Final deci­sions in the ÖSM/EWHL/DEBL

Image information: EV Sabres Wien secure EWHL bronze - Photo: DerHandler

The ice hockey season in the national and international leagues is slowly coming to an end. While Austria’s women’s national ice hockey team is preparing for the World Championship in Angers, France, the leagues have already concluded. An overview:

While the Sabres Wien were crowned Austrian champions for the twelfth consecutive time back in March, the decision over 3rd place was only made last weekend. The clash between the DEC Salzburg Eagles and the KEHV Lakers had to be postponed due to Covid and was made up on the first weekend of April. The Lakers won the first leg on 2 April 2:1, but the Salzburg side secured 3rd place in the return leg on Sunday thanks to a 2:0 overtime victory.

Having finished the regular season in 4th place, the Sabres once again reached the final tournament. They lost 0:4 to eventual champions KMH Budapest in the semi-finals, but secured bronze with a 5:1 win over MAC Budapest in the third-place play-off. The Sabres have won the EWHL six times to date and have only failed to finish on the podium five times in the league, which has existed since 2004. Last year, the Sabres won silver, while their most recent title came in the 2017/2018 season.

The other placings of the Austrian representatives this season: KEHV Lakers 7th, KSV Neuberg Highlanders 8th, DEC Salzburg Eagles 10th.

For Austria’s representatives in the final tournament, Villach Lady Hawks and DEC Devils Graz, the semi-finals marked the end of the road on the final weekend of March. The Carinthians lost a thrillingly close contest to KMH Budapest II, 3:4, while Graz were beaten 1:5 by eventual champions MAC Marilyn Budapest II, having already trailed 0:3 after the first period.

In the all-Hungarian final, MAC Marilyn Budapest II ultimately prevailed 2:1 against KMH Budapest II. In the third-place play-off, the Carinthians came out on top 4:2.

ÖSM standings 2021/22

1st. EHV Sabres Vienna
2nd. KSV Neuberg Highlanders
3rd. DEC Salzburg Eagles
4th. KEHV Lakers
5th. DEC Devils Graz
6th. SPG Kitzbühel/Kufstein
7th. EAC Junior Capitals "Flyers"
8th. Sportunion DHC IceCats Linz AG