Ice hockey spec­tacle in front of a sell-out crowd – Austria host Canada

"We now have everyone here at the fifth team camp. The final three players have now joined us," is also pleasedHead Coach Roger Baderthat he has the full World Championship squad at his disposal. The Swiss coach is not expecting Marco Rossi, who was eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs with Minnesota Wild, due to Rossi's unresolved contract situation: "Of course, I am in contact with him and his agent. The door is not closed, but the chance of him coming is very low."

The experienced Thomas Raffl and Dominique Heinrich highlight as a positive for the overall setup that the core of the national team has remained the same for years now, Rafflsays: "We have had a fairly similar team for a few years now, with a few changes. That helps. Everyone knows what is at stake and where we stand."

The players know what to expect in the national team, and are familiar with the tactics and routines. Accordingly, there is great anticipation for the national team as well, Dominique Heinrichsays: "The atmosphere in the team is great. It has been that way for the past few years." The defenceman, who has been involved since the first week, can now hardly wait for the flight to Stockholm, and thus to the World Championship, to take off on Tuesday.

Taking a slightly more relaxed view is Thomas Raffl, who joined the national team for the first time last week alongside his teammates from champions Red Bull Salzburg: "This year, things worked out perfectly for us. It also helps when you come off the ice as champions after such a long season. The exertions quickly faded away. The fact that we were able to join the national team a week earlier this year and form up is, of course, worth its weight in gold."

Anticipation is naturally high in the Austrian camp ahead of the warm-up game against Canada. "Canada are one of the best nations in the world. They will demand everything from us and prepare us for what awaits us at the World Championship. We want to be the best possible opponents for Canada," promises the captain.

Head Coach Roger Baderadds: "Even though they have not yet registered five players, this is a very good team. The NHL players involved are outstanding. And the players from Germany and Switzerland who complete the squad for the warm-up game are also outstanding players in Europe. In this game, we will face a similar level to that which awaits us in a week's time in the opening World Championship game against Finland. It will prepare us and force us to take the next step. It is always something special to play against an opponent like that."

Sunday's game is sold out. There will therefore be no ticket office on the night.

Head to Head AUT vs. CAN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION

Austria vs. Canada
Sun, 4 May 2025, 19:00, Vienna STEFFL Arena, live on ORF SPORT + & Krone TV

Already played:

Germany vs. Austria 5:0 (0:0, 2:0, 3:0)
Sat, 26 April 2025, 17:00, Rosenheim (GER)
Germany goalscorers: Maximilian Kastner (26 mins), Nicolas Krämmer (32 mins), Philipp Krauss (43 mins), Alexander Ehl (44 mins), Joshua Samanski (53 mins)

Austria vs. Germany 2:3 (0:0,1:2,1:1)
Thu, 24 April 2025, 19:00, Zell am See
Austria scorers: Paul Huber (40 minutes), Clemens Unterweger (56/PP1)
Germany scorers: Fabio Wagner (28 minutes), Marc Michaelis (29/PP1), Wojciech Stachowiak (57 minutes)

Austria vs. Czechia 4:3 after overtime (0:0,0:1,3:2,1:0)
Sat, 19 April 2025, 17:30, Linz
Austria scorers: Paul Huber (43 minutes). Lukas Haudum (46 minutes), Benjamin Baumgartner (55/PP1), Dominic Zwerger (61 minutes)
Czechia scorers: Jiří Černoch (28/PP1), Adam Kubík (46 minutes), Jaromír Pytlík (48 minutes)

Czechia vs. Austria 4:0 (1:0,1:0,2:0)
Thu, 17 April 2025, 19:00, Znojmo (CZE)
Czechia scorers: Jiří Černoch (19 minutes), Filip Přikryl (27 minutes), Daniel Kurovský (57 minutes), Kristian Reichel (59 minutes)

Hungary vs. Austria 5:1 (0:1,2:0,3:0)
Fri, 11 April 2025, 18:00, Ajka (HUN)
Hungary scorers: Márk Schlekmann (34/PP1), István Terbócs (39 minutes, 48 minutes), Dominik Horváth (46/PP1), Gergő Ambrus (49/SH1)
Austria scorer: Paul Huber (8 minutes)

Hungary vs. Austria 4:2 (1:0,1:1,2:1)
Thu, 10 April 2025, 19:00, Fehervar (HUN)
Hungary scorers: Vilmos Galló (7/PP1), István Terbócs (33 minutes), Balázs Varga (44/PP2), Roland Kiss (50 minutes)
Austria goalscorers: Ramon Schnetzer (34'), Paul Huber (46')

Austria vs. Latvia 1:4 (0:0,0:2,1:2)
Sat, 5 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna Hall 3 STEFFL Arena
Austria goalscorer: Dominic Zwerger (53') 
Latvia goalscorers: Georgijs Golovkovs (22'), Anri Ravinskis (39', 41'), Rihards Bukarts (48'/PP1)

Austria vs. Latvia 2:3 AET (1:0,0:2,1:0,0:1)
Fri, 4 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna Hall 3 STEFFL Arena
Austria goalscorers: Benjamin Lanzinger (19'), Dominic Zwerger (55')
Latvia goalscorers: Nauris Sējējs (28'), Kristaps Skrastiņš (29'), Miks Tumānovs (62')

2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

9 - 25 May 2025, Stockholm, Sweden & Herning, Denmark

Austria vs. Finland
Fri, 09 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, live ORF 1

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat, 10 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, live ORF 1

Austria vs. Slovakia
Mon, 12 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, live ORF 1

Canada vs. Austria
Thu, 15 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 20:20, live ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. France
Fri, 16 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, live ORF SPORT + and ORF 1

Slovenia vs. Austria
Sun, 18 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, live ORF SPORT + and ORF 1

Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 20 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 12:20, live ORF 1