Third win for WEV against leaders Sharks Gmunden – Kufstein thrash Dorn­birn

The big clash Wiener Eislauf-Verein against league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden was also the final game of the Eastern Division in 2024. Both teams engaged in an intense battle from the outset in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus. Vienna initially missed the chance to take the lead on their first power play. The Upper Austrians then had their first numerical advantage, but were likewise unable to capitalise with a goal. 

Two goals eventually came late in the first period. The visitors took a 1:0 lead after a wonderful solo effort from Adrian Rosenberger, who put the puck past WEV goaltender Moritz Merkader with his backhand (15.). Just under two minutes later, the federal capital side produced the perfect response: following a quick attack and a fine combination, Stephan Rossmann fired home the 1:1 equaliser with a powerful shot (17.). Shortly before the end of the period, WEV had another power play, but once again the special teams were not clinical enough.

Head coach Philipp Ullrich's team also had a numerical advantage at the start of the second period. Once again, the hosts were unable to make use of this two-minute spell. Shortly afterwards, Vienna took the lead in the game for the first time: Lucas Burzin scored from the slot to make it 2:1 after almost five minutes (25.). The contest remained fiercely contested, with a touch of play-off atmosphere developing at Heumarkt. 

The league leaders then had two consecutive power plays, but the Traunsee Sharks could not beat WEV netminder Moritz Merkader. The visitors then nullified their numerical advantage with a penalty of their own, and WEV were again unable to convert the remaining power-play time into a goal. 

The home side extended their lead shortly afterwards at the ideal time: during a brief spell of pressure that resembled a power play, Xaver Emslander shot at the Sharks goal guarded by Domenic Burghard, with Stefan Nador converting the rebound to make it 3:1 four minutes before the end of the period (37.). Little changed in the nature of the game in the final period, with both teams battling for every inch of ice. 

The Sharks pressed for a goal to pull one back, but WEV stood firm. It became exciting again from four minutes before the end, as head coach Gregor Baumgartner's team had two further power-play opportunities and also pulled goaltender Burghard. In the end, Vienna prevailed 3:1 and celebrated their third win in three direct meetings with the league leaders from Gmunden. WEV therefore move into the new year in second place in the Eastern Division, just one point behind the Sharks.

HC Kufstein round off the year against Dornbirner EC with a bang

The HC Kufstein met the in the Eisarena Kufstein in front of more than 550 fans to round off the yearDornbirner EC in the Eisarena Kufstein in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_P_A__ fans to close out the year. Following a quickly executed attack and a one-two between Herbert Steiner and David Hrazdira, Steiner gave the Dragons an early 1:0 lead (6.). Exactly a minute and a half later, the hosts were already 2:0 ahead: Ethan Browne picked his corner from the slot after an ideal pass from Valentin Hammerle (7.). 

David Hrazdira initiated another very swiftly played attack by winning the puck on his own blue line, and the Czech goal-getter converted the rebound after a shot to make it 3:0 (9.). DEC goaltender Cosmo Reichhalter had then seen enough, with David Bernhard taking his place in goal. Dornbirn tried to match the Tirol side's high tempo, but were too innocuous in attack. Kufstein followed up with a New Year's Eve firework: new Canadian goal-getter Ethan Browne fired from the left face-off circle to make it 4:0 (13.). 

The fortress city side added another: captain Dominique Saringer danced through the Bulldogs defence on the power play and made it 5:0 (17.). David Hrazdira made it 6:0, lifting the puck into the net from close range (19.). 12 seconds before the first buzzer, the Vorarlberg side scored their first goal: Matheo Sottopietra broke away following a turnover and beat HCK netminder Jakob Sprachmann (20.).

Kufstein began the second period with another goal, as Clemens Paulweber had quietly moved into the slot and scored from close range to make it 7:1 (26.). Just under two minutes later, David Hrazdira converted a rebound following a face-off to make it 8:1 (28.). The scoring spree continued apace: Manuel Eder converted a rebound from close range for 9:1 before the halfway point of the game (30.). Herbert Steiner made the score double figures for the Dragons, appearing in front of the Dornbirn goal and neatly lifting the puck into the net with his backhand for 10:1 (35.). 

Fabian Nußbaumer added the 11:1, standing in front of goal and putting the puck over the line (38.). Cosmo Reichhalter returned to goal for the exhibition city side in the final period. Dornbirn scored to make it 2:11 on the power play, with Mathias Hofer finding the net with a low shot (46.). David Hrazdira completed the dozen, the forward firing a hard power-play shot into the net for the final score of 12:2 (51.), his fourth goal of the evening.

EHC Lustenau become the first team to secure a play-off place with win over Wattens Penguins

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins faced league leaders EHC Lustenau at the Alpenstadion on Friday, with the visitors showing from the outset why they are the benchmark in Division West. The Lions got off to a fast start in the away game in the Crystal City, taking a 1:0 lead through Dominic Haberl after 75 seconds (2nd).

The Vorarlberg side all but decided the game within two minutes of the first period: Philipp Koczera (18th) and new signing Ricardo Bell (20th) extended the lead to 3:0. In the second period, Lustenau surged into a 6:0 lead before the halfway point of the game through goals from Christopher D‘Alvise (23rd), Dominic Haberl (28th) and Martin Grabher Meier (29th). 14 seconds before the end of the period, Noah Polig put the Penguins on the scoreboard with the goal for 1:6 (40th).

In the final period, Chris D’Alvise first made it 7:1 (41st), before Martin Grabher Meier increased the lead to 8:1 with a shorthanded goal (46th). Sandro Wille pulled one back for the Tyroleans to make it 2:8 (50th), before Dominic Haberl completed his hat-trick to seal the 9:2 final score (54th). The emphatic victory saw the team coached by Head Coach Dániel Fekete secure their playoff berth early, although this had long been a mere formality.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 3:1 (1:1,2:0,0:0)
Sat, 28 December 2024, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Stephan Rossmann (16:46), Lucas Burzin (24:52), Stefan Nador (36:09)
Sharks Gmunden scorer: Adrian Rosenberger (14:33)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC 12:2 (6:1,5:0,1:1)
Sat, 28 December 2024, 17:35, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Herbert Steiner (05:20, 34:31), Ethan Browne (06:50, 12:56), David Hrazdira (08:24, 18:30, 27:32, 50:54/PP1), Dominique Saringer (16:14/PP1), Clemens Paulweber (25:44), Manuel Eder (29:16), Fabian Nußbaumer (37:13)
Dornbirner EC scorers: Matheo Sottopietra (19:48), Mathias Hofer (45:06/PP1)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau 2:9 (0:3,1:3,1:3)
Fri, 27 December 2024, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens
Wattens Penguins scorers: Noah Polig (39:46), Sandro Wille (49:50)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Dominic Haberl (at 01:15, 27:00, 53:01), Philipp Koczera (at 17:04), Ricardo Bell (at 19:09), Christopher D‘Alvise (at 22:45, 40:46), Martin Grabher Meier (at 28:22, 45:36/SH1)

Remaining Division West schedule until the turn of the year:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sun, 29 December 2024, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sun, 29 December 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

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