HC Kufstein over­turns Kundl after magnif­i­cent come­back – WEV wins goal fest against ATSE Graz

For the second time already in the still young season, league leaders HC Kufstein hosted EHC Crocodiles Kufstein for a high-stakes local derby at the Eisarena Kufstein. 

The first meeting exactly two weeks earlier had been narrowly won 5:3 by the Dragons, following a 4:0 lead and a Crocodiles comeback. This time, it was Head Coach Manfred Mühllechner’s team that took the lead through André Flatscher, making it 1:0 (8.). The visitors held on to their narrow advantage for a long time, but the fortress city side finally got on the scoresheet on the power play shortly before the end of the first period: Maximilian Camondo equalised at 1:1 eight seconds before the buzzer (20.).

The second period began with a bang: Markus Prock first scored after 78 seconds to make it 2:1, giving the hosts the lead for the first time (22.). Just 51 seconds later, it was 2:2 as Sebastian Schild beat HCK netminder Thomas Hechenberger (23.). The derby remained exciting and closely contested. Shortly after the halfway point of the game, Dragons players Boldizsár Béres and Markus Prock had to head to the penalty box; Prock in particular received a hefty penalty and was sent off for two plus two minutes and a ten-minute misconduct. EHC Kundl capitalised on this power-play phase: Jakob Wetzelsberger put the Crocodiles 3:2 ahead (35.).

The final period also started with a major moment: Adrian Schuster made it 4:2 for the Kundl Crocodiles after just 76 seconds (42.). Things were about to get even worse for the hosts. Nearly three minutes later, Erik Hefke added the 5:2 for Crocodiles Kundl (45.). The nearly 850 fans sensed the game was decided, but Dragons goal-getter David Hrazdira, back in the line-up, quickly reignited derby drama with his goal to make it 3:5 just 62 seconds later (46.). 

Three minutes later, the Kufstein Arena was rocking as Taylor Holst converted a power play to pull Kufstein back to 4:5 (49.). Spurred on by the fans, the home side pushed for an equaliser and duly got it: David Hrazdira made it 5:5 (54.). Just 61 seconds later, Hrazdira once again sent the Kufstein Arena into raptures. The Czech player crowned Kufstein’s magnificent comeback with his third goal, securing the 6:5 victory.

VEU Feldkirch win again against Dornbirn

The VEU Feldkirch hosted Dornbirner EC for the Ländle derby. The Montfort city side had clearly won the first meeting nearly two weeks earlier, 10:3. This time, the Bulldogs showed their teeth and more than matched their opponents in the first period. What is more, Dornbirn even took the lead shortly before the end of the period: Tiziano Butteri put the visitors 1:0 ahead 31 seconds before the buzzer (20.).

Head Coach Pavel Takac’s young team continued to play with great freedom in the second period and extended their lead: goals from Maid Meduseljac (23.) and Ricardo Bell (27.) gave the visitors a remarkable 3:0 advantage. At that point, a first win for Dornbirn, of all places in a derby, seemed within reach. 

But VEU launched a superb comeback with Joonatan Kyllönen’s quick goal to make it 1:3 barely a minute and a half later (28.). A quickfire double from Philip Metzler (30.) and Yannik Wiedner (30.) within 40 seconds brought Feldkirch level at 3:3 before the halfway point of the game. Still in the second period, VEU took the lead for the first time, with Alessandro Togni sending the fans at the Vorarlberghalle into celebration as he made it 4:3 (37.). 

In the final period, Head Coach Lars Foder’s team pulled away: Lukas Göggel made it 5:3 (45.), Yannik Wiedner sealed the win with a power-play goal for 6:3 (47.), before Alessandro Togni set the final score at 7:3 for VEU just under two minutes from time (59.).

Hohenems win convincingly in Dornbirn

To conclude the weekend, SC Samina Hohenems won the derby against Dornbirner EC clearly by 15:1. Niklas Gehringer, with four goals, Benjamin Kyllönen, with eight points (2 goals, 6 assists), and Martin Grabher Meier, with six points (3 goals, 3 assists), were the match-winners for the Steinböcke.

Division East:

Kapfenberg leave Sharks Gmunden with no chance

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden took on league leaders Kapfenberger SV at the Gmunden Ice Rink in Division East with the aim of challenging the Styrian goal machine. 

The Sharks from Lake Traun were unable to put that plan into action for long, as the Kangaroos quickly picked up where they had left off against the Zeltweg Murtal Lions last weekend. New signings Kevin Moderer and Daniel Oberkofler provided the assists, while Pierre Graf finished early to make it 1:0 (2nd minute). 

