ÖEL: Graz get under way

Anticipation is accordingly high in Styria, especially as they will open in front of a home crowd, with free admission. In game two, Kapfenberger SV will also celebrate their home opener. Against WEV, the sole lead at the top of the table is immediately at stake.

250 seats are available at the home venue of the Graz players in Hall B of the Merkur Eisstadion, and they are expected to be filled to the last seat (note: mandatory 3G proof required at the entrance). Five players left the club in the summer, with the same number brought in. Departures Florian Panger, David Tschelesnig, Jonas Schuller, Matthias Florian and Alban Schuller have been replaced by Diethard Winzig, Cody Wickstorm, Jonas Mayr, Philipp Haas and Marco Scheriau.

Rupert Strohmeier, Head Coach ATSE Graz: “The 2021/2022 season is marked by change. Unfortunately, several players had to leave us this summer, naturally leaving gaps behind. Nevertheless, we tried to fill these gaps with players who, above all, fit this team in terms of character. Several new players who embody the ‘ATSE spirit’ were integrated into the team over the summer. Together, we will continue to uphold the values of ATSE. In addition, as the season progresses, we will try to strengthen the squad further in order to be ready for the future. There is still plenty to do, both in sporting and organisational terms!”

The opponents from Gmunden already have one game in the new ÖEL under their belts, narrowly losing 4:5 to WEV after leading 2:0 in the first period. New coach Manfred Mühllechner will have used the past few days to bring more consistency to the lines after his side conceded five goals in a row against the Viennese in the second period.

Like the Viennese, the Styrians also had cause to celebrate in their opener, beating EV Zeltweg 5:3 and leading the table after the first round thanks to their superior goal difference. The ice rink in Leoben will host a clash between the two opening-round winners on Saturday.

Coach Kris Reinthaler was satisfied after the win at the start of the ÖEL: “The attitude was 100% right and we scored the goals at the right time.” However, there is always room for improvement, and the head coach sees it in the work without the puck: “There is still room for improvement in our play without the puck. We need better assignments on the backcheck and have to communicate better with each other.”

Kapfenberg beat WEV 4:0 in pre-season, but do not attach too much importance to that win, according to Kris Reinthaler: “This victory should rather serve as a warning to us that this is precisely why we must not go into the game too carelessly. We will definitely address that internally.”

They will need to keep an eye on Rene Pospisil, who scored the 1:2 himself in the 5:4 win over the Sharks before setting up the 3:2 and 4:2.

Kapfenberger SV EHC vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 09 October 2021, 19:00

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 09 October 2021, 19:30