Here we go! Austria begin their World Championship preparations with a double-header against Latvia
Austria's men's national ice hockey team begin their preparations for the 2025 World Championship on Friday and Saturday, both games live on Krone TV at 16:20. At the same time last year, they travelled to Riga and lost both games 2:3 after a penalty shootout. While the national team's development with a view to the World Championship is the priority, they are also aiming to record a first win over Latvia in around twelve years this weekend.
6 min read
"I have been running this programme since 2018. I run the programme that I am convinced offers the greatest chance of success. I know that this time is needed to prepare a team. The first week is about providing competition again, both in training and against a good opponent, especially for those players who have not had a game for a few weeks. Training should improve and become more intense every day and forms the basis for the following week," said Head Coach Roger Bader, who as usual has the bigger picture in mind rather than individual games, adding: "Of course, you always want to win, and we want that in these two games as well. It is about getting the World Championship campaign off to a good start."
The 24-man roster consists of players with World Championship experience, players who have already featured for the national team on several occasions and prospects. The head coach has also named one of the veterans, Dominique Heinrich, captain for the first two games of the World Championship preparations.
Latvia travel to Vienna with a similar mix. 18 of the 26 players in total were born after the turn of the millennium. Twelve of them play in the NCAA in North America. Accordingly, several NHL scouts have also registered to attend.
A score to settle
It has been a full twelve years since Austria recorded the last of their five wins over Latvia to date. Since then, Latvia have won seven in a row, although the last three only came after penalty shootouts. This was also the case last year during the World Championship preparations in Riga (LAT). The record from 25 games: 5 wins, 0 draws, 20 defeats.
Head to Head AUT vs. LAT
Date | Home | Away | Venue | Result | Competition | W/D/L | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
09.02.36 | Latvia | Austria | Riessersee / GER | 1:7 | Olympic Games | S | |
27.12.92 | Latvia | Austria | Saint Gervais / FRA | 5:2 | Mont-Blanc Tournament | N | |
25.04.98 | Latvia | Austria | Riga / LAT | 4:1 | Friendly | N | |
26.04.98 | Latvia | Austria | Riga / LAT | 4:1 | Friendly | N | |
08.05.99 | Latvia | Austria | Hamar / NOR | 2:5 | World Championship | W | |
11.02.01 | Austria | Latvia | Klagenfurt | 3:4 | Olympic Qualifiers | L | |
10.11.01 | Latvia | Austria | Grenoble / FRA | 4:2 | Alpes Tournament | L | |
09.02.02 | Latvia | Austria | Provo / USA | 4:2 | Olympic Games | N | |
03.05.04 | Latvia | Austria | Prague / CZE | 5:2 | World Championship | N | |
15.12.06 | Latvia | Austria | Bratislava / SVK | 1:5 | Loto Cup | S | |
21.04.07 | Austria | Latvia | Vienna | 0:4 | Friendly | N | |
06.05.07 | Latvia | Austria | Moscow / RUS | 5:1 | World Championship | N | |
08.02.08 | Latvia | Austria | Sanok / POL | 4:3 | Euro Hockey Challenge | N | OT |
29.04.09 | Latvia | Austria | Bern / SUI | 2:0 | World Championship | N | |
13.04.11 | Austria | Latvia | Innsbruck | 5:4 | Euro Hockey Challenge | W | OT |
14.04.11 | Austria | Latvia | Innsbruck | 2:3 | Euro Hockey Challenge | L | SO |
08.05.11 | Latvia | Austria | Kosice / SVK | 4:1 | World Championship | L | |
07.05.13 | Latvia | Austria | Helsinki / FIN | 3:6 | World Championship | S | |
09.05.15 | Latvia | Austria | Prague / CZE | 2:1 | World Championship | N | OT |
01.09.16 | Latvia | Austria | Riga / LAT | 8:1 | Olympic qualification | N | |
15.02.18 | Latvia | Austria | Herning / DEN | 6:1 | Euro Hockey Challenge | N | |
11.05.19 | Latvia | Austria | Bratislava / SVK | 5:2 | World Championship | N | |
20.05.22 | Latvia | Austria | Tampere / FIN | 4:3 | World Championship | N | SO |
04.04.24 | Latvia | Austria | Riga / LAT | 3:2 | World Championship preparation | N | SO |
05.04.24 | Latvia | Austria | Riga / LAT | 3:2 | World Championship preparations | N | SO |
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Squad training camp #1
Surname | First name | Pos | Height | Weight | Date of birth | L/R | Club | GP | G | A | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 | BRANDNER | Jakob | GK | 190,0 | 90,0 | 16.05.01 | R | Hockey-Club TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
30 | MÜLLER | Patrick | GK | 183,0 | 74,0 | 19.08.05 | L | EC-KAC (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 | WIESER | Nicolas | GK | 183,0 | 78,0 | 30.08.97 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
