Villach Lady Hawks claim DEBL title

Villach Lady Hawks have been crowned DEBL champions for the fifth time. Last year, they had to concede a 2:5 defeat to EAC Women Capitals in the final. They avenged that loss in Saturday evening’s semi-final, which the Carinthian side won 7:2. Thanks to EC KAC Damen’s narrow 2:1 victory over Graz99ers Huskies II in the second semi-final, the 2025 final was an all-Carinthian affair.

And it was Villach who came out on top. Elisa Brunner gave the Lady Hawks the lead in the 10th minute, and just three minutes later Liga Miljone scored the game-winning goal to make it 2:0. At that early stage, it was by no means certain that this goal would prove decisive. Valentina Ropatsch brought the Klagenfurt side back into the game with the goal to make it 15th minute.

Of all teams, it was the hosts who completely missed the start of the second period, with the Final Four held at the Heidi-Horten-Arena and the Sepp-Puschnig-Halle in Klagenfurt. Elisa Brunner made it 3:1 with her second goal after just 34 seconds, before Julija Blazinsek made it 4:1 in the 25th minute.

With 28:15 shots on goal in total, the Lady Hawks were clearly the dominant team in this final and deservedly secured the title.

Defending champions EAC Women Capitals were already 0:2 behind after eleven minutes in the third-place play-off. It was not until the final period that they battled back into overtime thanks to Katharina Killius’ goals in the 50th and 60th minutes, before she added the winner just 27 seconds into overtime.

Women’s Ice Hockey Bundesliga (DEBL), Final Four

Final:

Villach Lady Hawks vs. EC KAC Damen 4:1 (2:1,2:0,0:0)
Sun, 23 March 2025, 13:00, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle
Villach Lady Hawks goalscorers: Elisa Brunner (10th, 21th), Liga Miljone (13th), Julija Blazinsek (25th)
EC KAC Damen goalscorer: Valentina Ropatsch (15th)

Third-place match:

Graz99ers Huskies II vs. EAC Women Capitals 2:3 AOT (2:0,0:0,0:2)
Sun, 23 March 2025, 10:15, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle
Graz99ers Huskies II goalscorers: Theresa Wolf (9th), Ava Lincender (11th)
EAC Women Capitals goalscorer: Katharina Killius (50th, 60th, 61st)

Semi-final 1:

EC KAC Damen vs. Graz99ers Huskies II 2:1 (1:1,1:0,0:0)
Sat., 22 March 2025, 15:15, Heidi-Horten-Arena Klagenfurt
KAC Women goalscorers: Valentina Ropatsch (3'), Carina Arneitz (35')
Graz99ers Huskies II goalscorer: Tamara Grascher (2')

Semi-final 2:

Villach Lady Hawks vs. EAC Women Capitals 7:2 (2:0,4:1,1:1)
Sat., 22 March 2025, 18:15, Sepp-Puschnig-Halle
Villach Lady Hawks goalscorers: Mia Aimee Schabkar (8'), Selina Gentilini (11', 26', 47'), Julija Blazinšek (26'/PP1), Līga Miljone (33'/SH1, 38')
EAC Women Capitals goalscorers: Katharina Killius (34'/PP1, 50')