U18 Men’s World Cham­pi­onship Divi­sion IA: Austria rele­gated to Divi­sion IB after 3:4 defeat to Hungary

Austria were caught cold by Hungary right at the start of the game. After exactly 60 seconds, they were 0:1 behind. It was a wake-up call for the team coached by Head Coach Florian Mühlstein, who appeared to have the game under control. They battled hard against the World Championship hosts and deservedly equalised through Paul Sintschnig in the 10th minute to make it 1:1. They then failed to convert two power plays, while Hungary were able to make it 2:1 before the break.

Our neighbours were more effective on the power play at the start of the second period. Agoston Schmidt made it 3:1, but Nico Uschan immediately scored the important goal to reduce the deficit to 2:3. Then, in the 34th minute, Kevin Mandl was on hand to make it 3:3. The celebrations lasted only a few seconds, as Doman Szongoth put Hungary back in front. His goal in the 35th minute was also to seal Austria’s fate.

Austria pressed for an equaliser in the final period, but it was not to come.

Head Coach Florian Mühlstein: "I take full responsibility for the team. We absolutely dominated Hungary. Unfortunately, we conceded goals through our own mistakes. Our special teams did not function as they had in the build-up. The disappointment is, of course, profound right now."

2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION I, GROUP A

20–26 April 2025, Szekesfehervar (HUN)
Participants: Denmark, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Ukraine, Austria

Austria vs. Hungary 3:4 (1:2, 2:2, 0:0)
Sat, 26 April 2025, 16:00, Szekesfehervar
Austria scorers: Paul Sintschnig (10.), Nico Uschan (23.), Kevin Mandl (34.)
Hungary scorers: Gergo Szivak (1.), Bence Baroti (20.), Agoston Schmidt (23.), Doman Szongoth (35.)

Already played:

Ukraine vs. Austria 6:3 (1:1,5:1,0:1)
Wed, 23 April 2025, 12:30, Szekesfehervar
Ukraine scorers: Daniil Skorokhod (3./PP1), Arsienii Voroteliak (22.), Artem Ratushniak (26.), Illia Shybinskyi (28.), Danylo Olifirchuk (38.), Daniil Kuraiev (38.)
Austria scorers: David Waschnig (18./PP1), Jakob Schnabl (28./PP1), Leon Buzek (49.)

Austria vs. Slovenia 4:1 (3:0,0:1,1:0)
Mon, 21 April 2025, 16:00, Szekesfehervar
Austria scorers: Leon Kolarik (8th), Leon Buzek (14th), Paul Oberhauser (16th), Manuel Wadel (60th/EN)
Slovenia scorer: Jaka Rakovič (33rd)

Denmark vs. Austria 5:3 (2:1,3:1,0:1)
Sun, 20 April 2025, 12:30
Denmark scorers: Mads Klyvo (3rd, 6th), Oliver Larsen (17th, 37th), Lasse Baerentsen (35th)
Austria scorers: Luc van Ee (8th), Kevin Mandl (36th), Leon Kolarik (60th/PP1)

Austria vs. Kazakhstan 2:4 (0:3,1:0,1:1)
Thu, 24 April 2025, 16:00, Szekesfehervar
Austria scorers: Leon Kolarik (36th), Paul Oberhauer (50th)
Kazakhstan scorers: Bexultan Makysh (6th/PP1), Aristarkh Kireyev (14th), Ruslan Tusupbekov (15th/PP2), Sanzhar Ibragim (59th/EN)

Official website of the U18 World Championship Division IA, with all results and the current standings