Kapfen­berg win derby against Zeltweg Murtal Lions – Hohenems edge Wattens Penguins

The Sharks Gmunden sent out a strong signal of intent with their 5:4 win against the WEV. ATSE Graz had already won the city derby against UHT Dukes Graz 4:1 on Friday.

In the South Group, 1. EHC Althofen celebrated a resounding 7:0 victory against the Eisbären from Huben. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf swept aside EC LiWoDruck Spittal 8:2, while USC Pirates Velden beat the Jungadler of EC iDM VSV 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out.

In the West Group, league leaders HC Kufstein battled their way to an 8:6 win over VEU Feldkirch. SC Hohenems also narrowly won the showpiece clash away to defending champions Wattens Penguins, 5:4.

The Upper Styria derby in the North-East Group between league leaders Kapfenberger SV and EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions lived up to its promise: a hard-fought contest with plenty of emotion and goals.

The Kangaroos went into the clash with the Lions from the Murtal valley buoyed by seven wins from seven games. Zeltweg had the ambitious aim of tripping up the dominant leaders and ending Kapfenberg's winning streak. Rupert Fichtinger, who would go on to become the player of the game, gave Kapfenberg a 1:0 lead in the seventh minute.

Marco Kuntze equalised 1:1 in the 15th minute, but Kapfenberg regained the lead just 33 seconds later. Rupert Fichtinger scored his second goal to make it 2:1.

After the first interval, the action resumed at a lively pace. Rupert Fichtinger made it 3:1 after exactly 18 seconds, completing his third goal of the evening. Just 41 seconds later, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions pulled one back through Thomas Schiechl to make the game exciting again. 40 seconds before the second siren, Rupert Fichtinger scored to make it 4:2, his fourth goal.

The players under player-coach Kris Reinthaler made the better start to the final period: Reinthaler himself made it 5:2 for the Kangaroos on a 5:3 power play after exactly 1:15. When Lukas Draschkowitz also scored on a 5:3 power play in the 45th minute to make it 6:2, the game appeared to be decided.

However, the visitors battled their way back into the game through power-play goals from Dominik Walchshofer and Robin Weihager. Florian Hoppl sent the Stadthalle Kapfenberg into raptures in the 59th minute with his shorthanded goal to make it 7:4, before Zeltweg responded once more through Robin Weihager to make it 5:7. In the end, the league leaders from Kapfenberg prevailed to celebrate their eighth win in their eighth game.   

Sharks Gmunden beat WEV

The match between UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden and Wiener Eislauf-Verein was a thrilling affair.

The situation was clear for the Upper Austrians: only a win and three points would keep them in the race for a play-off place.

The Viennese arrived at the Sharks' den on Lake Traun full of confidence following two consecutive wins. After an even opening, Markus Krotsch gave the Gmunden fans reason to celebrate by making it 1:0. Towards the end of the first period, WEV equalised 1:1 through Bogdan Stupak.

Stupak was also the player who put WEV 2:1 ahead just 33 seconds into the second period. The Sharks showed their bite and equalised 2:2 through Markus Krotsch just 52 seconds later. The match took on a play-off character and became more exciting by the minute. Lucas Burzin gave WEV a 3:2 lead with just under 26 minutes played.

The team led by player-coach André Flatscher battled and equalised once again, with Jonas Kail scoring to make it 3:3 in the 33rd minute.

The final ten minutes of the third period developed into a hockey thriller: Raphael Poisinger made it 4:3 for the visitors on the power play. Gmunden battled their way back once more, with Laurens Ober making it 4:4 in the 34th minute. The Traunsee Sharks wanted more – namely three points: player-coach André Flatscher himself scored the celebrated winner to make it 5:4 in the 58th minute.

The Upper Austrians thus sent out a strong sign of life in the battle for the play-offs.

ATSE Graz win city derby against Dukes

Already on Friday, ATSE Graz won the Graz city derby at Merkur Eisstadion against UHT Dukes Graz 4:1 after a lively match featuring many good passages of play.

Player-coach Rupert Strohmeier gave the “away team” a 1:0 lead as early as the fourth minute. ATSE followed up and Mario Petrovitz extended the lead to 2:0. In the second period, the Dukes pulled one back through Luca Rodiga in the 26th minute to make it 1:2. Nino Jus restored the two-goal lead on the power play just under ten minutes later.

In the final period, Cory Krenz sealed the result at 4:1 with an empty-net goal two and a half minutes before the final siren. ATSE had avenged their 2:3 defeat in the first derby and played their way back into the play-off race.

South Group: Althofen rout Huben

League leaders 1. EHC Althofen established territorial dominance in the first period of their Ö Eishockey Liga South Group home game against UECR Eisbären Huben despite having a small line-up of only 13 skaters.

The East Tyroleans relied on counter-attacks but were primarily occupied with defensive duties. Philipp Waldner gave the hosts a 1:0 lead in the twelfth minute following a lapse in the Eisbären defence. With a minute and a half remaining in the period, Sandro Seifried converted from close range after a fine attack to make it 2:0.

