HC Kufstein win derby against Kundl – WEV edge Murtal Lions in over­time

Fans at the Murtal Lions Arena in Zeltweg witnessed a heated match between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Due to their many injuries, the home side could only name 13 skaters in their line-up and must have felt as though they were in the wrong film for the first 20 minutes. 

In a fast-paced game, the Viennese were clinical in front of the opposition net and took a 1:0 lead through Lukas Kaider following a swift breakaway (8.). Marco Bayer was then set up perfectly on the power play, making it 2:0 was a mere formality (15.). A minute later, Christophe Vermeersch found himself alone in front of Lions netminder Andreas Brenkusch and extended the lead to 3:0 (16.). Shortly before the end of the period, the fists flew for the first time: Zeltweg's Andreas Forcher and Vienna's Rene Pospisil came to blows.

The home side gradually worked their way into the game in the second period: Mario Sulzer brilliantly lifted the puck under the crossbar with his backhand to make it 1:3 (27.) Then tempers flared again: Styrian player Thomas Schiechl and Vienna's Cedric Ehrenreich dropped the gloves. Numerous stoppages and discussions followed. 

Hockey was then played again, and the Murtal side equalised with two goals in 14 seconds: Following a fine combination, Andreas Forcher pulled one back to make it 2:3 (37.). Florian Dinhopel was then set up perfectly, and the equaliser for 3:3 was on the board (37.). 

The heated contest remained exciting over the remainder of the game, with plenty of penalties, and the home side were ultimately unable to convert two power plays. The match went to overtime, where Stefan Nador secured a 4:3 victory for WEV after 38 seconds.

Kapfenberg beat ATSE Graz away from home

Title contenders Kapfenberger SV opened their East Division campaign in the Styrian capital against ATSE Graz and made a lightning start: Following a misplaced pass by Graz, Florian Hoppl gave the Kangaroos a 1:0 lead after eleven seconds (1.). 

An intense contest then developed, with the Eggenberg side trying to take control of the game after the early setback. Just before the midway point of the first period, Kapfenberg struck again: Florian Hoppl scored for the second time to make it 2:0 for the team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler (10.).

In the opening minutes of the second period, the Graz side coached by Rupert Strohmeier initially made the game more open. Goaltender Florian Zeugswetter prevented a bigger deficit with some good saves. However, he was powerless for 0:3. Kris Reinthaler fired the puck into the net on a 5:4 power play (30.). 

In the final period, the defensively sound Mürztal side gave nothing away; quite the opposite. Florian Hoppl scored on the power play shortly after the restart to make it 4:0 (42.) and, just under five minutes later, added his fourth goal to make it 5:0 for Kapfenberg (47.). The Kangaroos celebrated a clear win to open the new season and immediately moved to the top of the East Division table. 

Sharks Gmunden celebrate win at Dukes Graz

In the final game of the day, UHT Dukes Graz hosted UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden. Both teams had 14 skaters in their line-ups and initially played out an even contest. After feeling each other out in the opening minutes, Florian De Pauli gave the Styrian side a 1:0 lead (14.). 

The Sharks from the Traunsee soon equalised: Alwin Schuster made it 1:1 for the Upper Austrians on the power play (17.). With exactly one second left in the period, it was suddenly 2:1 to the visitors, as Ian Motil turned the match around at the perfect time (20.). In the second period, Jonas Kail extended Sharks Gmunden's lead to 3:1 on another power play just after the midway point of the game, with the side appearing perfectly prepared by new head coach Gregor Baumgartner. 

With 53 seconds remaining before the second intermission, Laurens Ober made it 4:1 for Gmunden, effectively sealing the result.

Jurica Bednjanec's team were unable to spark a turnaround in the final period either, as the visitors coolly saw out the game and once again demonstrated their power-play strength: Bastian Szieber scored the Sharks' third power-play goal to make it 5:1 (42.). The Dukes still scored to make it 2:5 through Cornelius Kaschnig with one second remaining (60.). Gmunden began the new season with a strong away win.

Kufstein prevail in derby against Kundl 

The first Kufstein district derby drew the crowds in the fortress town, with almost 800 fans not wanting to miss the classic between HC Kufstein and EHC Crocodiles Kundl. The visitors, who had clearly lost their opener against SC Hohenems 3:10 on Friday, had to return to the ice after just under 24 hours, and with a shortened line-up of only 14 skaters. 

The team coached by head coach Manfred Mühllechner held their own against the Dragons' offensive power in the first period until Czech goal scorer David Hrazdira beat the impressive Crocodiles' US goaltender Kyle Plantz to make it 1:0 (11.).

Early in the second period, Philipp Sappl made it 2:0 for the Division West leaders (25). Just under two minutes later, Maximilian Camondo set HC Kufstein on course for victory with the 3:0 on the power play (27). Shortly after the halfway point of the game, the outcome was all but decided as Manuel Eder beat Kundl goaltender Plantz on the next power play to make it 4:0 (31). 

