February Break: An overview of all results from our youth teams

The boys’ U14 had a scouting camp in St. Pölten on the agenda. A total of 62 players from the East, South and West regions were called up for it.

Both the U15 and U16 held a Four Nations Tournament in Carinthia in recent days. Peter Schweda’s U15 faced Hungary, Italy and Slovenia in Ferlach, while Florian Mühlstein’s U16 took on France, Germany and Norway in Klagenfurt.

The women’s youth teams met in Götzens for a skill camp, while the U16 women’s national ice hockey team also played two exhibition games against Germany in Telfs and Füssen. 

U16 national team at the Four Nations Tournament in Klagenfurt

The U16 opened with a 2:1 win over Norway on Thursday evening. Head Coach Florian Mühlstein: "We scored two goals on the power play and conceded one while short-handed. Overall, the boys played very disciplined hockey, were ready from the start and implemented what we had asked of them. There were some minor errors in the system, but that was also due to having several new players in the team. However, the new players, and especially the younger ones, were by no means out of their depth. Quite the opposite: several players, such as Paul Sintschnig, were able to make an impact. Now it is about recovering quickly again. At the pre-game skate, we will see whether we can still make some minor adjustments and then we will be ready for France."

On Friday, they suffered a 0:3 loss to France, with Florian Mühlstein saying: "At 0:1, it was not entirely clear whether the puck had actually crossed the line. We conceded the second goal while short-handed and the third into the empty net. Unfortunately, we completely slept through the first period and took too many penalties throughout the game. From the second period onwards, we were clearly the better team, had six breakaways, but could not get the puck into the net. That is something we need to work on."

To conclude, they beat Germany 3:2 in overtime, Florian Mühlstein: "It was a good game. We slept through the first period a little and did not start well. We battled our way back into the game through the small details, changed a few things and the boys really showed heart. We then equalised and went into overtime. Our trip to South Korea helped us enormously there. Paul Vaschauner in particular, who was also the top scorer in South Korea, drove to the net incredibly well. Martin Haim was very solid in goal. In general, the goaltenders were very solid throughout the tournament. We did not concede more than two goals in any game. Our only problem is our scoring efficiency. That is what we need to improve."

U15 at the Four Nations Tournament in Ferlach

For the team of Head Coach Peter Schweda it was a 0:3 defeat against Hungary on Friday: "They initially had the physical edge over us. The team was also nervous in the first period. That changed in the second period, when we were able to make the game more even and even dominate the final period. We had plenty of chances to level the game or even win it, but the puck simply would not find its way into the net. It is an important learning process for the boys to understand that small details can decide a game like this. Now we need to put the game behind us. Italy await tomorrow and we want to take the next step there."

However, they beat Italy 4:1 on Saturday, Head Coach Peter Schweda: "It was a much more controlled game today than yesterday against Hungary. There were a number of good things, we had more control of the puck and made some good plays. At the back, we allowed only a few chances, most of which came from errors on our part. Today, we also got our reward with the goals. All in all, it was a good performance."

A spectacular game against Slovenia followed on Sunday to conclude the tournament. The neighbours led 3:0 after the first period, before the ÖEHV selection launched a comeback, first levelling at 3:3 and then at 4:4 in the second period. Slovenia made it 5:4 with four minutes remaining in the final period, while two empty-net goals ultimately resulted in the 4:7 defeat.

Head Coach Peter Schweda: "Unfortunately, that was our worst game of the entire tournament. At times, we made things far too easy for Slovenia. I hope the players take something away from it."

U18 national team at the Four Nations Tournament in Gentofte

The U18 national team lost its first two games against Norway and Latvia at the Four Nations Tournament in Denmark, but finished by beating the hosts 4:3 after a penalty shoot-out.

