EWIHC: U16 women’s national team loses to Germany in shootout

The ÖEHV side made a good start to the game and had an early 5:3 advantage. Artemis Tekin fired the puck, which was slightly deflected and found the net for a 1:0 lead after exactly three minutes. Head Coach Philipp Siutz’s team then dominated, with Austria outshooting their opponents 10:2 after the opening 20 minutes. 

As the game progressed, both teams were evenly matched and it developed into a balanced contest. Ten minutes from the end, Zoe Wintgen scored Germany's 1:1 equaliser, meaning the decision had to be settled in a penalty shootout, which reflected the course of the game.

Serena Unger put Austria ahead in the first round, before Germany equalised. The DEB team prevailed on their 14th attempt in the second round, with Antonia Thume converting the decisive penalty to secure seventh place for Germany.

Opening defeat against Switzerland

Austria matched Switzerland for long stretches in their opening game, but ultimately lost 1:2. Serena Unger pulled one back to make it 1:2 in the 35th minute, but the Austrians were unable to find an equaliser. 

The Swiss thus avenged their defeat at the European Youth Olympic Festival, where Austria recorded a 3:0 win. 

Defeat against Slovakia

In their second tournament game, the young ÖEHV side suffered a 0:3 defeat against Slovakia. They had more shots on goal (31:23) and more of the play, but the Slovaks were more clinical and ruthlessly took their chances.

In the final three minutes, Head Coach Philipp Siutz pulled goalkeeper Leonie Eder, but no goal came. How hard the U16 women fought for a goal was evident 73 seconds before the end, when a good chance led to a minor disagreement in front of the Slovak goal.

Narrow 1:2 defeat against Hungary

Austria narrowly lost 1:2 to hosts Hungary in their final group-stage game. After a long, closely contested but scoreless game, Rot-Weiß-Rot had taken a late 1:0 lead through a superb power-play shot from Vanessa Picka.

Hungary equalised in the 39th minute and then scored the winner on the power play with just under three minutes remaining. A further penalty against Austria then prevented a late push.

As no World Championship is held at this age level, the European U16 Women's Ice Hockey Cup is the annual highlight. Apart from Sweden and Finland, all of Europe’s top nations are represented at this tournament, with Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, France, Slovakia and the Czech Republic taking part.

Martin Kogler, ÖEHV General Manager Women’s Ice Hockey summed up after the tournament: "We can compete on equal terms with Europe’s top nations, but in the end the small details made the difference. At this level, even small mistakes are punished immediately, and that is the lesson we have to take from this tournament. With the exception of the 0:3 defeat against Slovakia, where we actually had more possession, scoring chances and shots on goal than our opponents, every game was decided by a single goal!" 

European U16 Women's Ice Hockey Cup

Switzerland vs. Austria 2:1 (0:0,2:0,0:1)
Wed, 19 April 2023, 14:00
Austria goalscorer: Serena Unger (35th min.)

Slovakia vs. Austria 3:0 (0:0,2:0,1:0)
Thu, 20 April 2023, 14:00

Austria vs. Hungary 1:2 (0:0,0:0,1:2)
Sat., 22 April 2023, 19:00
Austria goalscorer: Vanessa Picka (35nd minute/PP1)

Placement game for 7th place:

Germany vs. Austria 2:1 after a penalty shootout (0:1,0:0,1:0,1:0)
Sun., 23 April 2023, 10:30
Austria goalscorer: Artemis Tekin (3rd minute/PP2)

All information on the European U16 Women's Ice Hockey Cup