Player-coach Kristof Reinthaler, Lukas Draschkowitz and Piere Graf again built a comfortable four-goal lead for the visitors in the first period. Five seconds before the end of the opening period, tempers flared at Lake Traun: Sharks player Bastian Szieber and Kangaroos player Kevin Moderer engaged in a fierce fight, bringing an early end to the evening for both players. 

And Kapfenberg's other new signing, Daniel Oberkofler, also introduced himself to the Ö Eishockey Liga with a two-plus-two-minute penalty.

The second period was more even – at least on the scoreboard: the Sharks battled hard, while the league leaders eased off the gas slightly. Alessandro Mühllechner scored a consolation goal to make it 1:4 on the power play after 54 seconds (21st minute). Pierre Graf made the final decision in favour of the visitors from the Mürztal with the 5:1 and his third goal (29th minute). 

Lukas Winkler added two more goals – the second on the power play – for a clear 7:1 final score (55th, 59th minute). Kapfenberg remain unstoppable, celebrating their third full success in three games.

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions come from behind against UHT Dukes Graz

The EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions hosted UHT Dukes Graz at the Aichfeldhalle. Both teams were looking to collect important points in the battle to reach the play-offs. Behind the previously dominant league leaders Kapfenberg, Division East is fiercely contested, and the first period in the Murtal followed suit. Both sides allowed little defensively in the opening 20 minutes.

The Murtal Lions and the Dukes took a very different approach in the second period: Philipp Ullrich gave the hosts a 1:0 lead on the power play a minute and a half after the restart (22nd minute). That was the starting signal for a goal-filled middle period. Bernhard Liebscher had the almost 500 fans in the Murtal Lions Arena celebrating again as he made it 2:0 (29th minute). 

UHT Dukes Graz hit back – and how: a remarkable nine seconds later, David Kessler scored to make it 1:2 after a pass from player-coach Jurica Bednjanec (29th minute). A minute and a half after the goal that cut the deficit, the Graz Dukes had levelled the score, with Simon Helm making it 2:2. Three and a half minutes before the end of the period, the visitors had actually turned the game around: Matthias Kaltenegger beat Zeltweg netminder Andreas Brenkusch to put the Dukes 3:2 ahead (37th minute).

In the final period, the Zeltweg Murtal Lions were forced to raise their tempo. The hosts pressed for an equaliser, which only came on the power play: Daniel Forcher made it 3:3 to lift the atmosphere in the home arena (50th minute). The Lions were now even hungrier, and Mario Sulzer's goal to make it 4:3 turned the Murtal Lions Arena into a cauldron (55th minute). 

When Philipp Ullrich added a shorthanded goal to make it 5:3 for Zeltweg with just under three minutes remaining (58th minute), the game appeared to be decided. But just 29 seconds later, Cornelius Kaschnig pulled one back for Graz in a 6:4 situation on the ice – the Dukes were on the power play and had also pulled their goaltender – to make it 4:5 (58th minute). The Dukes threw everything forward, but the Zeltweg Murtal Lions held on to their narrow lead until the final buzzer.

WEV claim a convincing win at ATSE Graz

In the classic clash between ATSE Graz and Wiener Eislauf-Verein the visitors made a dream start: Hannes Kotinsky made it 1:0 for WEV after exactly 31 seconds (1st). 

In their third consecutive away game – their home opener will not take place until 18 November at the Open Air Stadion am Heumarkt – Head Coach Mario Kubeczka's team delivered a strong first-period performance and showed clinical finishing in front of goal with a quick double: Marko Ilic first established a two-goal lead (8), before returning player Nils Granitz made it 3:0 for WEV just 13 seconds later (8nd). 

ATSE Graz fought hard to get into the game and succeeded in doing so: Fabian Möth put Head Coach Rupert Strohmeier's team on the scoreboard with the 1:3, barely a minute after the 0:3 (9th). However, WEV had a swift response, with Lucas Burzin restoring the three-goal lead at 4:1 just 34 seconds later (10th).

WEV once again came out of the dressing room stronger at the start of the second period. Marco Bayer added the 5:1 for the capital side on the power play (22nd). However, Graz were not ready to admit defeat just yet. Cory Krenz cut the deficit to 2:5 and gave the ATSE players a glimmer of hope. WEV subsequently managed the clock cleverly, backed by a strong Mathias Lichtenecker in goal, and took a three-goal lead into the final period. 

