Leaders Kufstein hand reigning cham­pions Wattens a double-digit defeat - Hohenems beat HC Inns­bruck II

In the home opener for champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins in Group West against leaders HC Kufstein an intense outdoor clash developed from the outset, with every inch of ice fiercely contested.

Kufstein had won the first meeting of the season 6:2 at home, and there was accordingly plenty of emotion in the second encounter. The Dragons took an early 1:0 lead through Herbert Steiner, with exactly two minutes and 37 seconds played at the Alpenstadion.

The team coached by head coach Ivo Novotny pressed on and the Czech whirlwind David Hrazdira made it 2:0 following a forceful rush.

Neither side scored for the first nine minutes of the second period, but David Hrazdira triggered an avalanche of goals with his second of the game to make it 3:0 on the power play. Seven goals were scored between the 30th and 39th minutes. The league leaders from the fortress town were now in outstanding attacking form and stepped up the pace. Herbert Steiner and Martin Kosnar extended the visitors' lead to 5:0 within 73 seconds.

Daniel Frischmann then scored Wattens' first home goal of the season to make it 1:5, with just under 35 minutes played. However, the Dragons' hunger for goals had not yet been satisfied, as goal-getter David Hrazdira found the net for the third time that evening and effectively sealed victory for Kufstein with the 6:1 in the 36th minute.

Mario Hager made it 2:6 for the Penguins, but there was no thought of a comeback. The leaders were too composed and efficient in front of goal, with Martin Kosnar making it 7:2 on the power play a minute and a half before the end of the period.

The scoring spree continued in the final period. Once again, the Czech attacking power could not be stopped. Martin Kosnar completed his hat-trick on the power play in the 49th minute to make it 8:2 for Kufstein. The penalty list then became longer than the list of scorers, as Wattens played undisciplined hockey.

After Christoph Hörtnagl had already been sent to the showers early in the first period, Markus Prock now followed him, with his game ending because of a slash. Kufstein were now largely on the power play and used this phase to score three further goals.

Martin Kosnar made it 9:2 in a 5:3 power-play situation in the 52th minute. 36 seconds later, Kufstein's score reached double figures, with Kosnar again scoring his fourth consecutive goal and fifth overall.

Together with Hrazdira, Kosnar was responsible for eight (!) of Kufstein's eleven goals. Samuel Sappl added the 11:2 for the league leaders in the 53th minute. The Dragons now host EHC Crocodiles Kundl next Friday in the big Kufstein district derby.

SC Hohenems cruise to victory at HC Innsbruck II

In the clash between HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II and SC SAMINA Hohenems there were fast-paced attacks at both ends in the opening ten minutes, but the two goaltenders – Karlo Skec for Hohenems and Markus Gratzer for Innsbruck – kept their respective nets clean.

The favourites from Vorarlberg took a 1:0 lead through Johannes Hehle in the eleventh minute. The Young Sharks were not greatly shaken by going behind and levelled at 1:1 following a shot by Michael Markart 56 seconds later.

The hosts then capitalised on a power play in the 17th minute, with Alexander Erlacher perfectly positioned to put the puck over the line for 2:1. This time, the team coached by head coach Bernd Schmidle responded quickly, as Fabian Mandlburger scored from the slot in the 19th minute to level the game at 2:2.

In the second period, the Steinböcke raised the tempo, with Johannes Hehle making it 3:2 in the 24th minute with his second goal. Just under two and a half minutes later, Hohenems produced a fine, swift counter-attack, and Martin Grabher Meier converted to make it 4:2 for the visitors.

The Vorarlberg side now had the game under control, and Fabian Mandlburger made it 5:2 for SC Hohenems from close range 31 seconds before the end of the period.

There was not much more happening in terms of play in the final period, but the players provided a few physical exchanges despite the match having been decided. Martin Grabher Meier scored short-handed from close range to make it 6:2 for Hohenems just under a minute before the end. The second-placed side took three points from the Junghaie and remain on the heels of league leaders HC Kufstein.

West Group matchday

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. SC SAMINA Hohenems 2:6 (2:2,0:3,0:1)
Fri, 11 November 2022, 19:00, TIWAG Arena
HC Innsbruck II scorers: Michael Markart (11:52), Alexander Erlacher (16:26/PP1)
SC Hohenems scorers: Johannes Hehle (10:56, 23:54), Fabian Mandlburger (18:11, 39:29), Martin Grabher Meier (26:16, 58:46/SH1)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 2:11 (0:2,2:5,0:4)
Fri, 11 November 2022, 19:30, Alpenstadion
Wattens Penguins scorers: Daniel Frischmann (34:42), Mario Hager (36:42)
HC Kufstein scorers: Herbert Steiner (02:37, 30:41), David Hrazdira (07:06, 29:04/PP1, 35:28), Martin Kosnar (31:54, 38:32/PP1, 48:28/PP1, 51:03/PP2, 51:39/PP1), Samuel Sappl (52:23/PP1)

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