Kapfen­berger SV give WEV no chance either – SC Hohenems gain revenge against Kundl

The Kapfenberger SV faced Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Friday and were on top from the outset. The league leaders took the lead on their first power play, with player-coach Kris Reinthaler hammering home from the blue line to make it 1:0 (4 min.). Daniel Oberkofler swiftly added the 2:0 after a quick attack and a fine combination (6 min.).

With their two-goal lead behind them, the Kangaroos remained in control. The Viennese side now defended more resolutely and looked to threaten on the counter-attack. However, the Styrians gave nothing away for the remainder of the opening period.

As in the first period, Kapfenberg came out firing at the start of the middle stanza and raised the tempo. Kris Reinthaler deflected the puck in to make it 3:0 (22 min.), his second goal of the evening. Shortly afterwards, Lukas Winkler was sent through and gave WEV goaltender Mathias Lichtenecker no chance for 4:0 (23 min.).

Mario Kubeczka’s team regrouped and pulled back to 1:4 through Kilian Trommet after a counter-attack down the left (29 min.). The leaders remained the dominant side thereafter, pinning WEV in their defensive zone at five-on-five, with the Viennese able to muster no more than a few counter-attacks. 

The Mürztal side also made a dream start to the final period: Daniel Oberkofler was picked out perfectly while standing alone in front of goal and sent the puck in to make it 5:1 after exactly 60 seconds (42 min.).

With two and a half minutes remaining, Daniel Oberkofler pushed the puck over the line to complete his hat-trick and seal a 6:1 final score for Kapfenberg (58 min.), who celebrated their eleventh win in their eleventh game after 60 minutes.

West Division:

SC Hohenems overcome EHC Crocodiles Kundl

EHC Crocodiles KundlEHC Crocodiles Kundl hosted West Division leaders SC Samina Hohenems for the “return match”. Last Friday, the Tyroleans had beaten the Steinböcke 5:3 away from home, inflicting the Vorarlberg side’s first defeat of the season.

This time, Hohenems made a flying start, with leading scorer Martin Grabher Meier scoring after a solo run to make it 1:0 for the visitors after 33 seconds (1 min.). The Crocodiles were unfazed by the early concession and quickly equalised, as Vladimir Dolnik fired home to make it 1:1 (3 min.). Both teams engaged in an intense battle and picked up exactly where they had left off last Friday.

The leaders took the lead again, with Thomas Auer finishing off a fine combination with a neat deke to make it 2:1 for Hohenems (12 min.). The Lower Inn Valley side hit back once more, as Lukas Thaler was picked out perfectly in the slot on the power play and netted the equaliser for 2:2 (16 min.).

Little changed in the character of the game in the second period, as both teams kept the spaces tight and played energetic hockey, with a touch of a play-off atmosphere descending on Kundl Ice Arena. Just before the halfway point of the game, the visitors took the lead again, with Christian Haidinger making it 3:2 (29 min.). Haidinger added another himself on the power play to extend Head Coach Thomas Sticha’s team’s lead to 4:2 (34 min.).

Kundl had an immediate response: Erik Hefke pulled it back to 3:4 from the slot just 21 seconds later (34 min.). Five minutes before the end of the period, Hohenems restored their two-goal lead, with Martin Grabher Meier clinically finishing a direct attack to make it 5:3 (35 min.).

Right at the start of the final period, Niklas Gehringer made it 6:3 for the Schlittschuhclub from the slot (42 min.). However, the Crocodiles refused to give up and reduced the deficit to 4:6, with Erik Hefke converting a rebound two minutes later (44 min.).

The team coached by Jaroslav Betka then pressed for the goal that would close the gap – at times with the aid of the power play – and it did indeed come: Daniel Frischmann made the game exciting again with the 5:6 with two and a half minutes remaining (58.). In the end, the Crocodiles pulled goalie Kyle Plantz, but were unable to find an equaliser. SC Hohenems avenged last week's defeat.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 6:1 (2:0,2:1,2:0)
Fri, 12 January 2024, 17:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Kristof Reinthaler (03:52/PP1, 21:23), Daniel Oberkofler (05:29, 41:00, 57:38), Lukas Winkler (22:45)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer: Kilian Trommet (28:24)

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sat, 13 January 2024, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 13 January 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems 5:6 (2:2,1:3,2:1)
Fri, 12 January 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Vladimir Dolnik (02:49), Lukas Thaler (15:46/PP1), Erik Hefke (33:21, 43:32), Daniel Frischmann (57:20)
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (00:33, 34:59), Thomas Auer (11:50), Christian Haidinger (28:24, 33:00/PP1), Niklas Gehringer (41:29)

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC
Sun, 14 January 2024, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue, 16 January 2024, 19:30, Messestadion

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