Huben were able to make the game more even in the second period, but the Rhinos made the result clear with a quick double late on. First, Philipp Waldner gave Huben netminder Thomas Warscher no chance on a breakaway to make it 3:0; just 19 seconds later, Simon Hammerle capitalised on a lack of concentration in the East Tyrolean defence to make it 4:0 for Head Coach Gerald Ressmann’s team.

Two and a half minutes had been played in the final period when Oliver Rainer extended Althofen’s lead to 5:0. That broke the Eisbären’s resistance, and exactly one minute later Simon Hammerle scored to make it 6:0. Oliver Rainer added the 7:0 in the 47th minute. The league leaders celebrated a clear home win, while Rhinos netminder Fabian Horn recorded a shutout.

Steindorf thrash Spittal

The opening just under seven and a half minutes had it all in the clash between ESC SoccerZone Steindorf and the EC LiWoDruck Spittal in itself.

The hosts took the lead at 1:0 through Daniel Friedrich after exactly three minutes and seven seconds. Markus Pöck extended the lead to 2:0 for Head Coach Robert Moser's team on the power play in the seventh minute. The Hornets also responded on the power play, with Kevin Essmann scoring to make it 1:2 in the eighth minute.

In the second period, title favourites Steindorf stepped up the pace. Franz Wilfan made it 3:1 for the Ossiacher See Cracks in the 24 minute. Just under two minutes later, Markus Pöck again capitalised on a power play to make it 4:1 for the hosts. Stefan Bacher and Nico Toff extended the score to 6:1, effectively deciding the game after almost 35 minutes. Florian Orzetek's team pulled one back to 2:6 on the power play through Daniel Nageler two minutes before the end of the period.

The home side did not let up in the final period; quite the opposite: Patrick Ropatsch in the 45 minute and Julian Maurer two and a half minutes before the end sealed a clear 8:2 home victory. Steindorf move ahead of Spittal in the table and are now second behind leaders Althofen.

Velden beat EC iDM VSV in a penalty shoot-out

The meeting between the USC Pirates Velden and the young Eagles of EC iDM VSV was a close affair.

The game remained scoreless at Eishalle Velden for a long time, until Sebastian Höffernig broke the deadlock in the 24 minute to make it 1:0 for the hosts. VSV responded, with Luca Potocnik equalising at 1:1 in the 28 minute. The match remained exciting and had a dramatic finish.

David Baloh made it 2:1 for Head Coach Günther Lanzinger's team four minutes before the end. However, the Pirates hit back immediately just a minute later through Daniel Wachter to equalise at 2:2, sending the game into overtime.

There were no goals in overtime, so the teams went to the ultimate showdown: a penalty shoot-out. Valentin Leiler scored for Velden, while Florian Lanzinger converted for VSV. Sebastian Höffernig sealed the Pirates Velden's 3:2 victory with the decisive penalty.

Group West: Kufstein battle past VEU

Group West leaders HC Kufstein faced league newcomers VEU Feldkirch at Eisarena Kufstein.

The Vorarlberg side made a lightning start, with Joonatan Kyllönen giving the Montfort city team a 1:0 lead in the third minute. Kufstein grew into the game minute by minute, and Martin Kosnar beat Feldkirch netminder Thomas Schubert with a precise shot to level at 1:1 in the ninth minute. 47 seconds before the end of the period, David Hrazdira took advantage of a lapse in Feldkirch's defence while shorthanded to make it 2:1 for the Dragons.

Early in the second period, Head Coach Ivo Novotny's team extended their lead: after netminder Schubert had left his goal, Herbert Steiner fired the puck into the empty net to make it 3:1 in the 25 minute. Just before the halfway point of the game, Philipp Sappl made it 4:1 for the favourites. Anyone who thought the game was decided was proved wrong by Feldkirch.

Simon Hämmerle and Yannick Wiedner brought Head Coach Thomas Sticha's side back to 3:4 with two goals in 36 seconds. VEU then made life difficult for themselves again, as Robert Schopf made it 5:3 for Kufstein while shorthanded. The Vorarlberg side refused to be shaken off, with Joonatan Kyllönen scoring his second goal to make it 4:5 in the 37 minute. Robert Schopf answered the goal that had narrowed the gap by scoring 6:4 for the Dragons.

In the final period, Simon Hämmerle's second goal to make it 5:6 made the game exciting again after five minutes. David Hrazdira made it 7:5 for the Fortress City side two and a half minutes before the end, but VEU responded once more: Lukas Göggel scored on the power play to make it 6:7 in the 59 minute. 15 seconds before the end, Maximilian Camondo sealed Kufstein's hard-fought victory with an empty-net goal to make it 8:6.

Hohenems win at Wattens Penguins

The clash between WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and SC SAMINA Hohenems developed into an early play-off battle.

The Tyrolean title holders made a strong start to their home game against the Vorarlberg side, who are also known as open-air specialists. Taylor Holst gave the Penguins a 1:0 lead in the fifth minute. In the 16th minute, Holst again scored on the power play to make it 2:0 for the home side. Just 25 seconds later, Head Coach Bernd Schmidle's team had found their way into the game, with Julian Grafschafter scoring to pull them back to 1:2.

