ÖEL: Young Eagles pull off sensa­tion against Stein­dorf

Image note: Action from EC GRAND Immo VSV against ESC SoccerZone Steindorf - Photo copyright: Hockey24/7 

EC GRAND Immo VSV’s Young Eagles from Villach made a bold and spirited start to their Ö Eishockey Liga adventure against ESC SoccerZone Steindorf. Coached by U20 national team head coach Marco Pewal, the team showed from the outset that they wanted to match Steindorf’s pace. The result was an impressive and memorable opening game at Steindorf Ice Arena, picturesquely situated on the shores of Lake Ossiach.

After the first period, it was still 2:1 to Steindorf, coached by Mike Mayer, who were playing as the visitors in their own arena because VSV had home-ice advantage. Villach surprised their opponents with a strong second-period performance, driven by outstanding Slovenians Grega Pazlar and Mark Sojer.

A narrow 4:3 lead took the game into the final period, in which the young Villach players were always one step ahead of Steindorf. When Florian Lanzinger fired the puck into the net in the 54th minute following a superb pass from Grega Pazlar to make it 7:4, the game was effectively decided. Nico Toff could only add a consolation goal. In the closing minutes, VSV goaltender Ralf Kropiunig preserved the sensational victory against Steindorf, who were without Markus Pöck and goaltender Anja Adamitsch (away with the women’s national team).

It fell to 1st EHC Althofen and EC LiWoDruck Spittal to open the Carinthian Ö Eishockey Liga season. The match was evenly poised for two periods, with the score at 2:2 after 40 minutes. Maximilian Isopp and Martin Zeloth scored for new head coach Gerald Ressmann’s side, while Kevin Essmann and Marco Zorec found the net for Spittal. Florian Kurath put the spa town side on course for victory in the 50th minute of the final period. Martin Zeloth sealed the 4:2 final score for the Rhinos in the 54th minute.

League leaders SC Hohenems had never faced as much resistance as they did away to WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins. Around 300 fans were treated to ice hockey of the highest quality. It was end to end, with 50 minutes of disciplined, structured and fast-paced hockey from both sides, and plenty of chances to take the lead. However, both Matthias Fritz – who had to be replaced by Pascal Brugger through injury in the second period – and Marco Simair in the Wattens net were outstanding.

It was not until the 51st minute that the Vorarlberg favourites took the lead, as Stefan Spannring struck with a ‘lucky punch’ from the centre line. Thomas Auer put the seal on the win with an empty-net goal just under a minute from the end, securing another three points for Bernd Schmidle’s side.

Jaroslav Betka, Head Coach WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins: "Full credit to my team! It is a shame that we were unable to convert one or two chances to take the lead, as then even more could have been possible. I am delighted to have two such strong goaltenders in my team!"

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach SC Hohenems: "That was great promotion for the Ö Eishockey Liga! We were given a real challenge and had to push ourselves to the limit to eventually beat a strong Wattens side with a devil of a goaltender in Marco Simair. It is great fun when we come up against opponents on the same level as Wattens."

EHC Crocodiles Kundl had already beaten HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II 4:0 on Friday. The Crocodiles overcame the young Sharks with a strong final period after two scoreless periods. Mika Pertillä’s side, coached by the Finn, set the course for a home win with two goals in 37 seconds through Vladimir Dolnik and Alexander Fazokas at the start of the final period at Eisarena Kundl. Fabio Schramm and Vladimir Dolnik again wrapped up the scoring.

ATSE Graz claimed a narrow 3:2 victory at UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden. Czech newcomers Martin Brabec and Vladimir Zvonik made an excellent debut for the injury-hit hosts. In the fifth minute, prolific scorer Brabec made his mark for the first time following an assist from teammate Zvonik.

Shortly before the end of the period, Nikolaus Zierer levelled the scores for Graz. Immediately after the restart, Diethard Winzig put ATSE ahead on the power play, with the side having just twelve skaters in the line-up. Andre Flatscher equalised for the Sharks in minute 48. Cory Krenz put the visitors from Graz back in front two minutes before the end of the second period. That was how it remained after 60 minutes, not least because Daniel Brunner was outstanding in the ATSE net in his first competitive game. The team led by player-coach Rupert Strohmeier therefore took three points away from the Shark Tank in Gmunden.

