ÖEL: Game aban­doned in Gmunden / ATSE Graz win Styrian derby

Photo note: Game action from Sharks Gmunden against Kapfenberg Kängurus - Copyright: Peter Sommer FOTOPRESS

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions controlled the game against ATSE Graz on National Day, but it was the visitors from the Styrian capital who scored the goals. Nino Jus in the 17th minute of the first period and Marco Scheriau shortly before the end of the second period gave them a 2:0 lead after 40 minutes.

Andreas Forcher gave the hosts hope again with the goal to reduce the deficit after 57 seconds of the final period. In the end, the strong Graz netminder Florian Zeugswetter and an empty-net goal from Nikolaus Zierer secured the win for ATSE.

Gilbert Kühn, head coach of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: “We played at one goal for two periods and made ATSE look strong again because we failed to score. Today, it was not necessarily the better team that won, but the smarter one. We were not smart enough to convert the dominance we had in the first two periods into goals.”

Diethard Winzig, forward, ATSE Graz: “I would describe the win as fortunate. The Murtal Lions were the better team. We did not get into the game from the start today and struggled. We did not move well and made many technical errors. Our goalkeeper Florian Zeugswetter saved the game for us.”

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden, with former Vienna Capitals netminder Rudi Hummel in goal, delivered a fantastic performance for two periods against Kapfenberger SV EHC, the leaders of the North-East Group. After the visitors took the lead through Pierre Graf after just under three minutes, the Upper Austrians turned the game around in the first period. Nicolai Obojes in the 15th minute and Philipp Wieltsch one minute before the end of the period scored to give them a 2:1 lead.

The Sharks sensed the ‘big prize’ of three points and had good chances to decide the game in the second period. It remained 2:1, and that after only two periods played, because the ice resurfacer broke down and caused the game to be abandoned.

Thomas Schatzl, chairman of UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: “Our players were incredible today. Kapfenberg did not have a chance from the second minute onwards. Based on the number of shots on goal, this game should have gone to the Sharks by a double-digit margin. I can only warmly congratulate the entire team on this tremendous performance!”

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach of Kapfenberger SV EHC: “At no point were we ready to play ice hockey. It felt as if we had only come to collect the points, but we were not prepared to do anything for them.”

SC Hohenems are currently unstoppable in the Ö Eishockey Liga and also swept aside EHC Crocodiles Kundl. The Tyroleans initially held their own against the title favourites from Vorarlberg for a long time thanks to an excellent performance from Kundl netminder Michael Sparr. It was only a quick double from Daniel Fekete and Michael Rainer in the second period that put the game beyond doubt. After Michael Rainer made it 5:0 in the 32nd minute, the Crocodiles were broken. Kundl defenceman Martin Haffner had the distinction of putting the first goal conceded this season past the Skating Club from Hohenems. In the end, the leaders of the West Group won convincingly 10:1.

Stefan Rainer, captain of EHC Crocodiles Kundl: “We are currently changing our system, but it has to be said that there was already a class difference today. We are pleased that we gave Hohenems their first goal conceded!”

Pascal Kainz, captain of SC Hohenems: “We have started the new season very well. At the moment, the puck is just bouncing our way and we have an incredible team spirit in our squad – that is certainly one of the secrets of our success. The season is still long, and we will continue to give it everything.”

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Kapfenberger SV EHC 2:1 (2:1, 0:0, -:-) Game abandoned after two periods
Tue, 26 October 2021, 18:15
Goalscorers, UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: Nicolai Obojes (14:24 min., A1: Alwin Schuster), Philipp Wieltsch (18:56 min., A1: Mark Marton)
Kapfenberger SV EHC scorer: Pierre Graf (at 03:05, A1: Stefan Trost)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. ATSE Graz 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Tue, 26 October 2021, 19:00
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorer: Andreas Forcher (at 40:57, A1: Peter Mateicka, A2: Manuel Stuhlpfarrer)
ATSE Graz scorers: Nino Jus (at 16:10, A1: Cory Krenz, A2: Marco Scheriau), Marco Scheriau (at 38:01, A1: Cory Krenz, A2: Mario Petrovitz), Nikolaus Zierer EN (at 58:26, A1: Philipp Haas)

North-East Group standings (subject to change due to the abandoned game in Gmunden)

SC Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 10:1 (2:0, 6:0, 2:1)
Tue, 26 October 2021, 19:00
SC Hohenems scorers: Marcel Wolf (at 03:29, A1: Johannes Hehle, A2: Thomas Auer), Fabian Mandlburger (at 08:01, A1: Daniel Fekete), Daniel Fekete (at 26:35, A1: Matthias Fussenegger, A2: Patric Scheffknecht), Michael Rainer (at 27:19, A1: Martin Grabher Meier), Michael Rainer (at 31:47, A1: Johannes Hehle, A2: Marcel Wolf), Christian Gmeiner (at 34:21, A1: Michael Kutzer, A2: Manuel Merk), Pascal Kainz (at 36:10, A1: Christian Gmeiner, A2: Julian Grafschafter), Daniel Fekete (at 38:13, A1: Johannes Hehle, A2: Matthias Fussenegger), Marcel Wolf (at 42:23, A1: Johannes Hehle, A2: Stefan Spannring), Pascal Kainz (at 48:10, A1: Julian Grafschafter, A2: Christian Gmeiner)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorer: Martin Haffner (at 47:55, A1: Vladimir Dolnik, A2: Tobias Haid)

West Group standings