Sharks Gmunden beat cham­pions Kapfen­berg – Hohenems claim clear win over Wattens Penguins

The big Ö Eishockey Liga clash in the East Division on Saturday was UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden against champions and title holders Kapfenberger SV. In the first period, the two goaltenders – Luka Gračnar for the Sharks and Oliver Zirngast for the Kangaroos – were the centre of attention, but neither conceded in a fiercely contested game. 

That changed in the second period – and how: Alwin Schuster gave the Upper Austrians a 1:0 lead (27'), before Bastian Szieber made it 2:0 just under two minutes later (29'). The Mürztal side struck for the first time 54 seconds later, with Christoph Draschkowitz pulling one back (30'). Exactly one minute later, the Sharks had restored their two-goal lead, with Johannes Mackner making it 3:1 (31').

Kapfenberg, who had travelled with a short line-up of just 13 outfield players, battled their way back into the game on the power play through player-coach Kris Reinthaler, who scored to cut the deficit once again (36').

In terms of the course of the game, the duel fully lived up to its billing as a big clash in the final period as well. Pierre Graf capitalised on a power play to level at 3:3 for the title holders (42'). The Sharks struck again just under a minute later, with Paul Ornetzeder scoring the 4:3 for Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner’s team (43'). Eleven minutes later, Ornetzeder set the Sharks on course for victory with his second goal on the power play. 

Kapfenberg pulled goaltender Oliver Zirngast, but Stefan Trost’s goal to cut the deficit was all the Mürztal side could manage (58'). Gmunden handed the Styrian champions their second defeat in two games. 

WEV edge HDK Maribor in overtime

Following their sensational victory over champions Kapfenberg in their Ö Eishockey Liga debut, league newcomers HDK Maribor faced the Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Saturday, another traditional Austrian club. The Viennese side, playing their season opener in Slovenia, took a 1:0 lead through new signing Richard Gruber. The defenceman found the top left corner following a fine combination (10'). 

Following a quick attack and another fine combination, Nejc Kastelic equalised for the Foxes (16'). Both teams subsequently engaged in an open exchange and created several scoring opportunities, but both Lazar Ilić for Maribor and Moritz Merkader for WEV kept their respective nets clean. The match became more exciting and more fiercely contested by the minute. Neither team was able to make the most of their power-play situations by scoring another goal.

The character of the game changed little in the final period, with crunch time underway. Both Maribor and WEV had the winning goal on their sticks, but the two goaltenders could not be beaten. The logical consequence: the game went to overtime. There, Head Coach Philipp Ullrich’s team were unable to capitalise on a brief 4:3 power-play phase. However, Denis Simek scored the winner 28 seconds before the end of overtime (65'). WEV celebrated a 2:1 overtime victory in their season opener.

The ATSE Graz had a bye this weekend – Graz’s next game is on National Day against HDK Maribor.

West Division: SC Hohenems celebrate clear home win over the Wattens Penguins

Following their ultimately clear away win against HC Kufstein, SC Samina Hohenems hosted WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins in the West Division for their home opener at the Herrenried on Saturday. The visitors from Tyrol made the better start: Julian Jagersbacher scored on the power play with a well-placed shot to make it 1:0 (7'). After a brief shock, the Steinböcke recovered, improved offensively and equalised on the power play before the end of the first period: Patrick Spannring fired the puck into the net from the right to make it 1:1 (17').

In the second period, Hohenems raised the tempo and caught the Penguins cold on the counter twice in quick succession. First, Lukas Fritz put them 2:1 ahead (34.). Niklas Gehringer then made it 3:1 for Head Coach Thomas Sticha’s team (36.). Wattens found a response once more, with Moritz Geisler pulling one back for 2:3 just 47 seconds later (36.). A quick-fire double within 13 seconds from Patrick Spannring and Niklas Gehringer, both scoring their second goals of the game, saw the home side pull clear at 5:2 (38.). After 40 minutes, Wattens netminder Wotan Knecht made way for his colleague Marco Simair.

In the final period, the Vorarlberg side scored three goals in just under two minutes through Julian Payr (52.), Christian Haidinger (53.) and Julian Grafschafter (54.). Benjamin Kyllönen completed the scoring for 9:2 just under three minutes from time. Nothing now stands in the way of a Vorarlberg ice hockey celebration in the derby against EHC Lustenau on National Day.

