Leaders Althofen cele­brate emphatic win in Huben – Spittal win head­line clash against Stein­dorf

League leaders1st EHC Althofenpicked up in the "back-to-back" game in front of an atmospheric outdoor crowd at Huben Ice Stadium against the UECR Eisbären Huben where they had left off in last Saturday's 7:0 home win: the Rhinos, who travelled to East Tyrol with only 13 skaters, took the lead through Stefan Schumnig after exactly 21 seconds with their first attack, making it 1:0.

Kevin Weider equalised four minutes later. Anyone expecting an even contest was soon proven wrong by Althofen. Sandro Seifried opened an incredible scoring festival for the visitors in the sixth minute with the 2:1.

Florian Kurath made it 3:1 in the seventh minute, before Lukas Telsnig scored the 4:1 in the ninth. Before the tenth minute had even been completed, Althofen were already 5:1 ahead after Philipp Waldner beat Huben netminder Thomas Warscher.

The fans at the ice stadium had to rub their eyes when looking at the scoreboard; the East Tyrolean supporters had rarely, if ever, experienced such a course of events. The league leaders then took a little pace out of the game, but still scored two more goals in the first period. Simon Hammerle in the 17th minute and Marc Ettinger two seconds before the siren took the score to 7:1.

In the second period, the Eisbären reduced the deficit to 2:7 through Raphael Bstieler shortly before the halfway mark. However, there was no prospect of a comeback against the composed spa town side, who did not let up despite their small squad. On the contrary: Martin Zeloth made it 8:2 for Althofen in the 34th minute.

In the final period, the league leaders comfortably saw out the game. Martin Goritschnig, the ninth different Althofen goalscorer, made it 9:2 with ten minutes remaining. Marc Ettinger added the 10:2 for the Rhinos with his second goal just under three minutes before the final siren, taking the visitors into double figures. The big clash between Althofen and Steindorf follows on Saturday at the Ossiacher See Halle.

Spittal edge out Steindorf

The headline clash between EC LiWoDruck Spittal and ESC SoccerZone Steindorf – Steindorf had clearly won the first meeting last weekend 8:2 – was extremely exciting and evenly balanced in the opening period.

Both teams played good ice hockey, with only the goals missing. That changed in the second period. Kristian Kravanja gave the team coached by Robert Moser cause to celebrate when he made it 1:0 in the 28th minute. Franz Wilfan extended the lead to 2:0 for the Ossiacher See side on the power play in the 32nd minute.

But the Hornets hit back with a quick double: Marco Zorec first pulled one back in the 37th minute, before Daniel Zauchner brought the Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal to the boil in the 39th minute as the 2:2 equaliser went in.

The final period could hardly have started worse for Steindorf. Kristian Kravanja was sent to the penalty box for tripping after 42 seconds. Head coach Florian Orzetek's team took advantage of the power play after just eight seconds, with Noel Brunner making it 3:2. The Hornets had turned the game around. What followed beneath the Goldeck was a match with a playoff atmosphere, becoming a battle for every inch of ice.

The action came thick and fast in the 54th minute: Patrick Ropatsch first equalised for Steindorf on the power play, but just 15 seconds later Spittal were celebrating again as Florian Kucher scored to make it 4:3. In the end, the visitors threw everything forward, with coach Robert Moser taking netminder Marco Mayrobnig off for a sixth skater. However, the Hornets held on to their narrow lead, avenged the heavy away defeat and moved above Steindorf in the standings.

USC Pirates Velden beat VSV

The Jungadler of EC iDM VSV and USC Pirates Velden picked up in the third "back-to-back" game of the evening where the two teams had left off last Saturday, when the Pirates claimed a 3:2 win after a penalty shoot-out: they engaged in a tight contest with plenty of battles and good passages of play.

The Villach side made the better start and took a 1:0 lead in Steindorf through Lukas Floriantschitz in the seventh minute. Velden – with just 12 skaters in the line-up – fought their way into the game and levelled at 1:1 through Marco Kramer in the 14th minute.

