Kapfen­berg over­come ATSE Graz to seal playoff place – Spittal surprise Althofen

ATSE GrazATSE Grazstood up strongly to North-East Group leaders Kapfenberger SV in an entertaining match from the outset.

As the first period progressed, the team coached by player-coach Rupert Strohmeier increasingly took control of the match and also made an impact offensively. In the final minute before the end of the period, ATSE established themselves in the attacking zone and, with 27 seconds remaining before the siren, Mario Petrovitz gave the hosts a 1:0 lead from close range.

In the second period, the Graz challengers held on to their narrow lead for a long time, but Kapfenberg gradually took more and more control and Lukas Draschkowitz equalised 1:1 for the Mürztal league leaders in the 33rd minute.

The match remained finely balanced, with the Graz side fully testing the dominant leaders. They held on for the draw until the end of regulation time and forced the team coached by player-coach Kris Reinthaler into three-on-three overtime. Christoph Draschkowitz was on hand there, scoring the winner for Kapfenberg after just 38 seconds, as they finally secured their playoff spot despite dropping points for the second time this season.

Setback for WEV against Dukes Graz

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Vereincontinued their series of open-air home matches at Vienna's Heumarkt, against the magnificent backdrop of the Vienna Konzerthaus, against UHT Dukes Graz.

There was tension in the air from the outset, with every point important for the Viennese side in the battle for the playoffs. However, the Dukes from Graz, who had travelled to the federal capital with only 13 skaters, still had a chance of reaching the knockout stage before the match. The visitors had two power plays in the first period, the second of which they converted: Tristan Schröttner gave the Styrians a 1:0 lead in the 18th minute.

The Viennese side made the better start to the second period. The Dukes were on the power play, but WEV equalised 1:1 through Patrick Böhm's shorthanded goal in the 25th minute. Graz regained the lead in the 38th minute: shortly before the second siren, Luca Rodiga made it 2:1 for the Dukes. In the final period, Benjamin Zankl's 3:1 in the 49th minute left the Vienna fans at the Heumarkt looking dejected.

The Viennese side fought fiercely for a goal to reduce the deficit, and got one: Cedric Ehrenreich made the match exciting again with the 2:3 three minutes from the end, but WEV could not find an equaliser. UHT Dukes Graz ultimately prevailed 3:2 and kept their playoff hopes alive in the North-East Group.

South Group: Spittal overcome leaders Althofen

At the Spittal Ice Rink, the clash between EC LiWoDruck Spittal and 1st EHC AlthofenFrom the outset, it was a fast-paced game with attacking sequences at both ends. The Rhinos took a 1:0 lead in the 14th minute after a quick attack and a fine shot from leading scorer Sandro Seifried.

The match remained a close affair, with Althofen holding their slender lead until the end of the second period. Not least because true masters of their craft were doing outstanding work between the pipes for both teams – Renè Zauchner for the Hornets and Fabian Horn for Althofen.

Spittal battled for an equaliser and finally got it in the 50th minute: Marco Zorec surprised goaltender Fabian Horn from a tight angle to make it 1:1. The match entered crunch time and eventually went to overtime.

Spittal took a power play into overtime, and Marco Zorec became the Hornets' match-winner with his game-winning goal for 2:1 after just 39 seconds, keeping them in the race for the inter-regional playoff spot. The Rhinos regained top spot in the standings from Steindorf with the point earned.

UECR Eisbären Huben defeat USC Pirates Velden

Whenever UECR Eisbären Huben and USC Pirates Velden cross sticks this season, a thrilling, hard-fought battle is guaranteed.

Both previous meetings this season went to overtime. The Eisbären won away in Velden, before the Pirates recently gained revenge in East Tyrol. The third meeting, too, at the wonderful open-air ice stadium in Huben, developed into an attractive game with plenty of scoring chances at both ends from the opening face-off.

The two goaltenders – Thomas Warscher for the Eisbären and Markus Schmarl for Velden – were kept busy from the very start. Lukas Titze broke the deadlock with a powerful shot in the 13th minute to put Velden 1:0 ahead. With a minute and a half remaining in the period, Johannes Fuetsch delighted the Huben Arena by levelling the score at 1:1.

In the second period, Martin Steiner surprised Velden goaltender Markus Schmarl with a shot from the blue line, as the East Tyroleans turned the game around after just under 27 minutes. With two and a half minutes left in the period, Robert Trojer made it 3:1 from the slot, sending the ice arena into raptures.

In the final period, Velden tried everything to get back into the match. The Eisbären saw the game out comfortably. David Schwarzer sealed the result in the 58th minute, making it 4:1 after a magnificent solo run from his own goal line. The East Tyroleans move above VSV's Jungadler in the standings.

West Group: VEU Feldkirch beat Kundl

In the West Group, VEU Feldkirch made a dream start against EHC Crocodiles Kundl at the Vorarlberghalle.

Philipp Maurer beat Kundl goaltender Johann Bauer with a fine shot to make it 1:0 in the third minute. The Crocodiles remained dangerous and, three minutes before the first intermission, Adrian Schuster beat VEU netminder Kevin Wanger from close range to level the score at 1:1.

In the second period, Simon Hämmerle won the puck in the offensive zone and scored from the slot to give VEU a 2:1 lead in the 29th minute. The Montfort city side pressed on and made it 3:1 in the 37th minute, with Joonatan Kyllönen forcing the puck over the line from close range.

Kundl were unable to find a goal back in the opening ten minutes of the final period. On the contrary, VEU capitalised on a goaltending error as Yannick Wiedner made it 4:1 in the 51th minute, sealing the match. Head coach Thomas Sticha's team took a major step towards the playoffs with their home win over Kundl. The "Back-to-Back" clash follows on Tuesday at 19:30 in the Eisarena Kundl.

North-East Group matchday

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UHT Dukes Graz 2:3 (0:1,1:1,1:1)
Sat., 07 January 2023, 18:00, Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Patrick Böhm (24:03/SH1), Cedric Ehrenreich (57:12)
UHT Dukes Graz scorers: Tristan Schröttner (17:03/PP1), Luca Rodiga (37:46), Benjamin Zankl (48:57)

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV 1:2 after overtime (1:0,0:1,0:0,0:1)
Sat., 07 January 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion Halle B
ATSE Graz scorer: Mario Petrovitz (19:33)
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Lukas Draschkowitz (32:03), Christoph Draschkowitz (60:38)

West Group matchday

VEU Feldkirch vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 4:1 (1:1,2:0,1:0)
Sat., 07 January 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch scorers: Philipp Maurer (02:33), Simon Hämmerle (28:03), Joonatan Kyllönen (36:32), Yannick Wiedner (50:59)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorer: Adrian Schuster (16:53)

South Group matchday

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. 1st EHC Althofen 2:1 after overtime (0:1,0:0,1:0,1:0)
Sat., 07 January 2023, 18:15, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal
EC LiWoDruck Spittal scorer: Marco Zorec (49:15, 60:39/PP1)
Goalscorer 1. EHC Althofen: Sandro Seifried (13:45)

UECR Eisbären Huben vs. USC Pirates Velden 4:1 (1:1,2:0,1:0)
Sat., 07 January 2023, 19:00, Huben Ice Stadium
UECR Eisbären Huben goalscorers: Johannes Fuetsch (18:27), Martin Steiner (27:10), Robert Trojer (37:22), David Schwarzer (57:24)
USC Pirates Velden goalscorer: Lukas Titze (12:05)

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