The open exchange of blows continued in the second period. Hohenems veteran Martin Grabher Meier levelled the score at 2:2 in the 24th minute. The Penguins, coached by Head Coach Jaro Betka, were not unsettled by the equaliser and took the lead again. Fabian Nußbaumer made it 3:2 in the 29th minute. Once again, the Steinböcke responded quickly: Marcel Wolf equalised at 3:3 47 seconds after Wattens had taken the lead.

In the 33rd minute, Martin Grabher Meier made it 4:3, giving Hohenems the lead for the first time that evening. Valentin Hammerle scored to make it 4:4 later in the second period.

The final period was then tense, with Lukas Fritz converting a power-play opportunity in the 51st minute to score Hohenems' match-winning goal for 5:4.

Matchday, West Group

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch 8:6 (2:1,4:3,2:2)
Sat, 03 December 2022, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
Scorers for HC Kufstein: Martin Kosnar (08:27 min.), David Hrazdira (19:13 min./SH1, 57:33 min.), Herbert Steiner (24:03 min.). Philipp Sappl (29:43 min.), Robert Schopf (33:29 min./SH1, 38:57 min.), Maximilian Camondo (59:45 min./EN)
Scorers for VEU Feldkirch: Joonatan Kyllönen (02:36 min., 36:28 min.), Simon Hämmerle (30:32 min., 44:54 min.), Yannick Wiedner (31:08 min.), Lukas Göggel (58:31 min./PP1)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC SAMINA Hohenems 4:5 (2:1,2:3,0:1)
Sat, 03 December 2022, 19:00, Alpenstadion Wattens
Scorers for WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: Taylor Holst (04:23 min., 15:37 min./PP1), Fabian Nußbaumer (28:48 min.), Valentin Hammerle (36:20 min.)
Scorers for SC SAMINA Hohenems: Julian Grafschafter (16:02 min.), Martin Grabher Meier (23:04 min., 32:39 min.), Marcel Wolf (29:35 min.), Lukas Fritz (50:26 min./PP1)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 
Due to illness- and injury-related absences in the EHC Crocodiles Kundl squad, the match against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II has been postponed!

North-East Group matchday

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 5:4 (1:1,2:2,2:1)
Sat., 03 December 2022, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Markus Krotsch (12:28 min., 21:25 min.), Jonas Kail (31:29 min.), Laurens Ober (53:17 min.), André Flatscher (57:36 min.)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Bogdan Stupak (18:29 min., 20:33 min.), Lucas Burzin (25:56 min.), Raphael Poisinger (50:45 min./PP1)

Kapfenberger SV vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 7:5 (2:1,2:1,3:3)
Sat., 03 December 2022, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Rupert Fichtinger (06:20 min., 15:13 min., 20:18 min., 39:20 min.), Kris Reinthaler (41:15 min./PP2), Lukas Draschkowitz (44:57 min./PP2), Florian Hoppl (57:19 min./SH1)
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions goalscorers: Marco Kuntze (14:40 min.), Thomas Schiechl (20:59 min.), Dominik Walchshofer (46:11 min./PP1), Robin Weihager (54:44 min./PP1, 58:41 min.)

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz 1:4 (0:2,1:1,0:1)
Fri., 02 December 2022, 20:00, Merkur Eisstadion
UHT Dukes Graz goalscorer: Luca Rodiga (25:33 min.)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Rupert Strohmeier (03:15 min.), Mario Petrovitz (12:09 min.), Nino Jus (35:41 min./PP1), Cory Krenz (57:26 min./EN)

South Group matchday

1. EHC Althofen vs. UECR Eisbären Huben 7:0 (2:0,2:0,3:0)
Sat., 03 December 2022, 16:00, Stadthalle Althofen
Goalscorers for 1. EHC Althofen: Philipp Waldner (11:44 min., 38:42 min.), Sandro Seifried (18:29 min.), Simon Hammerle (39:01 min., 43:28 min.), Oliver Rainer (42:28 min., 46:46 min.)

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal 8:2 (2:1,4:1,2:0)
Sat., 03 December 2022, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle Steindorf
ESC SoccerZone Steindorf scorers: Daniel Friedrich (03:07 min.), Markus Pöck (06:01 min./PP1, 25:39 min./PP1), Franz Wilfan (23:23 min.), Stefan Bacher (32:03 min.), Nico Toff (34:30 min.), Patrick Ropatsch (44:44 min.), Julian Maurer (57:34 min.)
EC LiWoDruck Spittal scorers: Kevin Essmann (07:32 min./PP1), Daniel Nageler (38:02 min./PP1)

USC Pirates Velden vs. EC iDM VSV 3:2 after penalties (0:0,1:1,1:1,0:0,1:0)
Sat., 03 December 2022, 18:30, Eishalle Velden
USC Pirates Velden scorers: Sebastian Höffernig (23:56 min., 65:00 min./decisive penalty), Daniel Wachter (56:54 min.)
EC iDM VSV scorers: Luca Potocnik (27:10 min.), David Baloh (55:48 min.)

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