SC Hohenems win show­down at HC Kufstein – Kundl edge VEU Feld­kirch

The major showdown in Division West of the Ö Eishockey Liga took place at the Eisarena Kufstein on National Day. Previously flawless HC Kufstein, who had started the season with four wins from their first four games, faced last season's finalists SC Samina Hohenems. 

It was a test of where they stood: the Vorarlberg side had not played a league game for two weeks before this fixture, and then immediately faced the league leaders, who had to do without top scorer David Hrazdira. 

The first period was marked by numerous penalties, with five-on-five hockey a rarity after the first seven minutes. The team coached by Ivo Novotny primarily had goaltender Thomas Hechenberger to thank for keeping the score goalless for so long. 

The shot count after the first 20 minutes stood at 16:4 in favour of the Steinböcke, who made their fifth power play of the game count late on to take the lead. Marcel Wolf scored for 1:0 for SC Hohenems 15 seconds before the first-period buzzer (20).

In the second period, Martin Grabher Meier made it 2:0 for the team coached by Thomas Sticha (29). Markus Prock then gave the nearly 700 fans at Kufstein Arena something to cheer about for the first time, scoring on the power play to make it 1:2 and raise hopes of a comeback (32). 

However, that hope lasted exactly 42 seconds, as Marcel Wolf beat HCK netminder Thomas Hechenberger for the second time that evening to swiftly restore the visitors' two-goal lead (33). The final period got off to a lightning start for the Dragons, with Boldizsar Beres scoring after 72 seconds to make it 2:3 (42) and turn the clash into a thriller. 

Kufstein now pressed for an equaliser but failed to convert two power-play opportunities. Lukas Fritz made the result safe for Hohenems with the 4:2 three and a half minutes before the final buzzer (57). In the closing stages, Kufstein head coach Ivo Novotny pulled netminder Thomas Hechenberger, but SC Hohenems and goaltender Matthias Fritz held on for the win and handed HC Kufstein their first defeat of the season. 

Crocodiles Kundl edge VEU Feldkirch

On National Day, EHC Crocodiles Kundl hosted VEU Feldkirch at the Eisarena Kundl. Both teams engaged in a lively end-to-end contest with intense battles from the outset. 

The hosts made perfect use of their first power-play opportunity: Jakob Wetzelsberger beat VEU netminder Fabian Pozzera from close range to make it 1:0 (10). Backed by a strong performance from US netminder Kyle Plantz, the Crocodiles added another, with Sebastian Schild finishing a quick counter-attack to make it 2:0 (15). 

Little changed in the character of the game in the second period, with both teams looking to attack. 

The team coached by Manfred Mühllechner once again made the better start. With the fog in the Eisarena Kundl becoming increasingly thick due to the high outside temperature, Adrian Schuster kept his bearings and scored from the slot following a defensive error by VEU Feldkirch to make it 3:0 (24). 

Was it an early decisive blow for the home side? No, the side from Montfortstadt refused to be beaten and launched a comeback. After an error by netminder Plantz, Markus Zeitler nudged the puck over the line to make it 1:3 after exactly 28 minutes. Just under three minutes later, Joonatan Kyllönen scored from the left face-off circle to reduce the deficit to 2:3 (32). 

Out of nowhere, the game was suddenly close again. Fabio Müller converted a rebound from close range after a quick attack, restoring a two-goal lead at 4:2 going into the final period (38).

In the final period, the Tyroleans initially tried to control the game and see out the scoreline. As the period went on, the Vorarlberg side naturally increased the pressure, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium. 

It only became extremely exciting five and a half minutes from the end. VEU Feldkirch pulled one back to make it 3:4 through Simon Hämmerle following a quick counter-attack and a rebound (55 min.), and it was crunch time. And indeed, Feldkirch threw everything forward and were rewarded 31 seconds before the final siren: Yannick Wiedner equalised at 4:4 (60 min.). 

The game went into overtime, where the Crocodiles had a 4:3 power play and used it to secure the win: Johannes Schernthaner fired the puck into the net to make it 5:4 (62 min.) and earned Kundl the extra point. Saturday sees the big derby day in the west, with the local derby between HC Kufstein and Crocodiles Kundl. VEU Feldkirch face Dornbirner EC at the Vorarlberghalle.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:4 (0:1,1:2,1:1)

Thu, 26 October, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

HC Kufstein goalscorers: Markus Prock (31:43 min./PP1), Boldizsar Beres (41:12 min.)

SC Samina Hohenems goalscorers: Marcel Wolf (19:45 min./PP1, 32:25 min.), Martin Grabher Meier (28:27 min.), Lukas Fritz (56:36 min.)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. VEU Feldkirch 5:4 n.V. (2:0,2:2,0:2,1:0)

Thu, 26 October, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Jakob Wetzelsberger (09:52 min./PP1), Sebastian Schild (14:50 min.), Adrian Schuster (23:08 min.), Fabio Müller (37:37 min.), Johannes Schernthaner (61:31 min. /PP1)

VEU Feldkirch goalscorers: Markus Zeitler (28:00 min.), Joonatan Kyllönen (31:18 min.), Simon Hämmerle (54:31 min.), Yannick Wiedner (59:29 min.)

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat, 28 October 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC

Sat, 28 October 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Kapfenberger SV

Sat, 28 October 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sat., 28 October 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat., 28 October 2023, 19:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion - Hall B

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Game Center

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