Maribor pull off sensa­tion against cham­pions Kapfen­berg – Hohenems and Lustenau win

Champions Kapfenberger SV began their title-defence mission in Styria against league newcomers HDK Maribor and got off to a fitting start: Adrian Stühlinger (4) and Christoph Draschkowitz (10.) quickly fired them into a 2:0 lead. Just under two minutes after the Kangaroos' second goal, the Slovenians announced themselves in the Ö Eishockey Liga: Aljaž Ribič sent the fans at Ledena dvorana Maribor into raptures for the first time with a rebound goal to make it 1:2 (12.). 

The Foxes added another at the start of the second period, with Adi Drnda levelling the score (23.). Just under ten minutes later, the Slovenians had turned the game around, as Ian Fingušt beat KSV netminder Oliver Zirngast on the power play (33.). Just 17 seconds later, Kevin Moderer equalised for the Mürztal side. Exactly three minutes later, Kapfenberg took a 4:3 lead through a power-play goal from Lukas Draschkowitz (36.).

But the league newcomers were not fazed, fighting back in the final period in some style: a quick double strike within 16 seconds from Niko Nemeček (45.) and Aljaž Ogrizek (46.) suddenly gave Head Coach Jure Verlič's team a 5:4 lead. The champions found a swift response just one minute later, with Stefan Trost levelling the score (47.). 

Towards the end, the hosts had a power play, and Danilo Tomašević provided the highlight of the first matchday 58 seconds before the final buzzer: the forward caught Zirngast out with a Michigan move and lifted the puck under the crossbar. The Foxes held on for the narrow 6:5 win, handing champions Kapfenberg – unbeaten in their title-winning season – their first defeat in their very first match and producing the first major sensation in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Sharks Gmunden celebrate narrow away win at ATSE Graz

Their very first head-to-head meeting was a real test of where they stood, as the match between ATSE Graz and UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden saw the Graz side – semi-finalists last season – soon fall 0:1 behind at Merkur Eisstadion through a goal from Sharks player Bastian Szieber (8.).

Maximilian Schwarz quickly equalised for the Styrians on the power play (11.). Four minutes before the end of the first period, Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner's team retook the lead, with Laurens Ober converting a power play to make it 2:1 (16.).

In the second period, Sharks new signing Marc-André Dorion made his first major impact, as the defenceman gave the Traunsee team a two-goal lead with a shorthanded goal (25.), but it did not last long: Dominik Reiner brought Head Coach Markus Losch's team back within one at 2:3 just under a minute later (26.). An open end-to-end contest developed, continuing in thrilling fashion in the final period. 

Markus Krotsch restored the two-goal lead (43.). Krotsch's second goal set the Upper Austrians on course for victory (49.). Graz fought back and, thanks to a double strike from Sebastian Fellner (51.) and Maximilian Schwarz (52.), closed the gap to 4:5, but Sharks Gmunden saw out the narrow win and collected three important points in their opening game.

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein had a bye on the first matchday, with the Vienna side beginning their league campaign away against HDK Maribor on 19 October.

West Division: Hohenems win headline clash against HC Kufstein

The West Division's headline clash at the start of the new Ö Eishockey Liga season between HC Kufstein and runners-up SC Samina Hohenems at the Eisarena Kufstein provided a foretaste of the new season, at least in the opening period. From the outset, neither team gave an inch, making for an exciting contest. 

After just over 26 minutes, Niklas Gehringer broke the deadlock for Hohenems and the goals suddenly began to flow in the fortress town. Valentin Hammerle first equalised on the power play (32), but just 84 seconds later the visitors from Vorarlberg were back in front through Patrick Spannring – also on the power play (33). Almost three minutes later, Christian Haidinger added another following a fine combination to make it 3:1 for Head Coach Thomas Sticha's team (36).

With power-play goals from Lukas Fritz (46) and Benjamin Kyllönen (48), Hohenems quickly put an end to the Dragons' efforts to fight their way back into the game. After the 5:1, the match was decided in favour of the runners-up. Niklas Gehringer even made it 6:1 before Valentin Hammerle added some late consolation on the power play (55).

EHC Lustenau make a statement against Wattens Penguins

The meeting between league newcomers EHC Lustenau and returning side WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins was fiercely contested from the start.

