ESC Stein­dorf, SC Hohenems, Kapfen­berger SV and HC Kufstein reach the semi-finals!

QF 1: Hohenems overcome Althofen

The SC Samina Hohenems 1974 went into the second leg of the quarter-final against the at Herrenriedstadion on Saturday, in an atmospheric evening twilight and a pleasant temperature of 14 degrees, carrying a 2:4 deficit1. EHC Althofen at Herrenriedstadion, under an atmospheric evening sky and in pleasant __OEHV_NUM_F_A__-degree temperatures, carrying a __OEHV_NUM_F_B__ deficit.

The Carinthians had travelled to Vorarlberg with a short line-up of 13 skaters and their AHC Division I semi-final series against Hornets Spittal (2:0 sweep) still in their legs.

The Rhinos tried to take control of the game in the opening minutes and once again relied on a strong performance from goaltender Fabian Horn. Hohenems were dominant over the first 20 minutes and created several good chances, but could not beat the Carinthian netminder.

Early in the second period, Hohenems took a 1:0 lead and cut the aggregate deficit to one goal. Matthias Fussenegger fired in the 23rd minute, his shot rebounded off the boards, and Manuel Merk reacted quickest to lift the puck into the net on the backhand.

It was not until after the halfway mark that the first penalty was called in a match that had remained fair despite its significance, with Patric Scheffknecht sent off for interference. Althofen were unable to capitalise on the power play. Bernd Schmidle's team continued to apply pressure and waited patiently for their opportunities.

A minute and a half before the end of the period, Jürgen Fussenegger fired from just behind the blue line to make it 2:0 for the hosts. The Steinböcke had levelled the aggregate score, guaranteeing a thriller in the final period.

In the 44th minute, Hohenems took the lead in the quarter-final aggregate score for the first time. Following an Althofen turnover, Christian Haidinger shot, Horn made the save, but Johannes Hehle poked the puck over the line to make it 3:0. The Vorarlberg side now sensed the chance to all but decide the quarter-final tie. In the 51st minute, it happened: captain Pascal Kainz followed up from close range to score the 4:0.

However, that was only an apparent decider, as Kevin Schettina lifted the puck into the net from close range just 40 seconds later to make the game highly exciting again. In the end, Althofen coach Gerald Ressmann pulled goaltender Fabian Horn, but the 2:4 never came. SC Hohenems advanced to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 6:5, where a blockbuster clash with Kapfenberger SV awaits.

QF 2: Steindorf beat WEV

In the final quarter-final game of the Ö Eishockey Liga, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf and Wiener Eislauf-Verein picked up at Ossiacher See Halle where both teams had left off in the first leg in Vienna last Saturday: from the opening shift, the game went back and forth with quick attacks.

After the 4:4 result in the first game, it was clear: the winner would progress. Just under five minutes in, Benjamin Petrik collected the puck and went in alone on the WEV goal. Vienna goaltender Mathias Lichtenecker made the save, but Christof Martinz converted the rebound from close range to make it 1:0.

With the early lead, Steindorf grew in confidence, pressed for 2:0 and got it: first, the Carinthians were unable to capitalise on a power play, then Martin Oraže struck with a powerful shot in the tenth minute. The WEV's best chance fell to Lucas Burzin, who was denied by Steindorf netminder Paul Steiner after a breakaway. WEV forward Marko Ilic was particularly unfortunate, having to be taken to hospital with an injury.

Right at the start of the second period, the Ossiacher See players appeared to be on course for the semi-finals. Markus Pöck launched a quick attack from his own zone and passed to Franz Wilfan, who sent the puck home to make it 3:0 in the 22nd minute. However, WEV responded quickly to make it 1:3. Felix Müller set up Felix Zandonella perfectly, and he put the Viennese on the scoreboard from close range in the 25th minute.

What followed was an open exchange with good chances at both ends. Suddenly, the match was exciting again and more emotional too. Christophe Vermeersch and Kevin Steiner exchanged pleasantries after a check. Just as the Viennese had gained control of the game, a bizarre goal against halted the start of a potential comeback.

