U20 World Championship: Austria celebrate an opening 5:2 win over hosts Slovenia
A perfect start for Austria's U20 players at the 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division IA. In Bled, Slovenia, they were not unsettled by an early deficit, turning the game around to 3:1 in the first period before extending their lead to 5:1 in the middle period. Slovenia added a consolation goal late on to make it 2:5, but Austria's win and first three points were never in danger. They face France on Monday at 12:30. The French lost their opening game against Norway 2:8.
2 min read
After just 1:56 had elapsed, the siren sounded for the first time. However, it was for the hosts, who took an early lead but were subsequently unable to withstand Austria's wave after wave of attacks. The ÖEHV players registered 14:4 shots on goal in the first period and scored three times. Jonathan Oschgan first equalised in the 9th minute, captain Johannes Neumann put his side ahead on the power play in the 14th minute, and Vasily Zelenov made it 3:1 in the 18th minute, shortly after his twin brother returned from the penalty box.
Slovenia came out of the dressing room with energy and initially created several chances, but as the game went on Austria gradually regained control. They came through a spell short-handed unscathed. In the 37th minute, Paul Oberhauser scored the deserved goal to make it 4:1. Shortly afterwards, Konstantin Hutzinger's power-play goal for 5:1 provided a small early decision. The final period developed into an open end-to-end contest, in which Slovenia made it 2:5 in the 57th minute.
Head Coach Philipp Pinter: "That was the important and hoped-for opening win. It was hard work. Slovenia surprised us a little, but the team then settled into the game better, created pressure and deservedly took the lead. In the middle period, we scored the necessary goals at the right times. The special teams were very, very good today, both on the power play and on the penalty kill. We managed the scoreline well in the third period. A deserved win, with typical opening-game nerves."
In 18 hours, they face France, and Philipp Pinter: "Now it is a matter of recovering well. We are back in action in less than 18 hours and France will certainly have something to make up for after today. They will come out of the dressing room accordingly motivated. We have to be ready."
2026 IIHF U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION IA
7 - 13 December 2025, Bled (SLO)
Schedule, results, standings
All Austria games will be streamed live on streaming.krone.at .
Slovenia vs. Austria 2:5 (1:3,0:2,1:0)
Sun, 7 December 2025, 16:00
Austria goalscorers: Jonathan Oschgan (9), Johannes Neumann (14), Vasily Zelenov (18), Paul Oberhauser (37), Konstantin Hutzinger (38)
Slovenia goalscorers: Ian Petronijevic Lepsa (2), Aljaz Hrobat Plemelj (57)
Austria vs. France
Mon, 8 December 2025, 12:30
Austria vs. Norway
Wed, 10 December 2025, 12:30
Austria vs. Ukraine
Thu, 11 December 2025, 12:30
Kazakhstan vs. Austria
Sat, 13 December 2025, 16:00