The home side, coached by Daniel Fekete, quickly found their feet in the Ö Eishockey Liga: Robin Wüstner was perfectly placed and opened the scoring from close range early on to make it 1:0 (4). The Tyroleans – with coaching duo Manfred Burgstaller and Andreas Sarg behind the bench – stood up to Lustenau's attacks and battled tenaciously in defence.

In the second period, the Lions turned their superiority into goals. Goal-getter Martin Grabher Meier scored his first goal on his return in a Lustenau jersey after 70 seconds (22). Thomas Auer, who like Grabher Meier had most recently played for Hohenems, was every bit as effective as his colleague and made it 3:0 for the hosts on the power play (24).

When Robin Wüstner made it 4:0 with his second goal just under a minute later, the contest appeared to be decided early on (25). The Penguins fought their way back into the game through goals from Matthias Schöser (32) and Noah Polig (49). However, Lustenau then wrapped things up with two further goals from Chris D'Alvise (51) and Thomas Auer (53), with the 6:2 sending out an early statement in the ÖEL.

Crocodiles Kundl win against the Bulldogs in Dornbirn

To conclude the first matchday, EHC Crocodiles Kundl won away against Dornbirner EC by 4:1. The Tyroleans, who were only stopped by SC Hohenems in the semi-finals last season, took the lead at 1:0 through Sebastian Schild (8). The young Bulldogs held on to their narrow deficit for a long time, with goaltender David Bernhard producing a strong performance, as did his opposite number Jakub Kostelny. 

In the final period, Crocodiles new signing Tobias Dinhopel made it 2:0 (53).  Lukas Göggel made the game exciting again with a shorthanded goal to make it 1:2 (55) before Kundl ultimately prevailed 4:1 thanks to a power-play goal from Daniel Frischmann (56) and another goal from Sebastian Schild.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:6 (0:0,1:3,1:3)

Sat., 12 October 2024, 16:35, Eisarena Kufstein

HC Kufstein scorers: Valentin Hammerle (31:00 min./PP1, 54:26 min./PP1)

SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Niklas Gehringer (26:17 min., 51:00 min.), Patrick Spannring (32:24 min./PP1), Christian Haidinger (35:35 min.), Lukas Fritz (45:38 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (47:17 min./PP1)

EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 6:2 (1:0,3:1,2:1)

Sat., 12 October 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

EHC Lustenau scorers: Robin Wüstner (03:41 min., 24:29 min.), Martin Grabher Meier (21:10 min.), Thomas Auer (23:21 min./PP1, 52:17 min.), Christopher D'Alvise (50:30 min.)

Wattens Penguins scorers: Matthias Schöser (31:42 min.), Noah Polig (48:12 min.)

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 1:4 (0:1,0:0,1:3)
Sun., 13 October 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorer: Lukas Göggel (54:42 min./SH1)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Sebastian Schild (07:27 min., 57:16 min.), Tobias Dinhopel (52:55 min.), Daniel Frischmann (55:55 min./PP1)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

HDK Maribor vs. KSV Kängurus 6:5 (1:2,2:2,3:1)

Sat., 12 October 2024, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Tabor Maribor

HDK Maribor scorers: Aljaž Ribič (11:14 min.), Adi Drnda (22:41 min.), Ian Fingušt (32:08 min./PP1), Niko Nemeček (44:51 min.), Aljaž Ogrizek (45:07 min.), Danilo Tomašević (59:02 min./PP1)

KSV Kängurus scorers: Adrian Stühlinger (03:13 min.), Christoph Draschkowitz (09:05 min.), Kevin Moderer (32:25 min.), Lukas Draschkowitz (35:25 min./PP1), Stefan Trost (46:10 min.)

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 4:5 (1:2,1:1,2:2)

Sat, 12 October 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion

Goalscorers for ATSE Graz: Maximilian Schwarz (10:26 min./PP1, 51:14 min.), Dominik Reiner (25:47 min.), Sebastian Fellner (50:32 min.)

Goalscorers for Sharks Gmunden: Bastian Szieber (07:39 min.), Laurens Ober (15:58 min./PP1), Marc-André Dorion (24:33 min./SH1), Markus Krotsch (42:14 min., 48:22 min.)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein bye

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