20 | BRUNNER | Nico | D | 181,0 | 78,0 | 17.09.92 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 63 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
19 | HEINRICH | Dominique | D | 175,0 | 76,0 | 31.07.90 | L | EV spusu Vienna Capitals (AUT) | 117 | 20 | 26 | 24 |
8 | KERNBERGER | Michael | D | 184,0 | 87,0 | 24.01.97 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 26 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
6 | KIRCHEBNER | Maximilian | D | 183,0 | 83,0 | 04.04.05 | R | EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | LINDNER | Luis | D | 180,0 | 71,0 | 16.05.01 | L | University of New Hampshire (USA) | 12 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
3 | PFEFFER | Jacob | D | 178,0 | 86,0 | 11.02.01 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
12 | REBERNIG | Alexander | D | 191,0 | 92,0 | 27.10.05 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
23 | SCHNETZER | Ramon | D | 178,0 | 83,0 | 12.08.96 | L | Pioneers Vorarlberg Eishockeyclub (AUT) | 48 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
26 | ACHERMANN | Oliver | F | 195,0 | 93,0 | 16.01.94 | R | HC La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI) | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
11 | BÖHM | Mathias | F | 190,0 | 93,0 | 17.04.03 | L | EV spusu Vienna Capitals (AUT) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
10 | ERNE | Luca | F | 193,0 | 95,0 | 26.01.04 | R | Pioneers Vorarlberg Eishockeyclub (AUT) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
27 | HUBER | Paul | F | 193,0 | 101,0 | 10.06.00 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 57 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
15 | KAINZ | Lukas | F | 184,0 | 83,0 | 02.09.95 | L | Moser Medical Graz99ers (AUT) | 39 | 4 | 10 | 8 |
13 | LANZINGER | Benjamin | F | 174,0 | 78,0 | 25.01.00 | R | Eishockeyclub EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (AUT) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
14 | MAIER | Oskar | F | 178,0 | 78,0 | 05.02.02 | L | Pioneers Vorarlberg Eishockeyclub (AUT) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
24 | MAXA | Felix | F | 187,0 | 93,0 | 14.11.97 | L | Eishockeyclub EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (AUT) | 45 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
18 | REBERNIG | Maximilian | F | 191,0 | 87,0 | 03.09.00 | L | Eishockeyclub EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (AUT) | 10 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
28 | RICHTER | Marco | F | 183,0 | 83,0 | 19.11.95 | L | Eishockeyclub EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (AUT) | 28 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
22 | WALLENTA | Elias | F | 181,0 | 77,0 | 04.01.99 | L | Eishockeyclub EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (AUT) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | WALLNER | Leon | F | 185,0 | 88,0 | 01.07.02 | R | EV spusu Vienna Capitals (AUT) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
16 | ZWERGER | Dominic | F | 183,0 | 93,0 | 16.07.96 | L | HC Ambrì-Piotta (SUI) | 82 | 19 | 30 | 37 |
Ø | 184,3 | 85,0 | 25,3 | 592 | 59 | 83 | 167 | |||||
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World Championship preparation
Austria vs. Latvia
Fri, 4 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna, Hall 3, STEFFL Arena, live on Krone TV
Austria vs. Latvia
Sat, 5 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna, Hall 3, STEFFL Arena, live on Krone TV
Hungary vs. Austria
Thu, 10 April 2025, 18:30, Szekesfehervar (HUN) – subject to change, live on Krone TV
Hungary vs. Austria
Fri, 11 April 2025, 16:00, Ajka (HUN) – subject to change, live on Krone TV
Czechia vs. Austria
Thu, 17 April 2025, 19:00, Znojmo (CZE), live on Krone TV
Austria vs. Czechia
Sat, 19 April 2025, 17:30, Linz, live on ORF SPORT +
Austria vs. Germany
Thu, 24 April 2025, 19:00, Zell am See, live on ORF SPORT +
Germany vs. Austria
Sat, 26 April 2025, 17:00, Rosenheim (GER), live on ORF SPORT +
Austria vs. Canada
Sun, 4 May 2025, 19:00, Vienna STEFFL Arena, live on ORF SPORT +
2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
9–25 May 2025, Stockholm, Sweden & Herning, Denmark
Austria vs. Finland
Fri, 09 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1
Sweden vs. Austria
Sat, 10 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1
Austria vs. Slovakia
Mon, 12 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1
Canada vs. Austria
Thu, 15 May 2025, Globe Arena, 20:20, live on ORF 1
Austria vs. France
Fri, 16 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20,live on ORF 1
Slovenia vs. Austria
Sun, 18 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20,live on ORF 1
Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 20 May 2025, Globe Arena, 12:20,live on ORF 1
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