Little changed in the opening minutes of the second period. Both teams tried to get quickly into the opposition attacking zone. However, both defensive units, including the goaltenders – Jakob Sprachmann for VSV and Thomas Stroj for Velden – ensured that the score remained close and the match continued to be exciting. Then, in the 27th minute, the team coached by Herwig Gressel took the lead for the first time: Patrick Edlinger made it 2:1 for Pirates Velden.

In the final period, Florian Lanzinger equalised in the 46th minute and, just under five minutes later, the blue-and-whites had turned the game around. Dominik Prodinger scored for 3:2. However, the depleted Velden side was far from beaten and showed great resilience. Just 22 seconds after VSV had taken the lead, Marco Kramer levelled at 3:3 with his second goal.

With three minutes remaining, Benjamin Rassl put the Pirates ahead at 4:3. One second before the final siren, Marco Kramer crowned his performance with an empty-net goal for 5:3, his third of the evening. Velden now face the blockbuster clash against Spittal on Saturday.

West Group: VEU Feldkirch defeat Wattens

The reigning Ö Eishockey Liga champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and VEU Feldkirch faced each other at the Alpenstadion in Wattens as early as Tuesday.

After 40 minutes, the home side led 4:3, but a sensational final period saw the Vorarlberg side turn the game around, winning 7:5 and claiming three important points in the battle for third place in the play-offs. On Saturday, the big clash against HC Kufstein awaits at the Vorarlberghalle, while the league leaders face HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II on the public holiday beforehand.

The Wattens Penguins are also in Vorarlberg on Saturday to face SC SAMINA Hohenems.

South Group matchday

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 4:3 (0:0,2:2,2:1)
Wed, 07 December 2022, 20:00, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal
EC LiWoDruck Spittal scorers: Marco Zorec (36:46), Daniel Zauchner (38:25), Noel Brunner (40:50/PP1), Florian Kucher (53:18)
ESC SoccerZone Steindorf scorers: Kristian Kravanja (27:18), Franz Wilfan (31:45/PP1), Patrick Ropatsch (53:03/PP1)

UECR Eisbären Huben vs. 1st EHC Althofen 2:10 (1:7,1:1,0:2)  
Wed, 07 December 2022, 20:00, Eisstadion Huben
UECR Eisbären Huben goal scorers: Kevin Weider (04:24), Raphael Bstieler (29:36)
Goal scorers for 1st EHC Althofen: Stefan Schumnig (00:21), Sandro Seifried (05:50), Florian Kurath (06:59), Lukas Telsnig (08:51), Philipp Waldner (09:15), Simon Hammerle (16:31), Marc Ettinger (19:58, 57:47), Martin Zeloth (33:51), Martin Goritschnig (50:12)

EC iDM VSV vs. USC Pirates Velden 3:5 (1:1,0:1,1:2)
Wed, 07 December 2022, 20:15, Ossiacher See Halle Steindorf
EC iDM VSV goal scorers: Lukas Floriantschitz (06:57), Florian Lanzinger (45:31), Dominik Prodinger (50:43)
USC Pirates Velden goal scorers: Marco Kramer (13:26, 51:05, 59:59/EN), Patrick Edlinger (26:36), Benjamin Rassl (56:57)

West Group matchday

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. VEU Feldkirch 5:7 (3:1,1:2,1:4)
Tue, 06 December 2022, 19:30, Alpenstadion
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins goal scorers: Jan Pardavy (03:03, 52:39), Valentin Hammerle (07:51), Daniel Frischmann (14:39/SH1), Lukas Schwitzer (39:37)
VEU Feldkirch goal scorers: Ricardo Bell (10:07), Robin Wüstner (20:59), Joonatan Kyllönen (31:52), Lenz Mossbrugger (41:47/PP1, 59:38/EN), Luca Erne (46:48/PP1), Yannik Lebeda (53:54)

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