Kapfen­berg new leaders after win at WEV – Lustenau rout Wattens

Part I of the big double-header showdown Wiener Eislauf-Verein against defending champions Kapfenberger SV Kängurus at the WEV Arena in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus was evenly poised following a lengthy interruption due to a medical emergency at the start. The Viennese had two early opportunities to go on the power play, but were unable to make use of either spell of numerical superiority. 

The Styrians were more efficient in front of goal: Florian Hoppl beat WEV netminder Moritz Merkader with a powerful shot following an attack to make it 1:0 to Kapfenberg (13 min.). Just under three minutes before the end of the period, the Kängurus increased their lead to 2:0; once again, Hoppl was perfectly placed following a save by Merkader and converted the rebound from close range (18 min.). 

Towards the end of the first period, WEV took their first penalty, with the Mürztal side carrying just over a minute of power-play time into the second period, but they were unable to capitalise. The capital city side tried to work their way into the game. The experienced visitors looked to keep the match under control with their 2:0 lead. Both goaltenders – Oliver Zirngast for Kapfenberg and Moritz Merkader for WEV – did their part with fine saves in the second period. 

Then defending champions Kapfenberg saw Julian Stühlinger sent to the dressing room after a slash, having received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty. WEV were unable to make use of the lengthy numerical advantage. The Viennese remained on the power play after another double penalty. Following a misplaced pass in the offensive zone, Kevin Moderer broke away and scored shorthanded to make it 3:0 to Kapfenberg (33 min.).

In the final period, the hosts had to play even more offensively. Following a through pass, Juri Schorna went in alone on KSV netminder Zirngast and scored on the rebound to make it 1:3 for WEV (53 min.). Then Maximilian Ramsbacher received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for interference against netminder Merkader. Head coach Philipp Ullrich's team pressed for a goal to narrow the deficit but could not turn the tide. 

Quite the opposite: Stefan Trost sealed the win for the Kängurus with an empty-net goal to make it 4:1 (59 min.). With their third win in three head-to-head meetings, the Upper Styrians overtook WEV in the table and now sit top. The two clubs face off again in the WEV Arena on Sunday in the "Back-to-Back" match, starting at 15:15.

HDK Maribor beat Sharks Gmunden

The HDK Maribor faced the UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden for the third time this season on Saturday at Ledena dvorana Maribor. The Foxes, who are fully in the race for the final playoff spot in the East Division in a long-distance battle with ATSE Graz, took a 2:0 lead in the first period with two goals in the space of two minutes. Danilo Tomašević first gave them a 1:0 lead (9 min.), before Adi Drnda made it 2:0 with a quick-release shot (11 min.).

In the second period, the Upper Austrians had the opportunity to cut the deficit on a 5:3 power play, but Maribor defended strongly with three players on the ice and did not allow the Sharks to get into their stride. In addition, the two goaltenders – Omar Ždralović for Maribor and Domenic Burghard for Gmunden – ensured that the game remained exciting and open. 

Several penalties in the second period took some of the rhythm out of the game, before head coach Gregor Baumgartner's team successfully killed off a 3:5 disadvantage after the midway point. In the final period, the visitors had to play more offensively, and they did so. The Slovenians initially stood firm defensively, together with netminder Omar Ždralović, during this spell of Sharks pressure, with Gmunden also going on the power play early in the period. 

Gmunden continued to press but lacked decisiveness in front of goal. In the end, a sixth skater came on for netminder Burghard, but Maribor did not concede. Goaltender Omar Ždralović recorded a shutout in the 2:0 win, and the Foxes took a major step towards the playoffs with the victory, now sitting six points ahead of ATSE Graz.

West Division:

EHC Lustenau comfortably defeat Wattens Penguins

For the final time in the regular season, the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and league leaders EHC Lustenau faced off. The commanding league leaders from the Ländle made it clear from the outset who would emerge victorious from this clash. Following an offensive-zone face-off, Ricardo Bell gave the Lions an early 1:0 lead (2nd minute). 

With two goals in 18 seconds, the visitors raced into a 3:0 lead. Adem Kandemir made it 2:0 after winning the puck in the slot (4th minute). Dominic Haberl, who fired home after winning a face-off, made it 3:0 (4th minute). Just over three minutes in, Marco Simair replaced goalkeeper Wotan Knecht in the Wattens net. Lustenau did not let up, with Robin Wüstner making it 4:0 from close range (10th minute). Almost a minute before the end of the period, Jonas Kutzer added the 5:0, effectively deciding the game early (19th minute).

The second period continued in the same vein: after just 45 seconds, Adem Kandemir scored the 6:0 following a swift attack and a one-two with Chris D’Alvise (21st minute). Shortly after a power play, the Penguins got on the board following an attack down the right: Noah Polig scored the 1:6 from close range (26th minute). 

The Tyroleans were unable to convert their fourth power play of the game, while Lustenau were more clinical in front of goal: Lucas Haberl turned in a rebound to make it 7:1 (31st minute). Wattens then had another power play but again failed to score. Lucas Haberl struck for a second time to make it 8:1 before the second siren (39th minute). 

In the final period, with Wotan Knecht back in the Penguins net, Lucas Haberl completed his hat-trick, scoring the 9:1 from the slot on the power play (47th minute). That satisfied the league leaders' appetite for goals. With three rounds remaining, the Tyroleans remain five points behind EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the battle for the final play-off place, after Kundl on Friday lost the district derby against HC Kufstein 2:5.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau 1:9 (0:5,1:3,0:1)
Sat, 18 January 2025, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Noah Polig (25:23 min.)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Ricardo Bell (01:25 min.), Adem Kandemir (03:06 min., 20:45 min.), Dominic Haberl (03:24 min.), Robin Wüstner (09:05 min.), Jonas Kutzer (18:55 min.), Lucas Haberl (30:36 min., 38:18 min., 46:12 min/PP1)

Dornbirner Eishockey Club vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sun, 19 January 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 5:2 (1:0,2:1,2:1)
Fri, 17 January 2025, 19:45, Kufstein Arena
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Dominique Saringer (19:35 min.), Clemens Paulweber (29:51 min./SH1, 49:12 min.), Maximilian Camondo (32:27 min./PP1), Fabian Nußbaumer (58:34 min./EN)
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Maximilian Agerer (at 25:13), Daniel Frischmann (at 48:26)

Ö Eishockey Liga – Eastern Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. KSV Kängurus 1:4 (0:2,0:1,1:1)
Saturday, 18 January 2025, 15:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Juri Schorna (at 52:02)
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Florian Hoppl (at 12:33, at 17:11), Kevin Moderer (at 32:43/SH1), Stefan Trost (at 58:45/EN)

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 2:0 (2:0,0:0,0:0)
Saturday, 18 January 2025, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor
HDK Maribor goalscorers: Danilo Tomašević (at 08:38), Adi Drnda (at 10:33)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. KSV Kängurus

Sunday, 19 January 2025, 15:15, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

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