Narrow 4:6 defeat in an intense game against Slovenia

The first period was an open end-to-end contest, with good chances at both ends. Nico Koschek converted a breakaway with a powerful shot into the top corner to give Austria a 1.0 lead. With 76 seconds remaining, Austria conceded the 1:1 equaliser while shorthanded.

Austria got off to a somewhat unfortunate start to the second period, conceding the 1:2 when the puck got stuck on the wet ice. A battling display brought the 2:2 equaliser midway through the period. Shortly before the break, an act of indiscipline resulted in an unnecessary penalty, which led to Slovenia taking a 3:2 lead with 46 seconds remaining.

At the start of the final period, Austria failed to capitalise on a power-play opportunity and immediately afterwards conceded to make it 2:4. However, the team was by no means discouraged and created chance after chance. Sintschnig pulled one back to make it 3:4, with Koschek providing the screen. Five minutes from time, Austria conceded a shorthanded goal while on the power play to make it 3:5.

Austria continued to play with a 5:3 advantage, which Hudritsch used to pull one back and make it 4:5. They now had the momentum on their side and again created chance after chance, but unfortunately without success. With 1:12 remaining, Slovenia eventually scored an empty-net goal to make it 6:4.

Deserved 4:1 win to open the tournament

With the outstanding Gabriel Lemberger in goal, Austria's U15 team opened the Four Nations Tournament in Fondo (ITA) with a 4:1 victory over Hungary.

The team implemented the instruction to play aggressive hockey very well in the first period. Aggressive forechecking gave the boys plenty of time in the offensive zone. They also played very consistently in their own zone and went into the break with a 1:0 lead.

Austria made the clearly better start to the second period and extended their lead to 3:0 within a few minutes. This was followed by a phase marked by lapses in concentration. Gabriel Lemberger proved to be a reliable presence during this critical phase and kept his team in the game.

Hungary became somewhat undisciplined in the third period, while Austria's team continued to adhere almost perfectly to the game plan and saw out the match comfortably. Lemberger also came up with several big saves. Austria responded to the 1:3 goal that pulled Hungary closer a minute later, thereby taking away their final momentum.

February break U15 Fondo (ITA)

4 Nations Tournament, 09. - 11.02.2023, Fondo

Austria vs. Hungary 4:1 (1:0, 2:0, 1:1)
Thu, 09 February 2023, 14:30
Austria goalscorers: Luca Fischer (2.), Paul Sintschnig (24.), Ben Öfner (25.), Tristan Schall (55.)

Austria vs. Slovenia 4:6 (1:1, 1:2, 2:3)
Fri, 10 February 2023, 16:00
Austria goalscorers: Nico Koschek (22.), Fabian Radosits (36.), Paul Sintschnig (47.), Marc Hudritsch (56.)

Italy vs. Austria
Sat, 11 February 2023, 13:15