HC Kufstein celebrate first win of the season in Dornbirn

Second successive home game for Dornbirner EC: Following the defeat against Kundl, Sunday’s conclusion to the second matchday saw HC Kufstein become the next club from the Tyrolean district of the same name to visit the Bulldogs at the Messestadion. The Dragons raced into a 3:0 lead in the opening period through goals from Dominique Saringer (4.), Herbert Steiner (14.) and Fabian Nußbaumer (18.).

Kufstein added two more goals in the second period: Clemens Paulweber first made it 4:0 (24.), before Florian Eder extended the lead to 5:0 shortly before the halfway point of the game (30.). Anyone who thought the game was decided at that point had reckoned without the Bulldogs. Danny Madlener first scored the Vorarlberg side’s opening goal (36.). Shortly afterwards, Jonas Meschnig and Sebastian Koberger struck twice within 38 seconds on the power play to suddenly make the game exciting again (38.).

Jonas Repo dashed hopes of a comeback with Kufstein’s 6:3 goal (43.), as Head Coach Andreas Luchner’s team eventually celebrated a 6:3 victory and secured their first three points.

EHC Lustenau see off Crocodiles Kundl

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl began their Division West campaign with a lightning-fast goal in Friday’s home opener against EHC Lustenau: Erik Hefke gave the Crocodiles a 1:0 lead after exactly 40 seconds (1.). The Lions from the Ländle responded quickly, with Adem Kandemir levelling the scores three minutes later (4.). Maid Meduseljac then kept his bearings in the Kundl fog to give Lustenau the lead for the first time that evening (7.).

Both teams contested a hard-fought duel, with the Crocodiles first levelling at 2:2 through Patrik Lithen in the second period (25.). Shortly after the halfway point, the visitors were back in front: veteran Martin Grabher Meier scored the 3:2 on the power play for Head Coach Daniel Fekete’s team (31.). 62 seconds had elapsed in the third period when Sebastian Schild scored the 3:3 equaliser for Head Coach Jaro Betka’s side (42.).

Schild then added the goal for 4:3, completing the Crocodiles’ comeback (47.). But Lustenau hit back in a high-scoring exchange, with Chris D’Alvise equalising just 17 seconds later (47.). Towards the end, the home side weakened themselves with two penalties, which Lustenau ruthlessly exploited: Thomas Auer scored for 5:4 on the 5:3 power play (56.), before Dominic Haberl sealed the win with an empty-net goal 38 seconds from time (60). The league newcomers celebrated their second win in as many games.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus 5:4 (0:0,3:2,2:2)

Sat, 19 October 2024, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden

Sharks Gmunden scorers: Alwin Schuster (26:02 min.), Bastian Szieber (28:49 min.), Johannes Mackner (30:43 min.), Paul Ornetzeder (42:43 min., 53:32 min./PP1)

KSV Kängurus scorers: Christoph Draschkowitz (at 29:43), Kristof Reinthaler (at 35:57/PP1), Pierre Graf (at 41:40/PP1), Stefan Trost (at 57:59)

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 1:2 after overtime (1:1,0:0,0:0,0:1)

Sat., 19 October 2024, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

HDK Maribor scorers: Nejc Kastelic (at 15:09/PP1)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Richard Gruber (at 09:18), Denis Simek (at 64:32)

ATSE Graz have a bye

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 9:2 (1:1,4:1,4:0)
Sat., 19 October 2024, 19:00, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Patrick Spannring (at 16:01/PP1, 37:01), Lukas Fritz (at 33:53), Niklas Gehringer (at 35:07, 37:14), Julian Payr (at 51:47), Christian Haidinger (at 52:38), Julian Grafschafter (at 53:24), Benjamin Kyllönen (at 56:57)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Julian Jagersbacher (at 06:49/PP1), Moritz Geisler (at 35:54)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau 4:6 (1:2,1:1,2:3)
Fri., 18 October 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Erik Hefke (at 00:40), Patrik Lithen (at 24:15), Sebastian Schild (at 41:02, 46:48)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Adem Kandemir (at 03:42), Maid Meduseljac (at 06:50), Martin Grabher Meier (at 30:43/PP1), Christopher D’Alvise (at 47:05), Thomas Auer (at 55:34/PP2), Dominic Haberl (at 59:22/EN)

Dornbirner EC vs. HC Kufstein 3:6 (0:3,3:2,0:1)
Sun., 20 October 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorers: Danny Madlener (35:40), Jonas Meschnig (37:10), Sebastian Koberger (37:48/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Dominique Saringer (03:18), Herbert Steiner (13:20), Fabian Nußbaumer (17:02), Clemens Paulweber (23:32), Florian Eder (29:44), Jonas Repo (42:43)

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