Kapfen­berger SV claim convincing win in Upper Styria derby against Zeltweg Murtal Lions

The first Upper Styria derby of the season between Kapfenberger SV and EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions got under way at the Kapfenberg Stadthalle without any prolonged feeling-out period. 

The Kangaroos were on top from the outset. The Lions, who had travelled with only 14 skaters, initially held firm and waited for counter-attacking opportunities. When Kevin Moderer was played in perfectly, Kapfenberg suddenly led 1:0 (at the 8 mark). The Mürztal side added another, with player-coach Kristof Reinthaler making it 2:0 on the power play (at the 12 mark). 

When prolific scorer Florian Hoppl made it 3:0 from close range, the Kangaroos appeared to have set themselves on course for victory early on (at the 17 mark). Or so it seemed, as Michael Grüneis put the Murtal Lions on the scoresheet with the goal for 1:3 barely a minute later (at the 18 mark).

In the second period, Kapfenberg decisively pulled away with three unanswered goals. Following a face-off in the attacking zone, they struck in a flash on the power play: Florian Hoppl, completely unmarked, scored for 4:1 (at the 24 mark). Lukas Winkler then raced clear of Lions netminder Nico Herzl following a fine pass and made it 5:1 (at the 30 mark). 

Goalgetter Florian Hoppl added 6:1, being played in perfectly before using a neat deke to increase the Kangaroos' lead to 6:1 (at the 35 mark). In the final period, Kapfenberg saw the game out and scored four more goals. 

First, Kris Reinthaler fired home for 7:1 on a 5:3-on-power-play situation (at the 45 mark). Barely a minute later, Daniel Oberkofler scored 8:1 on the power play (at the 46 mark). Lukas Draschkowitz also scored on the power play to make it 9:1 (at the 52 mark). With three and a half minutes remaining, Max Wimmer made the home win a double-digit one with the goal for 10:1 (at the 57 mark).

ATSE Graz celebrate away win over Sharks Gmunden

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden made their home debut against ATSE Graz and faced a strong start from the visitors in the opening minutes. The Styrians hemmed the Sharks into their own zone, and the inevitable result was Stefan Trost's early goal for 1:0, beating Gmunden's Slovenian star netminder Luka Gracnar (at the 4 mark). 

It was only with a numerical advantage – initially 5:4 and then even 5:3 for a short time – that the Upper Austrians coached by Gregor Baumgartner got more into the game and began creating chances. The game was now much more open. Laurens Ober fired home to equalise at 1:1 (at the 15 mark). However, ATSE had an immediate response: Stefan Trost made it 2:1 after a solo run (at the 17 mark).

Both teams continued their open end-to-end contest in the second period. ATSE Graz made it 3:1 on the power play through Stefan Trost (at the 27 mark). However, the Traunsee Sharks refused to give in: Jonas Kail made the game exciting again with the goal to reduce the deficit to 2:3 (at the 32 mark). Luca Rodiga made it 4:2 following a swift counter-attack and a fine combination (at the 38 mark). 

The Sharks made a lightning start to the third period: Jonas Kail scored from the blue line on the power play after exactly 23 seconds to make it 3:4 (at the 41 mark). Barely four minutes later, Graz restored their two-goal lead, with Pirmin Riedmann scoring for 5:3 on the power play (at the 45 mark). Gmunden pushed for an equaliser and, in the end, head coach Gregor Baumgartner pulled netminder Gracnar. 

With an empty-net goal, his fourth overall, Stefan Trost sealed 6:3 for the Styrians 47 seconds before the final siren.

First win of the season for Crocodiles Kundl

As early as Friday, the EHC Crocodiles Kundl against Dornbirner EC their first win of the season in the 16:3 goal fest. 

Matko Pavetic, with four goals, and Adrian Schuster, with three, as well as Erik Hefke with five points (2 goals, three assists) and Lukas Kirsch with six assists, were the match-winners for the Tyroleans, who comfortably won the highest-scoring game in the still-young history of the Ö Eishockey Liga.

On Sunday, VEU Feldkirch were able to challenge league leaders HC Kufstein until just after the halfway point of the game, with the score at 2:2, before the Tyroleans pulled away to 5:2 with three goals by the end of the second period. In the final period of a game marked by numerous penalties, the Dragons added two more goals to celebrate their fourth win in four games.

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz 3:6 (1:2,1:2,1:2)

Sat., 21 October 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Sharks Gmunden scorers: Laurens Ober (14:24), Jonas Kail (31:27, 40:23/PP1)

ATSE Graz scorers: Stefan Trost (03:12, 16:37, 27:00/PP1, 59:13/EN), Luca Rodiga (37:15), Pirmin Riedmann (44:45/PP1)

Kapfenberger SV vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 10:1 (3:1,3:0,4:0)

Sat., 21 October 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Kapfenberger SV scorers: Kevin Moderer (07:16), Kristof Reinthaler (11:54/PP1, 44:31/PP2), Florian Hoppl (16:26, 23:04/PP1, 34:05/SH1), Lukas Winkler (29:55), Daniel Oberkofler (45:34/PP1), Lukas Draschkowitz (51:04/PP1), Max Wimmer (56:30)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorer: Michael Grüneis (17:20)

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Abandoned due to a medical emergency

Ö Ice Hockey League - Division West

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC 16:3 (4:0,9:0,3:3)
Fri, 20 October 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Erik Hefke (04:11, 12:46), Matko Pavetic (04:56, 35:22, 35:52, 50:04), Vladimir Dolnik (17:10), Adrian Schuster (22:23, 24:56/PP1, 31:44), Fabio Müller (23:48), Daniel Vojta (27:09/PP1), Simon Brandner (32:28, 57:40), André Flatscher (39:22), Sebastian Schild (42:41)
Dornbirner EC scorers: Sebastian Koberger (41:19), Ricardo Bell (42:28), Jannik Fitz (54:10)

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein 2:7 (1:2,1:3,0:2)
Sun, 22 October 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch scorers: Philip Metzler (06:33), Lukas Göggel (20:43/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Florian Eder (01:20), Markus Prock (11:34), Philipp Sappl (31:46), Boldizsar Beres (36:55/PP1), Herbert Steiner (38:31), David Hrazdira (49:16) Manuel Eder (51:18/PP1)

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