The visitors made the better start to the final period: Johannes Schernthaner scored to make it 1:4 and finally got Kundl on the scoreboard (44). The Crocodiles showed character and even cut the deficit to 2:4 through Jakob Wetzelsberger (53). Suddenly, the visitors had renewed hope, and the derby became exciting and emotional once again. Kundl goalscorer Wetzelsberger and Kufstein's Herbert Steiner briefly exchanged words. 

Then it became highly dramatic: with just under two minutes remaining, Alexander Frandl scored on the power play to make it 3:4 for Kundl, with the visitors having cut the deficit from 0:4 to 3:4. The Crocodiles threw everything forward and pulled goaltender Plantz. David Hrazdira sealed the result with an empty-net goal to make it 5:3 16 seconds before the end. HC Kufstein won the first district derby of the new season and celebrated their third victory in three games.

Hohenems celebrate emphatic opening win against Kundl

The Crocodiles had already suffered a heavy 3:10 home defeat against SC Hohenems on Friday. The Vorarlberg side quickly took the lead with a hat-trick within 86 seconds. Benjamin Kyllönen, Johannes Hehle on the power play and Manuel Merk quickly put the game beyond doubt. 

The Crocodiles subsequently grew into the game somewhat, with Erik Hefke reducing the deficit to 1:3, but a brace from Thomas Auer and a goal from Martin Grabher Meier one minute before the end of the period gave the Ibex a commanding 6:1 lead after the opening twenty minutes.

In the middle period, the team coached by head coach Thomas Sticha continued to enjoy more of the play, and Marcel Wolf converted a power-play opportunity to make it 7:1 (31). However, the Tyroleans repeatedly created dangerous opportunities in front of the Hohenems goal, with Vladimir Dolnik scoring the Crocodiles' second goal (33). 

The home side refused to give up, but the Hohenems defence stood firm. Erik Hefke added another goal for the Kundl side coached by Manfred Mühllechner (42). Fabian Mandlburger and Janic Heisig wrapped things up for last season's finalists. 

Thomas Auer had the final say 90 seconds before the final buzzer, scoring to make the final score 10:3.

On Sunday, VEU Feldkirch also rounded off the week with a convincing 10:3 victory in the Vorarlberg derby against league newcomers Dornbirner EC at the Vorarlberghalle.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 5:3 (1:0,3:0,1:3)

Sat, 14 October 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

HC Kufstein goalscorers: David Hrazdira (10:45 min, 59:44 min/EN), Philipp Sappl (24:22 min), Maximilian Camondo (26:02 min/PP1), Manuel Eder (30:09 min/PP1)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Johannes Schernthaner (43:53 min), Jakob Wetzelsberger (52:05 min), Alexander Frandl (57:53 min/PP1)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:10 (1:6,1:1,1:3)

Fri, 13 October 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Erik Hefke (08:58 min, 41:46 min), Vladimir Dolnik (32:17 min)

SC Samina Hohenems goalscorers: Benjamin Kyllönen (04:01 min), Johannes Hehle (05:01 min/PP1), Manuel Merk (05:27 min), Thomas Auer (09:34 min, 15:12 min, 58:23 min), Martin Grabher Meier (18:57 min), Marcel Wolf (30:59 min/PP1), Florian Mandlburger (51:17 min), Janic Heisig (52:56 min)

Also:

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner Eishockey Club 10:3 (4:1,3:2,3:0)

Sun, 15 October 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

VEU Feldkirch goalscorers: Alessandro Togni (at 02:38), Joonatan Kyllönen (at 09:38, 20:59, 47:40), Fabio Pfeiffer (at 11:49), Yannick Wiedner (at 18:40/PP1, 29:20, 48:08, 48:22), Luca Erne (at 21:51)

Dornbirner EC goalscorers: Robin Wüstner (at 00:24), Maid Meduseljac (at 26:32), Tiziano Butteri (at 27:24)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. VEU Feldkirch

The game has been postponed; the new date will be announced.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Eastern Division

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV 0:5 (0:2,0:1,0:2)

Sat, 14 October 2023, 18:00, Merkur Eisstadion Halle B

Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Florian Hoppl (at 00:11, 09:56, 41:37/PP1, 46:59), Kristof Reinthaler (at 29:31/PP1)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:4 n.V. (0:3,3:0,0:0,0:1)

Sat, 14 October 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions goalscorers: Mario Sulzer (at 26:51), Andreas Forcher (at 36:40), Florian Dinhopel (at 36:54)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Lukas Kaider (at 07:19), Marco Bayer (at 14:33/PP1), Christoph Vermeersch (at 15:37), Stefan Nador (at 60:38)

UHT Dukes Graz vs. RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 2:5 (1:2,0:2,1:1)

Sat, 14 October 2023, 20:00, Merkur Eisstadion

UHT Dukes Graz goalscorers: Florian De Pauli (at 13:48), Cornelius Kaschnig (at 59:59)

Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Alwin Schuster (16:30 min./PP1), Ian Motil (19:59 min.), Jonas Kail (30:37 min./PP1), Laurens Ober (39:07 min.), Bastian Szieber (41:33 min./PP1)

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