Stein­dorf top of the table after win over VSV – SC Hohenems over­come Wattens Penguins

There was playoff atmosphere in the air from the outset in the Group West showdown between league leaders SC Samina Hohenems 1974 and defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins.

The Tyroleans, who have been battling hard for several rounds to close the gap to third place in the table, matched the Steinböcke all the way and even took the lead late in the first period. Taylor Holst scored the 1:0 for the Penguins 40 seconds before the buzzer.

Little changed in the second period, with both teams battling for every puck and every inch of ice. At 29 minutes, Julian Grafschafter had the fans at Herrenried celebrating the 1:1 equaliser. Four minutes later, Head Coach Bernd Schmidle's team had turned the game around: Johannes Hehle scored to make it 2:1.

However, the Penguins fought their way emphatically back into the game and Christian Pittl scored the 2:2 equaliser 24 seconds before the second intermission. The game was level after 40 minutes, even though HSC had registered twice as many shots on goal in the second period, 16:8.

The home side took the lead again in the final period. Prolific scorer Martin Grabher Meier scored his 25th goal of the season to make it 3:2 for SC Hohenems at 45 minutes. Wattens battled on, but could no longer find an equaliser. On the contrary, Jonas Meschnig sealed the exciting contest with the 4:2 three minutes from time.

The league leaders extended their advantage over HC Kufstein to three points ahead of Friday's major showdown, while the Penguins remain in fourth place, six points behind VEU Feldkirch. The two contenders for the third playoff place in Group West will face each other twice more. Before then, however, Wattens face a difficult away game in Kundl on Friday.

Kundl claim clear win over HC Innsbruck II

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl effectively decided the game in the first period against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II. Vladimir Dolnik put the home side ahead 1:0 after four minutes. Kayson Arthur Gallant made it 2:0 for the Crocodiles at seven minutes in a fast-paced and entertaining game. 50 seconds after conceding the second goal, Maximilian Franz pulled one back for the Haie from Innsbruck.

Towards the end of the first period, Kundl raised the tempo once more and scored on the power play to make it 3:1 at 18 minutes, with Vladimir Dolnik netting his second goal of the evening. Matthias Haas extended the score to 4:1 for Head Coach Mika Pertillä's team 13 seconds before the first buzzer.

Innsbruck quickly made it 2:4 in the second period. Fabio Müller beat Kundl netminder Johann Bauer just 44 seconds after the restart. After their second goal, Innsbruck made the game more open and also created chances, but Bauer preserved his team's two-goal lead.

The Crocodiles waited patiently and used a power play to restore their three-goal lead. Martin Haffner scored to make it 5:2 13 seconds before the buzzer. In the final period, the Crocodiles saw out the game comfortably. Matthias Haas made it 6:2 with his second goal, as Kundl celebrated their fifth win of the season, while the young Haie suffered their 16th defeat in their 16th game.

Group South: Steindorf new league leaders

Favourites ESC SoccerZone Steindorf showed from the outset in the “away game” against the young Eagles of EC iDM VSV at the Ossiacher See Halle that winning the Southern Group is the declared objective for Head Coach Robert Moser’s team.

A minute and a half had been played when the puck first hit the net behind VSV goalie Jakob Sprachmann. Former VSV player Benjamin Petrik made it 1:0 for Steindorf. Just 54 seconds after taking the lead, another former VSV player, Martin Oraze, extended Steindorf’s advantage to 2:0.

Not even six minutes had been played when Joshua Peharz put the blue-and-whites from Villach on the scoreboard at 1:2. Steindorf were unfazed by the goal conceded, with Benjamin Petrik finding the net for the second time to make it 3:1 two and a half minutes before the end of the period.

Almost five minutes into the second period, Manuel Wuntschek scored Steindorf’s 4:1, but VSV refused to give in and pulled back to 2:4 on the power play through David Baloh in the 28th minute. Steindorf then stepped up a gear again, with Christof Martinz sending Benjamin Petrik through shortly after the halfway mark, and he gave VSV netminder Jakob Sprachmann no chance. It was Petrik’s third goal of the evening. Kristian Kravanja made it 6:2 from the slot in the 33rd minute.

Steindorf remained dominant in the final period, with Markus Pöck making it 7:2 in the 50th minute. Three and a half minutes from time, Benjamin Petrik capped his performance with his fourth goal, with the 8:2 the final score. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf moved to the top of the Southern Group with this emphatic victory, and on Saturday they face 1st EHC Althofen in the big clash.

Matchday, Western Group

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II 6:2 (4:1,1:1,1:0)
Tue, 17 January 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
Goalscorers, EHC Crocodiles Kundl: Vladimir Dolnik (04:01 min, 17:47 min/PP1), Kayson Arthur Gallant (06:43 min), Matthias Haas (19:47 min, 51:23 min), Martin Haffner (39:47 min/PP1)
Goalscorers, HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II: Maximilian Franz (07:33 min), Fabio Müller (20:44 min)

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 4:2 (0:1,2:1,2:0)
Tue, 17 January 2023, 19:30, Herrenriedstadion
Goalscorers, SC Samina Hohenems 1974: Julian Grafschafter (28:42 min), Johannes Hehle (32:40 min), Martin Grabher Meier (44:06 min), Jonas Meschnig (57:05 min)
Goalscorers, WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: Taylor Holst (19:20 min), Christian Pittl (39:36 min)

Matchday, Southern Group

EC iDM VSV vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 2:8 (1:3,1:3,0:2)
Tue, 17 January 2023, 19:30, Ossiacher See Halle
Goalscorers, EC iDM VSV: Joshua Peharz (05:42), David Baloh (27:28/PP1)
ESC SoccerZone Steindorf goalscorers: Benjamin Petrik (01:31, 17:36, 30:25, 56:29), Martin Oraze (02:25), Manuel Wuntschek (24:27), Kristian Kravanja (32:46), Markus Pöck (49:27)

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