Para Ice Hockey World Cham­pi­onship: Austria cele­brate emphatic win over Australia in Bangkok

Austria again started with Werner Pouzar in goal against Australia and had to kill an early penalty. Austria struck offensively while shorthanded – and how: two shorthanded goals quickly gave the ÖEHV selection a 2:0 lead. 

Captain Thomas Schilcher scored on a breakaway with a fine shot to make it 1:0 (3.). The second goal was also a beauty: Kai Habeler fired the puck under the crossbar (5.). Straight from the face-off, Michael Sauer won the puck, raced clear and made it 3:0 just ten seconds later (5.). Red-White-Red kept the tempo high and made perfect use of the open spaces. 

Then Timo Ropp, who had already provided the assists for the opening two goals, had his first big moment: he drove powerfully towards the opposition goal and scored to make it 4:0 with a superb shot from the slot into the top corner (9.). The team coached by head coach Erik Vikström pressed on and all but sealed the result early: after a fine cross-ice pass from Timo Ropp, Kai Habeler scored his second goal from close range to make it 5:0 in the first period (14.).

Early in the second period, Michael Sauer turned a loose puck over the line following an attack to make it 6:0 (17.). Austria then took a little pace out of the game, but remained dominant and in control. Michael Sauer then played the set-up, passing the puck from behind the goal to Kai Habeler, who converted from close range to make it 7:0 (21.). 

In the 23rd minute, Michael Ladstätter came into goal for Werner Pouzar, who had not had to make a single save. Austria turned their attention forwards again and continued scoring: Kai Habeler deflected a Kevin Siess shot in front of the opposition net to make it 8:0 (25.). Shortly afterwards, Austria had a power play and made their advantage count: the puck was loose in the crease, Fabian Burtscher reacted quickest and scored to make it 9:0 (28.).

Shogo Williams-Matsuoka took over in the Australian goal for the final period, and the netminder immediately denied Austria on several good chances. However, the keeper had no chance against Kai Habeler’s close-range shot, as Austria reached double figures with the 10:0 (37.). 

Red-White-Red had raised the tempo again and scored their next goal just 51 seconds later: Timo Ropp lifted the puck under the crossbar to make it 11:0 (37.). Ropp was now really on fire, scoring from the slot to make it 12:0 another 58 seconds later (38.). Austria continued to attack, and after a face-off Fabian Burtscher lifted the puck into the opposition net to make it 13:0 (40.). 

Moments later, Michael Sauer produced a magnificent wraparound to make it 14:0 (41.). Timo Ropp completed the scoring to make it 15:0, again being in the right place in the slot (42.).

For Austria, the best player was named as Johannes Huchler, who was extremely pleased with the match: "The game was very good today, a really great match from us. But we need to put this game behind us straight away; Thailand will certainly be stronger on Friday, so we need to fight even harder and play flat out again!"

Austria’s youngster Timo Ropp, currently the ÖEHV selection’s top scorer with ten points (4 goals, 6 assists) and one of the standout players at the World Championship, was delighted: "We started the game very well today and played together very well. Everything clicked today and the goals almost came by themselves. It’s great fun to play in this team!"

Austria face hosts Thailand on Friday

On Friday, the ÖEHV selection will face hosts Thailand in their third game at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena from 08:00 CET (14:00 local time), with a place in the final at stake, for which first or second place is required. Thailand won their opening game against Australia 25:0. Thailand won the second match of the day against Finland 2:0. Austria therefore need to win in regulation time on Friday. 

Para Ice Hockey World Championship, Pool C

26 - 30 November 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

Austria vs. Australia 15:0 (5:0,4:0,6:0)
Wed, 27 November 2024, 08:00 (14:00 local time), Bangkok
Austria scorers: Thomas Schilcher (3'/SH1), Kai Habeler (5'/SH1, 14', 21', 25', 37'), Michael Sauer (5', 17', 41'), Timo Ropp (9', 37', 38', 42'), Fabian Burtscher (28'/PP1, 40')

Finland vs. Thailand 0:2 (0:0,0:2,0:0)
Wed, 27 November 2024, 11:30 (17:30 local time), Bangkok

29 November
08:00: Austria vs. Thailand (Livestream)
11:30: Finland vs. Australia

Already played:

Finland vs. Austria 9:1 (4:1,2:0,3:0)
Tue, 26 November 2024, 11:30 (17:30 local time), Bangkok
Finland goalscorers: Nemo Pajula (9'/PP2), Juhamatti Himanen (11', 13', 33'), Aaron Hanninen (12', 20'/PP1, 33'), Tuomo Niskanen (19'), Harri Kangastie (34')
Austria goalscorer: Kevin Siess (3'/PP1)

Thailand vs. Australia 25:0 (6:0,9:0,10:0)
Tue, 26 November 2024, 08:00 (14:00 local time), Bangkok

Final round:

30 November
08:00: Bronze medal game (Livestream)
14:00 hrs: Gold medal game (Livestream)