Semi-finals: SC Hohenems take the lead against WEV – Sharks Gmunden draw with Lustenau

Semi-final 1 – first leg: Sharks Gmunden miss out on upset against EHC Lustenau

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced the in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Muki Eisarena on Saturday in front of more than 500 fans.EHC Lustenau, who had emerged as the number one title favourites based on the season so far. The two opponents engaged in an intense playoff battle from the very first shift. 

The Traunsee Sharks sank their teeth into their opponents in the truest sense, closing down the space and creating attacking threats in the Lions’ defensive zone. Gmunden stepped up the pressure on their first power play and the 1:0 for the hosts was in the air, but did not come. Both goaltenders – Luka Gračnar for the Sharks and Lukas Reihs for Lustenau – ensured that the teams went into the dressing rooms level at goalless draw after the first period.

At the start of the second period, Philipp Koczera had the chance to give Lustenau the lead, but he was denied by Gračnar from close range. The match remained a tight affair, contested fiercely by both teams. On their second power play, veteran Marc-André Dorion entered the offensive zone and scored from the right face-off circle to make it 1:0 for Sharks Gmunden in the 26th minute. 

The favourites from the Ländle then had the chance to level the scores on the power play, but things turned out differently: Mathias Haiböck sent Elias Koller through, and he gave goaltender Reihs no chance with a classic shorthander to make it 2:0 (minute 29). The dominant Western Conference winners continued to struggle and let another power play pass without scoring in the second period.

After successfully killing a penalty, Head Coach Dániel Fekete’s team tried to raise the tempo again in the final period, but the Upper Austrians stood firm. Lustenau then got on the board in the semi-final on their third power play, with Dominic Haberl scoring from close range after a spell of pressure to make it 1:2 with 50 minutes played. 

The favourites even found a late equaliser: following a face-off, the puck fell to prolific scorer Martin Grabher Meier, who fired home from the slot to make it 2:2 (59th minute). Gmunden head coach Gregor Baumgartner had prepared his team very well and, thanks in part to a strong goaltending performance, kept the goal machine from the Ländle under control for long stretches. Next Saturday's return leg at the Rheinhalle promises high drama.

Semi-final 2 – first leg: SC Hohenems take the lead against Wiener Eislauf-Verein

The SC Samina Hohenems welcomed Wiener Eislauf-Verein for the first leg of the semi-final between the two open-air clubs on Saturday, in front of almost 1.000 fans at Eisstadion Herrenried. Both teams adopted an attacking approach from the outset, without neglecting defensive cover. Following a superb pass, Niklas Gehringer suddenly found himself alone in on WEV goaltender Moritz Merkader, who denied the Vorarlberg side’s excellent chance with a huge save. 

Straight after the ensuing face-off, the action was fast-paced: Jürgen Fussenegger found Niklas Gehringer, who set up Julian Grafschafter perfectly. Grafschafter turned the puck over the line from close range to make it 1:0 for the Steinböcke (9th minute). Two minutes later, the side from the federal capital faced their first penalty kill but successfully saw out the numerical disadvantage.

With their narrow lead behind them, the hosts now had the upper hand, while WEV repeatedly launched quick counter-attacks. HSC goaltender Karlo Škec exuded calm and confidence when facing the Vienna side’s shots. The visitors had their first power play in the final minute of the opening period and carried almost a minute of it into the second, but were unable to capitalise with a goal.

Both teams maintained a good tempo in the second period, although high-quality scoring chances were scarce at both ends during this phase. WEV became more attacking with every shift, while Hohenems were solid defensively. Just after the midway point of the game, Head Coach Thomas Sticha’s team survived a numerical disadvantage, including a spell of three against five. The Emser then went on the power play themselves, but the narrow 1:0 lead remained. 

Late in the second period, the hosts won the puck in the offensive zone and Julian Grafschafter made it 2:0 on the rebound after having previously been denied by Merkader with a backhand attempt (38nd minute). The Schlittschuhclub carried a power play into the final period, and Benjamin Kyllönen was perfectly positioned after an ideal pass from Christian Haidinger to make it 3:0 (42nd minute). 

Head Coach Philipp Ullrich’s team then tried to get on the scoresheet in the semi-final, also with the aggregate score in mind, but the Emser continued to defend well, with goaltender Škec there at the back as well. In the end, the HSC netminder recorded a shutout as SC Hohenems won 3:0 and put themselves in a good position for the return leg next Saturday at the WEV Arena am Heumarkt.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Play-offs – Semi-final first legs

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. EHC Lustenau 2:2 (0:0,2:0,0:2)
Sat., 22 February 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Marc-André Dorion (25:42/PP1), Elias Koller (28:49/SH1)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Dominic Haberl (49:20/PP1), Martin Grabher Meier (58:42)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:0 (1:0,1:0,1:0)
Sat., 22 February 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Julian Grafschafter (08:04, 37:39), Benjamin Kyllönen (41:03/PP1)

Ö Eishockey Liga – Play-offs – Semi-final second legs

EHC Lustenau vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 

Sat., 01 March 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat., 01 March 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

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