Hohenems edge Kufstein again in over­time – WEV win thriller against Sharks Gmunden

SC Samina HohenemsSC Samina Hohenems faced HC Kufstein in the outright top clash of the West Division. The Tyroleans had lost both previous games against the Vorarlberg side, the home game 2:4, while they suffered a 4:5 overtime defeat at the Herrenried. The third meeting was also an evenly matched contest from the outset, with an intense battle in the opening period.

HC Kufstein took a 1:0 lead through Czech goalscorer David Hrazdira (at 12). Just under three minutes before the end of the period, the home side equalised on the power play, with Johannes Hehle beating Dragons netminder Patrick Fuchs (at 18). The Tyroleans made a flying start to the second period: Philipp Sappl made it 2:1 after exactly 48 seconds (at 21).

Little changed in the character of the game thereafter, with a touch of a play-off atmosphere sweeping through the Herrenriedstadion. The two division heavyweights gave no quarter, and the match became more exciting by the minute. The defensive units stood firm and, together with their netminders – Matthias Fritz for Hohenems and Patrick Fuchs for Kufstein – did not allow any further goals.

In the final period, the team coached by head coach Thomas Sticha raised the tempo and pressed for an equaliser. Kufstein defended cleverly and netminder Patrick Fuchs was now really in the groove, standing up to Hohenems' attacks and shots to preserve the one-goal lead. The top Ö Eishockey Liga clash entered crunch time early on, with both teams continuing to offer a taste of the play-offs.

The Ibex initially failed to take their chance to equalise on a power play. It became really heated towards the end: the hosts pulled their netminder and also had a power play. Fabian Mandlburger scored from close range after a scramble to make it 2:2 (at 59).

The showdown went to overtime, where the home side missed the best chances. Kufstein also squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to seal the win. With 18 seconds remaining in overtime, Felix Vonbun scored the winning goal to make it 3:2 for SC Hohenems with a precise shot, ensuring they also won the third head-to-head meeting between the West Division's top clubs.

East Division:

First home win for WEV against Sharks Gmunden

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein went into the game against UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden aiming to finally get off the mark at home after two home defeats.

Together with the Women Capitals, WEV officials had invited fans to a festive Christmas ice hockey celebration on the public holiday, set against the wonderful backdrop of Vienna's Konzerthaus. The Women Capitals faced the Linzer IceCats in the afternoon in the 1st Women's Bundesliga – DEBL – and won convincingly __OEHV_NUM_X_A__.Linzer IceCats and won convincingly 13:0.

Everything was then set for the third Open Air Fight at Vienna’s Heumarkt, which, a week after the 2:5 defeat in Gmunden, offered an immediate chance for revenge. Lukas Kaider gave the hosts a 1:0 lead (9 min.), but Bastian Szieber levelled at 1:1 just under a minute later (10 min.). Five minutes later, it was Lukas Kaider again who made it 2:1 for WEV (15 min.).

The Upper Austrians made a flying start to the second period: after 59 seconds, Mario Pichler beat WEV netminder Mathias Lichtenecker at the near post to make it 2:2 (21 min.). The match remained exciting, with good spells at both ends.

Just after the halfway point, the Sharks from Lake Traun struck again: following a quick counter-attack, Bastian Szieber superbly placed the puck in the net from the slot, and the visitors suddenly led 3:2 (31 min.). Head Coach Mario Kubeczka’s team pushed for an equaliser, but found Gmunden netminder Luka Gračnar in unbeatable form. The Sharks remained dangerous on the counter-attack.

Vienna equalised early in the third period: Lukas Kaider deflected a shot on the power play to make it 3:3 (43 min.), his third goal of the evening. On the next power play, WEV virtually besieged the Sharks’ net and Lukas Kaider scored the celebrated 4:3 go-ahead goal for the capital side from close range with his fourth goal (45 min.).

As in the previous two periods, both teams continued to play an intense match. Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner’s team tried to regain a foothold in the game, but WEV were solid defensively and launched quick counter-attacks. In the end, the Sharks pulled netminder Luka Gračnar.

Emotions also ran high during the nerve-racking closing stages. In the end, WEV celebrated a 4:3 victory, their first home win of the current season, and gained revenge for the defeat in Gmunden.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein 3:2 after overtime (1:1,0:1,1:0,1:0)
Fri, 08 December 2023, 19:00, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Johannes Hehle (17:16 min./PP1), Fabian Mandlburger (58:41 min./PP1), Felix Vonbun (64:42 min.)
HC Kufstein scorers: David Hrazdira (11:22 min.), Philipp Sappl (20:48 min.)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat, 09 December 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Dornbirner EC vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sun, 10 December 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 4:3 (2:1,0:2,2:0)
Fri, 08 December 2023, 19:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Lukas Kaider (08:59 min., 14:55 min., 42:41 min./PP1, 44:32 min./PP1)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Bastian Szieber (09:53 min., 30:22 min.), Mario Pichler (20:59 min.)

ATSE Graz vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 6:4 (0:1,3:0,3:3)
Thu, 07 December 2023, 20:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Hall A
ATSE Graz scorers: Andreas Meixner (30:29), Dominik Reiner (30:29, 39:22), Luca Rodiga (48:31/PP1), Bernhard Strohmeier (53:09), Niki Zierer (59:54/EN)
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorers: Michael Grüneis (17:07), Daniel Forcher (51:08, 55:51/PP1), Stefan Stolz (57:39)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Fri, 08 December 2023, 19:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion – Hall B

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 10 December 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

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