EAC Women Capi­tals DEBL cham­pions 2023/2024

The Women Capitals fielded an extremely young squad throughout the season. They finished the Preliminary Round level on points with Maribor in 3rd place, recording a total of twelve wins in 18 games. Two of their six defeats came against defending champions Villach Lady Hawks, and both were emphatic, at 2:9 and 3:9.

In Saturday lunchtime's semi-final, they clearly demonstrated their title ambitions with a 4:0 victory, having a shot count of 55:10. The Villach Lady Hawks had a tough battle in their semi-final against EC Graz Huskies II, only prevailing 4:3 in overtime.

In an evenly matched final, the Capitals proved far more efficient. Despite the Lady Hawks holding a slight advantage in the shot statistics, the capital club led 5:0. In the final period, the Carinthians launched one attack after another on the opposition goal, firing the puck at Capitals netminder Rosina Fichtinger 14 times – as often as in the first two periods combined.

Fichtinger was beaten in the 41st and 45th minutes, but could not be beaten again thereafter. The EAC Women Capitals ultimately prevailed 5:2, thereby topping an all-Austrian podium. EC Graz Huskies finished in 3rd place, securing bronze with Florentina Rumpl's goal in the 44th minute to defeat Hungary's Rampage Veszprem 1:0.

Jan Lebis, Head Coach, EAC Women Capitals: “We played with an extremely young team throughout the season and placed great emphasis on development and performance. The players implemented our plan virtually to the very end and played power hockey. There is incredible cohesion within the team. The players support one another, the atmosphere is always good, and that is exactly what defines the team. I am extremely proud. It has taken many years of work. We now have a large squad that young players look up to, and lots of people come to watch us. Especially lots of children.”

Women's Ice Hockey Bundesliga

Final
Villach Lady Hawks vs. EAC Women Capitals 2:5 (0:2, 0:3, 2:0)
Sun, 24 March 2024, 14:10
Goalscorer, Villach Lady Hawks: Siri Zimmermann (41th, 45th)
Goalscorers, EAC Women Capitals: Lena Artner (8th, 26th), Katharina Killius (11th, 34th), Sarina Steindl (39th)

Match for 3rd place
Rampage Veszprem (HUN) vs. EC Graz Huskies II 0:1 (0:0, 0:0, 0:1)
Sun, 24 March 2024, 11:10
Goalscorer, EC Graz Huskies II: Florentina Rumpl (44th)

Overview of Women's Ice Hockey Championships 2023/2024

Austrian Championship

1st EC Graz Huskies
2nd SKN Sabres St. Pölten
3rd KEHV Lakers

DEBL

1st EAC Women Capitals
2nd Villach Lady Hawks
3rd EC Graz Huskies II

DEBL 2

1st SPG Kitzbühel/Kufstein
2nd Red Angels Innsbruck
3rd SC Samina Hohenems 1974