U18 World Championship Division IA: Austria lose World Championship opener to Denmark 3:5
After a somewhat sluggish start, which saw them trail 0:2 as early as the 6th minute, Austria's U18 men's national ice hockey team improved considerably, especially from the second period onwards. With Denmark leading 2:5, Head Coach Florian Mühlstein pulled the goalkeeper towards the end of the game, but they could not manage more than 3:5. Austria's goals were scored by Luc van Ee (8th), Kevin Mandl (36th) and Leon Kolarik (60th/PP1). They are back in action against Slovenia at 16:00 on Easter Monday. All games will be streamed live on IIHF.TV.
2 min read
"You have to be ready for 60 minutes, and those 60 minutes start with the first second of the first period," lamented Head Coach Florian Mühlstein over the poor start to the game and therefore to the World Championship as well, although he also saw some nervousness within the team as a reason. There were also three penalties in the first period alone, the first after just 85 seconds. The Danes used that first power play to take the lead (3th) and made it 2:0 in the 6th minute.
Two minutes later, Luc van Ee reduced the deficit to 1:2 with Austria's first goal of this World Championship, but after another penalty they fell behind 1:3 while shorthanded (17th). Things improved considerably for Austria from the second period onwards. They recorded 15 shots on goal in the second 20 minutes of play, but only one found the net, while the Danes were much more efficient with their eight shots and started the final period with a 5:2 lead.
Austria also enjoyed the better of the chances in the final period, but were at times unlucky in front of goal. Head Coach Mühlstein pulled the goalkeeper two minutes before the end, Denmark were also serving a penalty and Austria used the six-on-four advantage to make the final score 3:5.
Florian Mühlstein: "In the first period, we did not stick to our tactical instructions, took penalties and did not implement what we had planned in preparation when shorthanded either. You cannot sleep through the opening phase against a nation like that. You are punished immediately. It improved from the second period onwards. We created more chances, but did not have the luck of the puck bouncing in for us. The third period was also okay, but we could not reward ourselves. Now it is time to recover, then we will prepare for Slovenia."
2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION I, GROUP A
20–26 April 2025, Szekesfehervar (HUN)
Participants: Denmark, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Ukraine, Austria
Denmark vs. Austria 5:3 (3:1,2:1,0:1)
Sun., 20 April 2025, 12:30
Denmark scorers: Mads Klyvo (3th, 6th), Oliver Larsen (17th, 37th), Lasse Baerentsen (35th)
Austria scorers: Luc van Ee (8th), Kevin Mandl (36th), Leon Kolarik (60th/PP1)
Game Sheet
Austria vs. Slovenia
Mon., 21 April 2025, 16:00, Livestream on IIHF.TV
Ukraine vs. Austria
Wed., 23 April 2025, 12:30, Livestream from IIHF.TV
Austria vs. Kazakhstan
Thu, 24 April 2025, 16:00Livestream from IIHF.TV
Austria vs. Hungary
Sat, 26 April 2025, 16:00Livestream from IIHF.TV
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