With a penalty delayed, WEV goaltender Lichtenecker left his net and the puck went into the Viennese's own goal off a Vienna player. The referees awarded the goal, with Andreas Wiedergut credited with Steindorf's 4:1 in the 30th minute. Shortly before the end of the period, the team coached by Robert Moser added another: Fabian Stichauner received the puck in the 38th minute and fired home for 5:1.

Steindorf also struck quickly in the final period to seal this quarter-final tie. Ruslan Gelfanov worked the puck into the net from close range after several attempts in the 42nd minute, making it 6:1. The Viennese showed character and tried to close the gap on the scoreboard. They succeeded on the power play: Felix Zandonella fired from a few metres behind the blue line and Oscar Marchhart deflected it in for 2:6 in the 49th minute.

Felix Müller then appeared in front of the Steindorf net and gave Steindorf goaltender Paul Steiner no chance with a fine wrist shot for 3:6 in the 52nd minute. The team coached by Mario Kubeczka continued to attack and came close to making it 4:6. Stefan Nador missed the big chance to make the tie exciting again.

With 14 seconds remaining, Kristian Kravanja scored Steindorf's 7:3 on the power play, sending the Carinthians through to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 11:7. HC Kufstein await them there. The first match will take place in Steindorf, with home-ice advantage swapped due to Steindorf's 50th anniversary celebrations.

QF 3: Kapfenberger SV see off VEU Feldkirch

Favourites Kapfenberger SV hosted VEU Feldkirch in the Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday for the quarter-final showdown after the spectacular 5:5 goal fest in the first leg.

In a fast-paced game, the Styrians patiently waited for their first chance, which came on the power play. Unmarked at the left face-off dot, Stefan Trost fired home to give the Kängurus a 1:0 lead in the eighth minute. The team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler then took control, but VEU Feldkirch kept both the match and the overall series open until the first intermission. 

The two teams continued their fast-paced exchange in the second period, with play going back and forth. VEU Feldkirch now had to play more offensively and created good chances. Luca Erne missed the best opportunity to equalise when he went in alone on the Kapfenberg goal. KSV goaltender Oliver Zirngast plucked the puck out of the air with his glove.

Kapfenberg took their slender 1:0 lead into the final period of a game that had been played fairly up to that point, despite the close scoreline and resulting tension. The situation was clear: the Montfort city side had to score at least an equaliser to force overtime. Kapfenberg dominated the opening minutes and pushed for 2:0. On the power play, Stefan Trost picked out the post from a similar position to that of his opening goal.

The hosts created further chances, but VEU goaltender Thomas Schubert kept the quarter-final alive with good saves. The team coached by Thomas Sticha also appeared in front of the Kapfenberg goal on several occasions. The still-tight scoreline left the players more on edge, and pent-up emotions spilled over in the 54th minute. Kängurus players Rupert Fichtinger and Dominik Wassermann exchanged pleasantries with Fabio Haas and Alessandro Togni.

Shortly afterwards, Kapfenberg netminder Oliver Zirngast preserved the narrow lead with an outstanding save, with crunch time long since under way. With two minutes remaining, VEU coach Thomas Sticha went all in and pulled goaltender Schubert. Kapfenberg missed the empty net twice, but converted their third attempt: Adrian Stühlinger made it 2:0 with 15 seconds remaining.

Kapfenberg – pushed all the way by VEU Feldkirch for 120 minutes – advanced to the semi-finals, where SC Hohenems await in a blockbuster clash.

QF 4: Kufstein eliminate Zeltweg Murtal Lions

The HC Kufstein had built up a two-goal cushion away from home for the quarter-final second leg at the Kufstein Eisarena, which was well attended with almost 900 fans, against the EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, but it was reduced to one goal in the 12th minute.

The Styrians took a 1:0 lead through Michael Grüneis, who deflected a Robin Weihager shot in front of goal. From that point onwards, the game was full of tension. The Dragons had entered the match without leading scorer Martin Kosnar, with the Czech forward having suffered a cruciate ligament tear in the first leg.

Oliver Setzinger was not in the Murtal Lions line-up. The Tyroleans then had two power-play opportunities, including one with a 5:3 advantage, to equalise, but Zeltweg netminder Andreas Brenkusch kept his net clean until the first intermission.

