SC Hohenems remain HC Kufstein's closest challengers after derby win against VEU Feldkirch

Two games were played in the Ö Eishockey Liga Division West on All Saints' Day: SC Hohenems won the Vorarlberg derby against VEU Feldkirch 7:4 and remain the closest challengers to league leaders HC Kufstein. The Tyroleans had to battle hard away to league newcomers Dornbirner EC for a long time before eventually claiming a clear 6:1 victory.

01 November 20234 min read

In the first derby of the season between VEU Feldkirch and SC Samina Hohenems, the underdogs made the better start in front of nearly 500 fans at the Vorarlberghalle and took the lead through top scorer Yannick Wiedner, 1:0 (8.). That was the starting signal for an entertaining, high-scoring first period. Christian Haidinger turned the game around with a double, levelling at 1:1 (11.) and making it 2:1 (15.) for the Steinböcke within four minutes.

The events came thick and fast in the final minute before the first intermission: first, VEU top scorer Joonatan Kyllönen had the Feldkirch fans celebrating on the power play as he levelled at 2:2, 29 seconds before the siren (20.). But the visitors quickly silenced the celebrations, with Thomas Auer striking six seconds before the end of the period to make it 3:2 for SC Hohenems (20.).

In the second period, Hohenems, who were operating with a short bench of just 14 skaters and without the two point scorers Martin Grabher Meier and Marcel Wolf, raised the tempo. Christian Haidinger completed his hat-trick to make it 4:2 (26.), before Sandro Schadl extended the lead to 5:2 just under three minutes later (29.).

Daniel Fekete's team, with Fekete standing behind the bench for ill head coach Thomas Sticha, had built a three-goal lead before the halfway point of the game.

When Niklas Gehringer added the Steinböcke's sixth on the power play (33.) to make it 6:2, the game appeared to be decided prematurely. However, VEU were not beaten yet, as Aaron Matt beat Hohenems goalie Matthias Fritz to cut the deficit to 3:6 (37.).

Lukas Göggel created a buzz at the Vorarlberghalle in the final period: the right winger made it 4:6, suddenly making the derby exciting again (48.). SC Hohenems then gave little away and established a clear advantage in the shots-on-goal statistics. Julian Grafschafter sealed the 7:4 victory with an empty-net goal 35 seconds before the final siren (60.). After their derby win, the Steinböcke remain the closest challengers to league leaders HC Kufstein.

Dornbirn challenge Kufstein all the way for two periods

The Dornbirner EC started the home game against Division West leaders with only 14 skatersHC Kufstein, who themselves took to the ice at the Messestadion with just 15 skaters in their line-up, with only __OEHV_NUM_P_A__ skaters.

The young team from league newcomers Dornbirn had suffered five defeats so far, but showed fighting spirit from the outset against the Tyroleans and matched them in every respect. It was only late in the first period that the favoured Dragons broke down the Bulldogs' defence: Manuel Eder beat Dornbirn netminder David Bernhard to make it 1:0 for HC Kufstein (19.).

The home side also kept the game open in the second period, but Kufstein goalie Patrick Fuchs shut the door and allowed no goals. Dornbirn were also unable to convert two power-play opportunities. The Vorarlberg defence stood firm alongside goalie David Bernhard, and the league leaders from the Fortress Town continued to struggle. It was not until 16 seconds before the end of the period that Herbert Steiner made it 2:0 for head coach Ivo Novotny's team (40.).

Anyone who thought HC Kufstein would comfortably see out the game with a 2:0 lead was greatly mistaken: Maid Meduseljac finally got Dornbirn on the scoresheet, cutting the deficit to 1:2 early in the final period (44.) and making the game exciting.

However, Kufstein can rely on their top scorer in difficult phases: David Hrazdira restored the two-goal lead on the power play, making it 3:1 (48.). It was only in the final six minutes that the West leaders sealed the win with three further goals. First, Florian Eder (55.) and Dominique Saringer (56.) struck twice within 41 seconds to make it 4:1 and 5:1, deciding the game in the Dragons' favour. 43 seconds before the end, Florian Eder scored the final 6:1 score for HC Kufstein on the power play (60.).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems 4:7 (2:3,1:3,1:1)

Wed, 01 November 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

VEU Feldkirch scorers: Yannick Wiedner (07:41), Joonatan Kyllönen (19:31/PP1), Aaron Matt (36:25), Lukas Göggel (47:15)

SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Christian Haidinger (10:18, 14:16, 25:43), Thomas Auer (19:54), Sandro Schadl (28:29), Niklas Gehringer (32:13/PP1), Julian Grafschafter (59:25/EN)

Dornbirner EC vs. HC Kufstein 1:6 (0:1,0:1,1:4)

Wed, 01 November 2023, 19:30, Messestadion

Dornbirner EC scorer: Maid Meduseljac (43:05)

HC Kufstein scorers: Manuel Eder (18:15), Herbert Steiner (39:44), David Hrazdira (47:11/PP1), Florian Eder (54:27, 59:17/PP1), Dominique Saringer (55:08)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat, 04 November 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems