Sweden and USA – opening double-header against medal contenders

Image info: Manuel Ganahl took part in the entire preparation campaign; now the team are eager to finally get started – Copyright: GEPA pictures/Christian Moser

France vs. Slovakia in Helsinki and USA vs. Latvia in Tampere opened the 85th IIHF World Championship 2022 just a few minutes ago. Hosts Finland will also take to the World Championship ice for the first time today, Friday, and ambitions are high following their Olympic Games triumph. Our red-white-red players will begin their World Championship campaign tomorrow, Saturday.

Sweden and USA are two nations competing for medals at every major tournament. The roles are clearly defined ahead of the first puck drop. Austria have won just once against Sweden in their international history, at the 1947 World Championship in Prague by a score of 2:1. In addition to two draws in the 30s, there have been 20 defeats. Most recently on 28 April in the opening game of the Euro Hockey Tour in Vienna. Austria gave Sweden a fierce battle, ultimately losing narrowly 0:1.

The record against USA is similar: 2 wins, 2 draws and 27 defeats. However, the 3:0 victory at the 2001 World Championship in Cologne remains unforgettable. Their last meeting was seven years ago, also on 28 April and also in Vienna, and went 4:1 in favour of the US boys.

Anticipation is high in the Austrian camp ahead of the start of the World Championship. "We are enormously proud to compete against these top nations. At a top-level World Championship, you expect the crème de la crème. We are ready and looking forward to the World Championship," promises Captain Thomas Raffl. The veteran sees plenty of potential in the team and knows what will be important: "The mix within the team is very good. We have very talented young players and some established players with plenty of experience. We need to bring that onto the ice."

Like Raffl, Manuel Ganahl has also reached three figures in international appearances and knows the circumstances and processes at a World Championship: "We are clear underdogs against the top nations. We are going into the World Championship as underdogs; we need to play compactly as a team and execute our system perfectly."

Ganahl sees facing the two top nations, Sweden and USA, right at the start as an advantage: "It will be important for us to get used to that level as quickly as possible through these games, to find our game and to be able to compete with opponents like these at times. If we manage that and adapt to the pace and style of play, we can make a difference against nations such as Norway, Latvia or Great Britain later on."

The overall situation at this World Championship points towards a decisive game against Great Britain for Austria. The aim is to stay in the top division, and the path there will not be an easy one, Head Coach Roger Bader: "We want to show and prove that we belong in the top division and want to establish ourselves there. We know that Austria have a key game, and that will be against Great Britain, regardless of what happens beforehand, as the head-to-head result counts. We are clear underdogs against the top nations, while Norway and Latvia will also go into their games against us as favourites."

Following the weekend double-header, the national team have a day off on Monday before continuing with the next double-header against Czechia and Norway.

13–29 May 2022
Hosts: Finland (Helsinki & Tampere)
Defending champions: Canada

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat., 14 May 2022, 11:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. USA
Sun., 15 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Czechia vs. Austria
Tue, 17 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Norway vs. Austria
Wed, 18 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Latvia vs. Austria
Fri, 20 May 2022, 19:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. Finland
Sat, 21 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. Great Britain
Mon, 23 May 2022, 19:20, live on ORF Sport+