Para National Team finishes Olomouc Cup in 7th place

“We can take a lot away from this tournament and have seen the level at which the top teams operate,” said Head Coach Lucas Herrnegger, who was not dissatisfied after the tournament. The team faced the favourites and eventual tournament winners, the South Tyrol Eagles, right at the start.

“The pace was incredibly high; we simply lacked the speed,” remarked Herrnegger. The team was also unable to keep up the high pace for the full duration against the tournament runners-up, the Czech Junior Team, which consisted exclusively of 13- to 15-year-old players.

In the final group-stage match against Para Hockey Havirov, the team threw everything onto the ice once again, but still had to concede defeat. However, this did not diminish their morale or fighting spirit.

“The team remained motivated; nobody dropped their heads after the three defeats. Everyone was determined to get that win in the end,” proudly reported Team Manager Libor Fischer. And they were to secure it in the match for 7th place against Poland.

After falling 0:1 behind, Raphael Jung first scored the important equaliser, which was also Austria's first goal of the tournament. Sandro Kalegaris gave the Red-White-Reds a 2:1 lead before they conceded the 2:2 equaliser just a few minutes before the end.

The team came through two penalties in quick succession unscathed, before Timo Ropp scored the winner in the final minute.

Lucas Herrnegger: “The players were able to gain valuable experience and take the next step, too.”

Next on the agenda for the Para National Team: in October, the team will hold a two-day camp in Zeltweg, which will also include another Para Hockey Day on Saturday, 21 October from 09:30 to 10:30, giving interested visitors the opportunity to speak with national team players and discover the fastest team sport on ice.

OLOMOUC CUP 2023

Schedule

South Tyrol Eagles vs. Para Team Austria 8:0 (3:0, 5:0)
Fri, 01 September 2023, 15:30

Para Team Austria vs. Czech Junior Team 3:0 (1:0, 2:0)
Sat, 02 September 2023, 09:15

Para Team Austria vs. Para Hockey Havirov 3:0
Sat., 02 September 2023, 16:15

7th-place play-off – Para Team Austria vs. Para Hockey Poland 3:2 (1:1, 2:1)
Sun., 03 September 2023, 10:45
Austria goalscorers: Raphael Jung, Sandro Kalegaris, Timo Ropp

SQUAD