Show­downs with the world cham­pions in Znojmo and Linz

With Tomas Kundrátek, who has also played several games in the NHL and KHL, Ondrej Beranek and Radan Lenc, who currently plays in the Swedish SHL, to name just three, our neighbours already have several experienced players on board. In recent years, Czechia and Austria have contested several heated World Championship warm-up clashes, such as the 1:4 defeat in Linz three years ago or the 1:2 loss in Brno (CZE) in 2023.

“With Czechia, it is difficult to assess how close they already are to their World Championship roster, as all NHL players are still missing. In any case, they are fielding a strong team. All of their players are active in Europe’s top leagues. They also beat Germany twice last week – once 7:0 and once 1:0,” analyses Roger Bader the upcoming opponents.

At last year’s World Championship, Austria were beaten 0:4 in Prague. However, the result looks more emphatic than the game actually was. Red-White-Red have only managed to claim victory once so far. At the 2022 World Championship in Tampere (FIN), they prevailed 2:1 after a penalty shoot-out. A historic success for Austria.

Austria and Czechia have faced each other in World Championship preparation every year since 2019, with the exception of the COVID19 year 2020, when all games had to be cancelled.

Austria’s first phase of World Championship preparation ends with the home game in Linz next Saturday. Next week, Head Coach Roger Bader expects the players from EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC to join the team. Nine players were added this week, while Manuel Ganahl will miss the remainder of the World Championship preparation and the World Championship itself for personal reasons.

“We want to match the Czechs’ higher tempo and be good opponents for them twice. The first phase of World Championship preparation ends after this week. Next week, the finalists of the win2day ICE Hockey League will join the national team. For the players here in Linz, this means they need to prove that they still belong in the squad. Training here in Linz is at a very high level and I am eager to see how the players perform against Czechia,” explains Head Coach Roger Bader.

Head to Head AUT vs. CZE

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION

Czechia vs. Austria
Thu, 17 April 2025, 19:00, Znojmo (CZE), live on Krone TV

Austria vs. Czechia
Sat., 19 April 2025, 17:30, Linz, live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Germany
Thu., 24 April 2025, 19:00, Zell am See, live on ORF SPORT +

Germany vs. Austria
Sat., 26 April 2025, 17:00, Rosenheim (GER), live on ORF SPORT +

Austria vs. Canada
Sun., 4 May 2025, 19:00, Vienna STEFFL Arena, live on ORF SPORT +

Already played:

Hungary vs. Austria 5:1 (0:1,2:0,3:0)
Fri., 11 April 2025, 18:00, Ajka (HUN)
Hungary scorers: Márk Schlekmann (34./PP1), István Terbócs (39., 48.), Dominik Horváth (46./PP1), Gergő Ambrus (49./SH1)
Austria scorer: Paul Huber (8.)

Hungary vs. Austria 4:2 (1:0,1:1,2:1)
Thu., 10 April 2025, 19:00, Fehervar (HUN)
Hungary scorers: Vilmos Galló (7./PP1), István Terbócs (33.), Balázs Varga (44./PP2), Roland Kiss (50.)
Austria goalscorers: Ramon Schnetzer (34 mins), Paul Huber (46 mins)

Austria vs. Latvia 1:4 (0:0,0:2,1:2)
Sat., 5 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna Hall 3 STEFFL Arena
Austria goalscorer: Dominic Zwerger (53 mins) 
Latvia goalscorers: Georgijs Golovkovs (22 mins), Anri Ravinskis (39 mins, 41 mins), Rihards Bukarts (48 mins/PP1)

Austria vs. Latvia 2:3 AET (1:0,0:2,1:0,0:1)
Fri., 4 April 2025, 16:20, Vienna Hall 3 STEFFL Arena
Austria goalscorers: Benjamin Lanzinger (19 mins), Dominic Zwerger (55 mins)
Latvia goalscorers: Nauris Sējējs (28 mins), Kristaps Skrastiņš (29 mins), Miks Tumānovs (62 mins)

2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

9–25 May 2025, Stockholm, Sweden & Herning, Denmark

Austria vs. Finland
Fri., 09 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat., 10 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1

Austria vs. Slovakia
Mon., 12 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20, live on ORF 1

Canada vs. Austria
Thu, 15 May 2025, Globe Arena, 20:20live on ORF 1

Austria vs. France
Fri, 16 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20live on ORF 1

Slovenia vs. Austria
Sun, 18 May 2025, Globe Arena, 16:20live on ORF 1

Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 20 May 2025, Globe Arena, 12:20live on ORF 1