SC Hohenems win home opener against Kundl - ATSE Graz victo­rious at EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

After four consecutive away games and just as many wins, SC Samina Hohenems celebrated their long-awaited home opener in the new Ö Eishockey Liga season on Saturday against EHC Crocodiles Kundl.

In their first meeting at the start of the new season, the Ibex caught the Crocodiles off guard: after the first period, the score was 6:1 to the Vorarlberg side in Kundl on October 13, who ultimately claimed a comfortable 10:3 victory.

This time, the opening period was much more closely contested. The hosts took a 1:0 lead through Felix Vonbun (7 min.). Kundl quickly found the right response on the power play, with Johannes Schernthaner beating Hohenems netminder Matthias Fritz to make it 1:1 (11 min.).

Just under three minutes later, Head Coach Thomas Sticha's team led 2:1, as Stefan Spannring scored his first goal of the season on the power play (14 min.).

In the second period, SC Hohenems stepped up the pace and pulled away relentlessly. Martin Grabher Meier scored early to make it 3:1 (24 min.). Three minutes later, Lukas Fritz converted a power-play opportunity to make it 4:1, effectively deciding the game in the hosts' favour (27 min.).

Hohenems were now truly in the mood for goals: Marcel Wolf extended the lead to 5:1 (29 min.). However, Head Coach Manfred Mühllechner's team did not give up, with Crocodiles' German top scorer Erik Hefke cutting the deficit to 2:5 (35 min.). Fabian Mandlburger restored the Ibex's four-goal lead with a goal for 6:2 a minute and a half before the second intermission (39 min.).

In the final period, the hosts managed the scoreline, while Kundl were unable to add any further pressure. Benjamin Kyllönen scored on the power play to make it 7:2 just under two minutes from the end (59 min.). The Vorarlberg side thus claimed their fifth win in their fifth game.

ATSE Graz defeat EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

In the match between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, for whom Robin Weihager made a surprise comeback following his serious motorcycle accident in the summer, and ATSE Graz, both teams started the game without any lengthy feeling-out process.

ATSE caught the Lions cold and took an early 1:0 lead, with Marco Scheriau scoring from close range (2 min.). The opening minutes were intense, and Graz added a superb goal following a swift counter-attack to make it 2:0: Niki Zierer played an ideal pass to Luca Rodiga, who gave Lions netminder Nico Herzl no chance (8 min.).

Things got even worse for the hosts as Andreas Meixner deflected the puck in on the power play to make it 3:0 for ATSE Graz (11 min.). Zeltweg could find no way to get into the game or onto the scoreboard in the first period. On the contrary, Graz launched a quick attack a minute before the end of the period, and Mario Petrovitz made it 4:0 with 54 seconds left before the siren (20 min.).

In the second period, the Murtal Lions, with Andreas Brenkusch now in goal, made the better start: following a well-worked power-play move, Luka Petelin made it 1:4 after just under four minutes (25 min.).

Luca Rodiga dashed any hopes of a comeback just 51 seconds later, once again combining with Niki Zierer to make it 5:1 (26 min.). Zeltweg tried to battle their way into the game and had considerably more shots on goal in the second period, but Graz's defence, together with netminder Gernot Fally, stood firm and conceded no further goals.

Even in the final period, player-coach Philipp Ullrich's team did not give up, but Graz's goal remained completely shut out for the final 20 minutes. At the other end, Luca Rodiga capped his performance with his third goal to seal the 6:1 final score four and a half minutes from the end (56 min.). With this away win, ATSE Graz overtook the Murtal Lions in the standings and are now third.

Ö Eishockey Liga – West Division:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 7:2 (2:1,4:1,1:0)
Sat., 04 November 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Felix Vonbun (at 06:45), Stefan Spannring (at 13:15/PP1), Martin Grabher Meier (at 23:33), Lukas Fritz (at 26:44/PP1), Marcel Wolf (at 28:06), Fabian Mandlburger (at 38:36), Benjamin Kyllönen (at 58:09/PP1)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Johannes Schernthaner (at 10:22/PP1), Erik Hefke (at 34:51)

Ö Eishockey Liga – East Division:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. ATSE Graz 1:6 (0:4,1:1,0:1)
Sat., 04 November 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorer: Luka Petelin (at 24:12/PP1)
ATSE Graz scorers: Marco Scheriau (at 01:26), Luca Rodiga (at 07:12, at 25:03, at 55:33), Andreas Meixner (at 10:59/PP1), Mario Petrovitz (at 19:06)

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV

Postponed due to numerous absences through illness – new date to follow

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