourth goal of the evening. Lukas Winkler took the Mürztal side into double figures, scoring the 10:1 from the slot (57th minute).

Kapfenberger SV eventually won 10:1 and progressed to the Ö Eishockey Liga final with an aggregate score of 18:3, where Western Division winners SC Hohenems await.

Semi-final 2 – return leg: SC Hohenems reach the final after victory over EHC Crocodiles Kundl

SC HohenemsSC Hohenems began the return leg against in front of 1.153 fans with a two-goal advantage following the 3:1 in Kundl.EHC Crocodiles Kundl at Eisstadion Hohenems with a two-goal advantage following the __OEHV_NUM_T_A__ result in Kundl, in front of __OEHV_NUM_T_B__ fans. Both teams showed attacking intent from the outset, while also trying to bring the game under control.

The travelling Kundl fans created a proper away atmosphere at Herrenried. After a brisk opening phase, the hosts took a 1:0 lead. Martin Grabher Meier received the puck in the neutral zone, embarked on a superb solo run and, after beating two Kundl defenders, also rounded Crocodiles goaltender Kyle Plantz with a fine deke (9th minute).

Four minutes later, Grabher Meier suddenly found himself alone in the slot after a face-off and scored for 2:0 (13th minute). Thomas Sticha's team then pressed on and created further good chances.

However, Kundl got on the scoresheet and back into the series: Erik Hefke followed up on a rebound to force the puck over the line for 1:2 (at 18). Christian Haidinger quickly dashed any hopes of a Tyrolean comeback: just 30 seconds later, the Hohenems forward beautifully lifted the puck into the net from close range for 3:1 (at 18).

From the start of the second period, Kundl head coach Jaroslav Betka brought on backup netminder Johann Bauer to signal that he wanted a response from his team. The opening minutes of the middle period were similar to the first, with play moving quickly from end to end. The Tyroleans were now under even greater pressure offensively, while the Steinböcke defended well and, together with netminder Matthias Fritz, initially kept things tight.

Following a brief spell of pressure from the Crocodiles, the Vorarlberg side wrapped things up in the second period: after a fine attack, Marcel Wolf drove forcefully towards goal and scored for 4:1 (at 33). A little more than three minutes before the end of the period, Julian Grafschafter made it 5:1 from close range following a superb combination in the offensive zone (at 37).

In the final period, Kundl showed character and reduced the deficit to 2:5 through Adrian Schuster (at 45). But Hohenems refused to be drawn into any more games. Following a fine attack, Benjamin Kyllönen took a cross-ice pass and fired home for 6:2 (at 48). 62 seconds later, the Unterinntal side rallied once more: Patrik Lithen scored from the slot to make it 3:6 (at 49). However, the Tyroleans had exhausted their efforts.

SC Hohenems saw out the game comfortably, with Benjamin Kyllönen scoring from a turn to make the final score 7:3 (at 57). As in the previous season, the Vorarlberg side progressed to the Ö Eishockey Liga final, with the overall score against EHC Crocodiles Kundl ending 10:4.

The Steinböcke will play the first final game at home in Herrenried on Saturday, 09 March, at 18:30, with the return leg for the title taking place a week later, on 16 March at 19:30 in Stadthalle Kapfenberg.

Play-offs – semi-final return legs:

Semi-final 1 – return leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. ATSE Graz 10:1 (3:0,2:1,5:0)
Sat., 02 March 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Goalscorers for Kapfenberger SV: Florian Hoppl (at 01:21, 03:42, 44:38, 55:25), Lukas Draschkowitz (at 14:19), Maximilian Ramsbacher (at 21:22), Adrian Stühlinger (at 28:32), Kristof Reinthaler (at 41:25), Lukas Winkler (at 46:04, 56:19)
Goalscorer ATSE Graz: Marco Scheriau (at 33:35)

The Kapfenberger SV has reached the Ö Eishockey Liga final with an overall score of 18:3. First-leg result – 8:2.

Semi-final 2 – return leg:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 7:3 (3:1,2:0,2:2)
Sat., 02 March 2024, 18:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (08:26, 12:30), Christian Haidinger (17:34), Marcel Wolf (32:24), Julian Grafschafter (36:42), Benjamin Kyllönen (47:06, 56:22)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Erik Hefke (17:04), Adrian Schuster (44:37), Patrik Lithen (48:08)

The SC Samina Hohenems have reached the Ö Eishockey Liga final with an aggregate score of 10:4. First-leg result – 3:1.

Play-off final fixtures:

Final – first leg:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat., 09 March 2024, 18:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Final – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., 16 March 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Play-off semi-final first legs:

Semi-final 1 – first leg:

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV 2:8 (0:2,0:3,2:3)
Sat., 24 February 2024, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle A
ATSE Graz scorers: Bernhard Strohmeier (41:19), Luca Rodiga (56:37)
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Max Wimmer (07:10/SH1), Manuel Trost (11:21), Lukas Draschkowitz (20:46/PP1), Pierre Graf (23:35, 43:57), Christoph Draschkowitz (34:26, 54:52), Daniel Oberkofler (58:42)

Semi-final 2 – first leg:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1:3 (0:0,0:1,1:2)
Sat., 24 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorer: Adrian Schuster (46:43)
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Marcel Wolf (35:32), Julian Grafschafter (41:48), Martin Grabher Meier (45:09)

Play-off format:

From the quarter-finals onwards, the ties are decided in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format over two legs. The club that finished higher in the regular season starts with an away game. The aggregate score across the two matches played is used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs is champion of the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Should the aggregate score be level at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. Each first leg ends after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

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