The visitors made the better start to the second period. Following an attack, Florian Dinhopel had an unobstructed shot from the slot in the 24th minute and gave Kufstein netminder Thomas Hechenberger no chance. The 2:0 levelled the overall quarter-final tie for the Murtal Lions. The Tyroleans then took two penalties. During the first penalty kill, Hechenberger produced a superb glove save from a Robin Weihager shot.

On the next penalty kill, Kufstein had to concede the 0:3, with Marko Tadic scoring for the Lions from close range. The series had turned in the 29th minute. At least for the time being. The Dragons hit back in the second period, however. David Hrazdira fired home on the power play in the 32nd minute to make it 1:3. Barely two minutes later, Herbert Steiner got hold of the puck in the offensive zone and scored the 2:3 goal to pull one back, with the Kufstein Arena erupting for the first time that evening.

The final period began as the second had ended: with a goal for Kufstein. David Hrazdira drove irresistibly towards goal on the power play in the 42nd minute and, after a quick deke, buried the puck to level the score at 3:3. This put Head Coach Ivo Novotny's team firmly on course for the semi-finals.

In a final period marked by numerous penalties and stoppages, the Tyroleans fought back and took the lead for the first time at 57. David Hrazdira spotted the unmarked Samuel Sappl, who scored from close range to make it 4:3. With eleven seconds remaining, Marcel Bruimann sealed the 5:3 victory and progression with a shorthanded empty-netter.

HC Kufstein progressed to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 9:5, where ESC SoccerZone Steindorf await.

Play-off format

The semi-finals will also be decided in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format, with a home-and-away tie. The club finishing higher in the regular season will begin away from home. The aggregate result of the two matches played will be used. The team leading on aggregate after the home and away legs will advance to the final. Should the aggregate score be tied at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there will be no overtime in the first leg. Each first leg will end after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off quarter-final second legs

Quarter-final 1 – second leg:

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. 1st EHC Althofen 4:1 (0:0,2:0,2:1)
Sat, 18 February 2023, 17:30, Herrenriedstadion
SC Samina Hohenems 1974 scorers: Manuel Merk (22:40 min), Jürgen Fussenegger (38:28 min), Johannes Hehle (43:52 min), Pascal Kainz (50:04 min)
1st EHC Althofen scorer: Kevin Schettina (50:44 min)

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 progress to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 6:5 First-leg result: 2:4

Quarter-final 2 – second leg:

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 7:3 (2:0,3:1,2:2)
Sun, 19 February 2023, 16:30, Ossiacher See Halle
ESC SoccerZone Steindorf scorers: Christof Martinz (04:55), Martin Oraže (09:39), Franz Wilfan (21:54), Andreas Wiedergut (29:29), Fabian Stichauner (37:40), Ruslan Gelfanov (41:20), Kristian Kravanja (59:46/PP1)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Felix Zandonella (24:55), Oscar Marchhart (48:02/PP1), Felix Müller (51:53)

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf with an aggregate score of 11:7 into the semi-finals. First-leg result: 4:4

Quarter-final 3 – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. VEU Feldkirch 2:0 (1:0,0:0,1:0)
Sat., 18 February 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Stefan Trost (07:30/PP1), Adrian Stühlinger (59:45/EN)

Kapfenberger SV with an aggregate score of 7:5 into the semi-finals. First-leg result: 5:5

Quarter-final 4 – second leg:

HC Kufstein vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 5:3 (0:1,2:2,3:0)
Sat., 18 February 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: David Hrazdira (31:53/PP1, 41:33/PP1), Herbert Steiner (33:32), Samuel Sappl (56:14), Marcel Bruimann (59:49/SH1/EN)
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorers: Michael Grüneis (11:48), Florian Dinhopel (23:35), Marko Tadic (28:37/PP1)

HC Kufstein with an aggregate score of 9:5 in the semi-finals. First-leg result 4:2

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off semi-finals

Semi-final 1:

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 25 February 2023, 17:30, Herrenriedstadion Hohenems

Semi-final 2:

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 25 February 2023, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle

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