The two teams' hunger for goals was far from satisfied. Lukas Kaider all but sealed the outcome at 42, before Graz pulled within one goal through Andreas Meixner at 47. The WEV then stepped things up for good and raced into a 9:3 lead in just under three minutes. First, Marco Bayer in a 5:3 power play at 50 and new signing Kilian Trommet in a 5:4 power play at 50 struck twice within twelve seconds, before Stefan Nador made it 9:3 with a short-handed goal at 54.

Andreas Meixner added a consolation goal on the power play (57th). Vienna celebrated their third away win in their third road game.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 6:5 (1:1,1:2,4:2)

Sat., 28 October, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Goalscorers for HC Kufstein: Maximilian Camondo (19:52 min./PP1), Markus Prock (21:18 min.), David Hrazdria (45:36 min., 53:35 min., 54:36 min.), Taylor Holst (48:20 min./PP1)

Goalscorers for EHC Crocodiles Kundl: André Flatscher (07:51 min.), Sebastian Schild (22:09 min.), Jakob Wetzelsberger (34:29 min./PP1), Adrian Schuster (41:16 min.), Erik Hefke (44:34 min.)

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC 7:3 (0:1,4:2,3:0)

Sat., 28 October, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

Goalscorers for VEU Feldkirch: Joonatan Kyllönen (27:43 min.), Philip Metzler (29:06 min.), Yannik Wiedner (29:43 min., 46:24 min./PP1), Alessandro Togni (36:43 min., 58:09 min.), Lukas Göggel (44:46 min.)

Goalscorers for Dornbirner EC: Tiziano Butteri (19:29 min.), Maid Meduseljac (22:45 min.), Ricardo Bell (26:10 min.)

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1:15 (0:6,1:4,0:5)
Sun., 29 October 2023, 17:30 p.m., Messestadion
Dornbirner EC scorer: Josef Kutzer (at 39:45)
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Niklas Gehringer (at 03:58, 05:05, 17:23, 47:57), Martin Grabher Meier (at 04:37, 25:11/PP1, 42:38), Patric Scheffknecht (at 09:10/PP1), Manuel Merk (at 16:53), Benjamin Kyllönen (at 27:35, 37:34), Johannes Hehle (at 39:00, 56:24), Julian Grafschafter (at 43:28), Christian Haidinger (at 52:30)

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:4 (0:1,1:2,1:1)

Thu., 26 October, 17:30 p.m., Eisarena Kufstein

HC Kufstein scorers: Markus Prock (at 31:43/PP1), Boldizsar Beres (at 41:12)

SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Marcel Wolf (at 19:45/PP1, 32:25), Martin Grabher Meier (at 28:27), Lukas Fritz (at 56:36)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. VEU Feldkirch 5:4 after extra time (2:0,2:2,0:2,1:0)

Thu., 26 October, 19:30 p.m., Eisarena Kundl

EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Jakob Wetzelsberger (at 09:52/PP1), Sebastian Schild (at 14:50), Adrian Schuster (at 23:08), Fabio Müller (at 37:37), Johannes Schernthaner (at 61:31/PP1)

VEU Feldkirch scorers: Markus Zeitler (at 28:00), Joonatan Kyllönen (at 31:18), Simon Hämmerle (at 54:31), Yannick Wiedner (at 59:29)

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Kapfenberger SV 1:7 (0:4,1:1,0:2)

Sat., 28 October, 18:15 p.m., Eishalle Gmunden

Sharks Gmunden scorer: Alessandro Mühllechner (at 20:54/PP1)

Kapfenberger SV scorers: Pierre Graf (01:56, 08:58, 28:47), Kristof Reinthaler (04:25), Lukas Draschkowitz, Lukas Winkler (54:20, 58:26/PP1)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UHT Dukes Graz 5:4 (0:0,2:3,3:1)

Sat., 28 October, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorers: Philipp Ullrich (21:30/PP1, 57:10/SH1), Bernhard Liebscher (28:04), Daniel Forcher (49:28/PP1), Mario Sulzer (54:59)

UHT Dukes Graz scorers: David Kessler (28:13), Simon Helm (29:48), Matthias Kaltenegger (36:22), Cornelius Kaschnig (57:39/SH1)

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 4:9 (1:4,1:1,2:4)

Sat., 28 October, 19:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

ATSE Graz scorers: Fabian Möth (08:50), Cory Krenz (25:38), Andreas Meixner (46:07, 56:16/PP1)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Hannes Kotinsky (00:31), Marko Ilic (07:22), Nils Granitz (07:35), Lucas Burzin (09:24), Marco Bayer (21:48/PP1, 49:41/PP2), Lukas Kaider (41:13), Kilian Trommet (49:53/PP1), Stefan Nador (53:04/SH1)

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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