Late in the evening, Wiener Eislauf-Verein and Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub crossed sticks in Bruck/Leitha. The first period was evenly balanced, with WEV having slightly more shots on goal at 15:11. At the start of the second period, the visitors from Kapfenberg struck twice. Stefan Derler in the 24th minute and Pierre Graf on the power play in the 24th minute made it 2:0 for the Kangaroos.

After Florian Hoppl made it 3:0 for the Styrians after 33 minutes, the game was decided. Patrick Huppmann increased the visitors’ lead to 4:0 in the 51st minute on a 5:3 power play. Maximilian Kafka scored a consolation goal for Vienna one second before the end.

1st EHC Althofen vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal 4:2 (0:0,2:2,2:0)
Sat., 06 November 2021, 17:00
Goalscorers, 1st EHC Althofen: Maximilian Isopp (25:07, A1: Kevin Schettina), Martin Zeloth (32:04, A1: Florian Kurat, A2: Kevin Schettina), Florian Kurath (49:58, A1: Florian Zeloth, A2: Maximilian Isopp), Martin Zeloth (53:12, A1: Florian Kurath, A2: Kevin Schettina)
Goalscorers EC LiWoDruck Spittal: Kevin Essmann (27:29, A1: Marco Zorec), Marco Zorec (39:19, A1: Kevin Essmann)

EC GRAND Immo VSV vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 7:5 (1:2,3:1,3:2)
Sat, 06 November 2021, 18:00
Goalscorers EC GRAND Immo VSV: Maximilian Aumaier (05:20, A1: Marco Steiner, A2: Stefan Ortner), Grega Pazlar (21:58, A1: Mark Sojer), Marco Steiner (27:32, A1: Stefan Ortner, A2: Mark Sojer) Florian Lanzinger (33:41, A1: Grega Pazlar, A2: Joshua Peharz), Mark Sojer (42:13, A1: Julian Maurer, A2: Elias Widmann), Grega Pazlar (46:38, A1: Elias Widmann, A2: Mark Sojer), Florian Lanzinger (52:39, A1: Grega Pazlar, A2: Mark Sojer)
Goalscorers ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Tino Teppert (07:11), Andreas Wiedergut (09:52, A1: Kristian Kravanja, A2: Ruslan Gelfanov), Tino Teppert (39:17, A1: Nico Toff, A2: Daniel Friedrich), Nico Toff (46:07, A1: Stefan Untersteiner, A2: Fabian Stichauner), Nico Toff (55:37, A1: Franz Wilfan, A2: Tino Teppert)

WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins vs. SC Hohenems 0:2 (0:0,0:0,0:2)
Sat, 06 November 2021, 19:30
Goalscorers SC Hohenems: Stefan Spannring (50:49, A1: Pascal Kainz, A2: Christian Gmeiner), Thomas Auer empty-net goal (59:08, A1: Pascal Kainz)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II 4:0 (0:0,0:0,4:0)
Fri, 05 November 2021, 19:30
Goalscorers EHC Crocodiles Kundl: Vladimir Dolnik (41:41, A1: Martin Haffner, A2: Fabio Schramm), Alexander Fazokas (42:18, A1: Stefan Rainer), Fabio Schramm (46:52, A1: Adrian Schuster, A2: David Gritsch), Vladimir Dolnik (52:59, A1: Christoph Echtler, A2: Fabio Schramm)

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz 2:3 (1:1,1:2,0:0)
Sat, 06 November 2021, 18:15
Goalscorers UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: Martin Brabec (04:49, A1: Vladimir Zvonik), Andre Flatscher (27:28, A1: Martin Brabec)
Goalscorers ATSE Graz: Nikolaus Zierer (18:11, A1: Diethard Winzig), Diethard Winzig (22:01, A1: Cory Krenz), Cory Krenz (38:06, A1: Nikolaus Zierer)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub 1:4 (0:0,0:3,1:1)
Sat., 06 November 2021, 21:30
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Maximilian Kafka (59:59)”
Kapfenberger SV - EHC goalscorers: Stefan Derler (23:27, A1: Pierre Graf, A2: Manuel Gruber), Pierre Graf (24:50, A1: Lukas Draschkowitz, A2: Kristof Reinthaler), Florian Hoppl (33:10, A1: Kristof Reinthaler), Patrick Huppmann (50:28, A1: Kristof Reinthaler, A2: Florian Hoppl)