Head Coach Philipp Pinter: "It was important for us to assess the squad and see what we really have. We already had an idea of what the team could look like at the World Championship. A few players were unavailable due to illness or injury, while others were given the opportunity to put themselves forward, with some positively surprising us. We will have an embarrassment of riches. Tough decisions lie ahead regarding the call-ups for the final World Championship camp and the World Championship itself. The tournament in Denmark was ideal for seeing where we stand. In the very first two games, we faced two top-division nations in Norway and Latvia. We competed well at the start and showed ourselves in our best light. However, it was also clear that, as the games went on, the boys faded physically a little. You could also see that their focus dropped somewhat. The boys also saw how ruthlessly individual mistakes are punished at top international level. The team's fight, determination and passion were very, very good. In the third game against Denmark, it was important for us to see how the boys performed when tired as well. That is also a typical situation that can arise at a World Championship. You lose the first two games and then the tournament really begins. The teams are tired and you have to be able to produce your best performance. We were very satisfied with what we saw and are leaving Denmark on a positive note."

Women's Future Team and U16 national team in Götzens

Austria's Women's Future Team held a skills camp in Götzens, Tyrol, this week alongside the women's U16 team. In addition, the women's U16 national ice hockey team played two games against Germany. The U16 selection won the first game in Telfs 2:1. Austria's goals were scored by Hanna Pap (16th) and Emma Lintner (26th).

At the Sunday matinee in Füssen, Bavaria, Germany took a 1:0 lead in the first period, before Hanna Pap equalised at 1:1 with 59 seconds remaining before the first horn (20th). The hosts stepped up a gear in the middle period, scoring three times in just under five minutes between the 29th and 33th minutes to pull away to 4:1.

In the final period, Emma Lintner pulled one back for Red-White-Red to make it 2:4 (52nd). The Austrians enjoyed a small success with their 1:0 in the final period, but were unable to turn the game around.

U14 men's selection camps

07–10 February 2024, St. Pölten

U15 men's Four Nations Tournament

06–11 February 2024, Ferlach, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Austria vs. Hungary 1:3 (0:1,0:1,1:1)
Fri, 09 February 2024, 16:00
Austria goalscorer: Lucas Hartl (49th/PP1)

Italy vs. Austria 1:4 (0:0,0:3,1:1)

Sat, 10 February 2024, 16:00

Austria goalscorers: Lucas Gritznig (37th), Lucas Hartl (37th, 58th/SH1/EN), Niclas Micelli (39th)

Austria vs. Slovenia 4:7 (0:3,4:1,0:3)
Sun, 11 February 2024, 13:00
Austria goalscorers:Dominik Ferner (22 minute/PP1), Silvio Taxacher (33 minute), Phillip Breiml (36 minute), Ilian Ressi (39 minute)

Austria Future Women’s Team & U16 Women’s Skills Camp

07–11 February 2024, Götzens – U16 friendly matches against Germany

Austria vs Germany 2:1 (1:0,1:1,0:0)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 19:00, Telfs
Austria goalscorers:Hanna Pap (16 minute), Emma Lintner (26 minute)

Germany vs Austria 4:2 (1:1,3:0,0:1)
Sun, 11 February 2024, 11:00, Füssen
Austria goalscorers:Hanna Pap (20 minute), Emma Lintner (52 minute)

U16 Men’s Four Nations Tournament

05–10 February 2024, Klagenfurt, live on LIVE.eishockey.at

Austria vs Norway 2:1 (0:0,1:0,1:1)
Thu, 08 February 2024, 18:30
Austria goalscorers: Jan Popatnig (36 minute/PP1), Paul Sintschnig (57 minute/PP1)

France vs Austria 3:0 (0:0,2:0,1:0)
Fri, 09 February 2024, 18:30

Austria vs Germany 3:2 after overtime (0:1,0:0,2:1,1:0)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 10:00
Austria goalscorers: Maximilian Petritsch (43rd minute), Luca Fischer (60th minute), Paul Vaschauner (65th minute)

U18 Men's Four Nations Tournament

05–12 February 2024, Gentofte (DEN) live on Danskishockey.tv

Norway vs. Austria 4:1 (1:1,1:0,2:0)
Thu, 08 February 2024, 19:30
Austria scorer: Manuel Wadel (11th minute)

Austria vs. Latvia 2:5 (1:1,0:1,1:3)
Fri, 09 February 2024, 16:00
Austria scorers: Felix Haiböck (4th minute), Constantin Humer (57th minute)

Denmark vs. Austria 3:4 after penalties (1:0,2:3,0:0,0:0,0:1)

Sat, 10 February 2024, 15:00

Austria scorers: Johannes Neumann (21st minute, 28th minute, decisive penalty), Gregor Biber (32nd minute)