ÖEL: First win for the Sharks from Gmunden

Image note: Match action from Gmunden Sharks v Kapfenberg Kängurus - Copyright: Peter Sommer FOTOPRESS

The match between UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks and Kapfenberger SV EHC had to be abandoned on National Day because the ice resurfacer had broken down. At the time of the abandonment, the hosts had led 2:1 after a strong performance.

The final period was now completed a week later at the Shark Tank in the town on the northern shore of Lake Traunsee. The visitors from Kapfenberg made the better start to this rather unusual scenario of playing a single period.

In the 49th minute, Lukas Winkler scored the equaliser for the Kängurus, and just one minute later Kris Reinthaler made it 3:2 for the Styrian visitors. But that was far from all: Mark Marton scored the much-celebrated equaliser in the 58th minute to send the Sharks into overtime. With no decisive goal in overtime, the Sharks struck in the penalty shoot-out to win 4:3. 

Championship favourites SC Hohenems remain unstoppable in the West Group. The Steinböcke secured a clear 10:2 away win over HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II.

The Vorarlberg side set themselves on course for victory early on in the TIWAG Arena with a quick double. Marcel Wolf, following a wonderful pass from Michael Rainer, and Julian Grafschafter gave them a comfortable lead within 44 seconds in the sixth minute. Shortly before the end of the period, Martin Grabher Meier hammered the puck into the net of the young Sharks to make it 3:0.

Anyone who thought Bernd Schmidle’s team would ease off in the second period was greatly mistaken. On the contrary, the Vorarlberg side took their chances ruthlessly and showed no mercy to the young Innsbruck team. Pascal Kainz, Daniel Fekete, Marcel Wolf, Johannes Hehle with a double within 30 seconds, and Thomas Auer made it 9:0 after 40 minutes.

Hohenems then took things a little easier in the final period. This allowed Head Coach Manfred Chizzali’s team to finally get on the scoresheet. Sandro Wille made it 1:9 from Innsbruck’s perspective. Julian Grafschafter took the Schlittschuhclub from Hohenems into double figures before Innsbruck were able to celebrate their second goal of the evening. Aleksejs Kozlovs sealed the final score after a pass from Luca Reiter, at least giving the hosts a small consolation in winning the final period.

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Kapfenberger SV EHC 4:3 n.P. (2:1,0:0,1:2,0:0)
Tue, 2 November 2021, 19:45 hrs - Resumption of the abandoned match
UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Nicolai Obojes (14:24 Min., A1: Alwin Schuster), Philipp Wieltsch (18:56 Min., A1: Mark Marton), Mark Marton (57:20 Min.), Andre Flatscher (decisive penalty)
Kapfenberger SV EHC goalscorers: Pierre Graf (03:05 Min., A1: Stefan Trost), Lukas Winkler (48:10 Min., A1: Patrick Huppmann), Kristof Reinthaler (49:16 Min., A1: Pierre Graf)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. SC Hohenems 2:10 (0:3, 0:6, 2:1)
Mon, 01 November 2021, 18:30 hrs
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II goalscorers: Sandro Wille (53:24 Min., A1: Aleksejs Kozlovs, A2: Richard Braito), Aleksejs Kozlovs (58:46 Min., A1: Luca Reiter, A2: Nicholas Schintler)
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Marcel Wolf (05:04 Min., A1: Michael Rainer), Julian Grafschafter (05:48 Min., A1: Christian Gmeiner, A2: Pascal Kainz), Martin Grabher Meier (18:08 Min., A1: Matthias Fussenegger, A2: Daniel Fekte), Pascal Kainz (22:59 Min., A1: Marcel Wolf), Daniel Fekete (28:01 Min., A1: Thomas Auer), Marcel Wolf (30:26 Min., A1: Sebastian Koberger, A2: Johannes Hehle), Johannes Hehle (35:25 Min., A1: Daniel Fekete, A2: Marcel Wolf), Johannes Hehle (35:55 min., A1: Michael Rainer, A2: Marcel Wolf), Thomas Auer (37:23 Min., A1: Pascal Kainz), Julian Grafschafter (54:06 Min., A1: Christian Gmeiner, A2: Stefan Spannring)