Kapfen­berg edge Sharks Gmunden in over­time

The Ö Eishockey Liga clash on Three Kings’ Day between the North-East Group leaders, Kapfenberger SV and UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden, was an extremely exciting affair. The tenacious Sharks arrived in Leoben with four wins under their belt and took a 2:0 lead in the first period through an Alwin Schuster double (7., 18.). The Styrian hosts responded quickly and got on the scoreboard for the first time 26 seconds after the 0:2. Florian Hoppl scored to make it 1:2 from Kapfenberg’s perspective (18.). That was also the score at the first intermission.

The second period was evenly matched in terms of shots on goal (10:10). Once again, it was Florian Hoppl who levelled the scores for the Kängurus with his second goal (30.). The third period could hardly have been more thrilling. Dominik Wassermann first gave Kapfenberg the lead for the first time (48.). Just nine seconds later, Gmunden, who had travelled with only eleven skaters, made it 3:3 through Mark Marton (48.).

Returning player Dominik Wassermann – the forward had only returned to the Mürz in mid-December – put the side coached by player-coach Kris Reinthaler back in front at 4:3 with his second goal (51.). The Upper Austrians refused to give in, with Alwin Schuster completing his hat-trick to equalise at 4:4 (53.). The teams therefore went to overtime, where Dominik Wassermann scored his third goal 17 seconds from the end to seal a 5:4 win for Kapfenberg (65.).

In the wonderful open-air arena in Huben, Lucas Herrnegger gave 1. EHC Althofen an early power-play lead against UECR Eisbären Huben (4.). Johannes Warscher equalised for the East Tyroleans at 1:1 shortly afterwards (6.). After the flying start, there were no further goals in the first period.

In the second period, the spa-town side coached by former national-team forward Gerald Ressmann made the better start: Philipp Waldner gave Althofen a 2:1 lead (23.). Just under two minutes later, Florian Kurath made it 3:1 for the visitors while shorthanded (25.). Just before the halfway point of the game, Kevin Künstl even extended the Rhinos’ lead to 4:1 (30.). Lucas Herrnegger completed Althofen’s emphatic 5:1 win four seconds before the final buzzer (60.).

In the second South Group game, EC GRAND Immo VSV’s U20 had no chance against the league leaders from Velden at the Steindorf Ossiacher See Halle. The Pirates established clear control in the opening period. Daniel Wachter gave the visitors from the western shore of Lake Wörthersee the lead on the power play (8.). Christian Ban scored 2:0 for the Velden side coached by Herwig Gressel just under two and a half minutes later (10.). Markus Steiner made it 3:0 four minutes before the end of the first period (17.).

After a scoreless middle period, VSV’s lightning start brought renewed hope. Stefan Ortner put the side coached by head coach Marco Pewal on the scoreboard at 1:3 (41.). Villach’s hopes of a comeback lasted exactly 16 seconds. With his second goal of the evening, Markus Steiner restored Velden’s three-goal lead (41.). Sandro Köchl (48.) and Nikolaus Holzer (51.) extended the visitors’ lead to 6:1. Maximilian Aumaier scored a consolation goal for VSV at 2:6 (52.). Daniel Wachter added the final touch with his second goal to make the final score 7:2 (55.).

In the West, Crocodiles Kundl only kept their game against league leaders SC Hohenems open during the first period at the Eisarena Kundl. The Steinböcke, who have dominated the West Group so far this season, took the lead through Daniel Fekete after the restart (23.). The Vorarlberg side coached by Bernd Schmidle then played strongly and turned their superiority into goals.

Lukas Fritz (29.) and Martin Grabher Maier, with a double (35., 38.), set Hohenems on course for victory in the second period. Pascal Kainz put the finishing touch on a comfortable away win for Hohenems against the Crocodiles from Kundl in the final period (53.).

Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub vs. RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 5:4 OT (1:2,1:0,2:2,1:0)
Thu, 06 January 2022, 17:00
Goalscorers for Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub: Florian Hoppl (17:53 min.), Florian Hoppl (29:41 min.), Dominik Wassermann (47:43 min.), Dominik Wassermann (50:24 min.), Dominik Wassermann (64:43 min.)
Goalscorers for UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: Alwin Schuster (06:08 min.), Alwin Schuster (17:27 min.), Mark Marton (47:52 min.), Alwin Schuster (52:34 min.)

UECR Eisbären Huben vs. 1. EHC Althofen 1:5 (1:1,0:3,0:1)
Thu, 06 January 2022, 18:00
Goalscorer for UECR Eisbären Huben: Johannes Warscher (05:25 min.)
Goalscorers for 1. EHC Althofen: Lucas Herrnegger (03:02 min.), Philipp Waldner (22:52 min.), Florian Kurath (24:30 min.), Kevin Künstl (29:44 min.), Lucas Herrnegger (59:56 min.)

EC GRAND Immo VSV vs. USC Pirates Velden 2:7 (0:3,0:0,2:4)
Thu, 06 January 2022, 19:45
EC GRAND Immo VSV goalscorers: Stefan Ortner (40:33), Maximilian Aumaier (51:45)
USC Pirates Velden goalscorers: Daniel Wachter (07:27), Christian Ban (09:59), Markus Steiner (16:05), Markus Steiner (40:49), Sandro Köchl (47:46), Nikolaus Holzer (50:01), Daniel Wachter (54:58)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Hohenems 0:5 (0:0,0:4,0:1)
Thu, 06 January 2022, 19:00
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Daniel Fekete (22:01), Lukas Fritz (28:49), Martin Grabher Maier (34:55), Martin Grabher Maier (37:41), Pascal Kainz (52:15)