SC Hohenems comfort­ably beat cham­pions Wattens Penguins - ATSE Graz edge WEV

In the big showdown, the hosts took the lead through Johannes Hehle in the fourth minute against defending champions Wattens Penguins at the Herrenriedstadion.

A gripping and physical battle for every inch of ice then developed in the wonderful open-air arena. It quickly became clear that this match was not just about three points, but also about prestige.

There were anxious moments when Michael Rainer of the Steinböcke was left lying on the ice. He was unexpectedly hit by a check, but initial examinations in hospital suggested he had not suffered a serious injury.

Philipp Niederhauser levelled at 1:1 for the champions on the power play in the 18th minute. The Tyrolean players could not celebrate for long, however, as the Steinböcke struck again just 41 seconds after the equaliser, with David Slivnik making it 2:1.

The game initially remained tight in the second period. From Marcel Wolf's 3:1 goal in the 27th minute onwards, the Vorarlberg side took control, while the champions began to feel the effects of their lack of training time due to the absence of ice time in Wattens. Four seconds after the midway point of the game, Martin Grabher Meier made it 4:1.

When Patric Scheffknecht made it 5:1 on the power play just 29 seconds later, the match was decided in Hohenems' favour. Just under three minutes before the end of the period, Lukas Fritz even made it 6:1 for HSC, who comfortably won the second period 4:0.

Manuel Merk added another goal for the Steinböcke in the 53rd minute to make it 7:1. Following their 2:6 defeat against Kufstein, champions Wattens thus lost their second match as well, while SC Hohenems regained top spot from the Dragons.

North-East: Kapfenberg comfortably overcome Dukes Graz

League leaders Kapfenberg made a lightning start to their home game against UHT Dukes Graz. Stefan Trost introduced himself to Dukes netminder Gernot Fally in the fourth minute, scoring 1:0 for the Kangaroos.

The team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler remained focused after taking the early lead and were clinical in front of goal. Rupert Fichtinger made it 2:0 in the 15th minute. Exactly a minute and a half into the second period, Christoph Draschkowitz scored 3:0 for the Mürztal side. Graz played well, but met their match in KSV netminder Oliver Zirngast, including on a penalty shot.

Just under a minute and a half into the final period, Patrick Huppmann made it 4:0, definitively setting the Kangaroos on course for victory. The Graz Dukes did not give up, with Moritz Stradner reducing the deficit to 1:4 in the 43rd minute. Stefan Trost, who had opened the scoring for Kapfenberg, also had the final say with the goal for 5:1. The Kangaroos celebrated their third full victory in their third game.

ATSE Graz edge WEV

It is, and remains, a classic of Austrian ice hockey whenever ATSE Graz face Wiener Eislauf-Verein.

Moritz Ausperger gave the hosts an early 1:0 lead in the fourth minute at the small Hall B of the Merkur Eisstadion. The two teams then engaged in an evenly balanced game played at a good pace, with plenty of good passages of play. Andreas Meixner increased the lead to 2:0 for player-coach Rupert Strohmeier's side in the 24th minute of the second period.

But WEV fought their way back into the match. Lucas Burzin put the Viennese side on the scoreboard and breathed new hope and energy into his team. Vienna's player-coach Mario Kubeczka himself was responsible for the 2:2 equaliser in the 35th minute. The match was wide open again and guaranteed an exciting final period. 

Graz made the better start to that period. ATSE player-coach Rupert Strohmeier followed the example of his Vienna counterpart, putting his team 3:2 ahead in the 42nd minute. Andreas Meixner restored the hosts' two-goal lead in the 49th minute.

With one minute remaining, WEV player-coach Mario Kubeczka again scored on the power play to make it 3:4 and make the game exciting once more. ATSE Graz saw out the narrow victory.

Murtal Lions celebrate rout against Gmunden

EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions celebrated a resounding 9:1 away win over UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden.

The Styrians made the better start at the Haifischbecken on Lake Traun and immediately capitalised on their first power play, with Mario Sulzer scoring 1:0 in the seventh minute. 25 seconds after taking the lead, Slovenian Luka Petelin put the puck into the Sharks net again past netminder Daniel Mörixbauer, making it 2:0 for the Lions. Peter Mateicka made it 3:0 in the 16th minute for the Murtal side, who had travelled with just 13 outfield players.

Just under five minutes into the second period, Daniel Forcher made it 4:0 for Zeltweg, an early decisive moment at Gmunden's ice rink. Luka Petelin scored his second goal in the 37th minute to make it 5:0 for the Lions, before Peter Mateicka completed his own double 18 seconds later to make it six for Murtal Lions.

The Styrians' goal festival continued in the final period. Mario Sulzer extended the score to 7:0 in the 43rd minute. Markus Krotsch scored a consolation goal for the Sharks in the 54th minute, before Dominik Walchshofer and Florian Dinhopel, on the power play, completed the emphatic 9:1 away victory for EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions.

Victories for Kufstein, EHC Crocodiles Kundl and VSV

HC Kufstein continue to ride a wave of success in the Ö Eishockey Liga's West Group. After defeating champions Wattens, the Dragons also won 5:2 away to VEU Feldkirch on Friday. EHC Crocodiles Kundl are also on maximum points after two rounds, having celebrated a 5:2 home win against HC Innsbruck II. In the opening game of the South Group, VSV's Young Eagles produced a convincing performance in their 6:3 away win against EC LiWoDruck Spittal .

West Group matchday

SC Hohenems vs. WSG Wattens - Penguins 7:1 (2:1,4:0,1:0)
Sat., 22 October 2022, 19:00, Herrenriedstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Johannes Hehle (at 03:38), David Slivnik (at 18:22), Marcel Wolf (at 26:35), Martin Grabher Meier (at 30:04), Patric Scheffknecht (at 30:33/PP1), Lukas Fritz (at 37:12), Manuel Merk (at 52:45)
WSG Wattens - Penguins scorer: Philipp Niederhauser (at 17:41/PP1)

North-East Group matchday

UEHV Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions 1:9 (0:3,0:3,1:3)
Sat., 22 October 2022, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden scorer: Markus Krotsch (at 53:25)
EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions scorers: Mario Sulzer (at 06:49/PP1, at 42:33), Luka Petelin (at 07:14, at 36:32), Peter Mateicka (at 15:38, at 36:50), Daniel Forcher (at 24:47), Dominik Walchshofer (at 54:30), Florian Dinhopel (at 56:25/PP1)

Kapfenberger SV vs. UHT Dukes Graz 5:1 (2:0,1:0,2:1)
Sat., 22 October 2022, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Stefan Trost (at 03:31, at 57:31), Rupert Fichtinger (at 14:25), Christoph Draschkowitz (at 21:30), Patrick Huppmann (at 41:25)
UHT Dukes Graz scorer: Moritz Stradner (at 43:00)

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 4:3 (1:0,1:2,2:1)
Sat., 22 October 2022, 19:30 Merkur Eisstadion Graz
ATSE Graz scorers: Moritz Ausperger (03:26), Andreas Meixner (23:31, 48:22), Rupert Strohmeier (41:06)
WEV scorers: Lucas Burzin (24:54), Mario Kubeczka (34:56, 59:01/PP1)

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Further article on the Ö Eishockey Liga

HC Kufstein win against VEU Feldkirch – VSV's young Eagles celebrate victory in Spittal