Villach Lady Hawks DEBL cham­pions 2023

After the trophy in the championship held since 1998 had remained firmly in Austrian hands for 15 years, KHL Gric Zagreb (CRO) became the first non-Austrian team to win the title in 2014. Between 2017 and 2022, the title went to Hungary five times, while in 2020, KSV Neuberg Highlanders became the last Austrian team to win the championship to date.

On Palm Sunday, Villach Lady Hawks (formerly Gipsy Girls Villach) secured the DEBL title for the fourth time, doing so in impressive fashion: they comfortably won the South Group with six victories from six games and a goal difference of 37:18. In the subsequent Placement Round, they suffered their first and only defeat of the season on 8 December 2022, losing 2:10 away to MAC Marilyn Budapest (HUN).

However, with eight wins and one further victory after overtime, they also finished the Placement Round comfortably in 1st place, seven points ahead of Ferencvarosi Torna Club (HUN).

In the quarter-finals, they ultimately overcame SPG Kitzbühel/Kufstein with an aggregate score of 17:6, before convincingly eliminating Hokiklub Budapest II (HUN) 12:2 in the semi-finals yesterday, 1 April. Devils Graz, who prevailed against EAC Junior Capitals “Flyers” in the quarter-finals and advanced to the next round following a 5:3 overtime victory after losing the first leg 1:2, proved to be the masters of overtime. Having reached the semi-finals in overtime, they recorded a 3:2 win over Ferencvarosi Torna Club (HUN) after a penalty shoot-out.

In the final, Lady Hawks pressed for the opening goal in the first period, but despite their superiority in play, could not get the puck into the net. They were eventually rewarded for their high tempo at the start of the second period: Sara Confidenti scored for 1:0 after work from Zoey Hobitsch. Martina Eineter and Zoey Hobitsch extended the lead to 3:0 with two goals in 61 seconds.

However, the game was not over yet. Towards the end of the second period, the Styrian side missed the chance to make it 1:3 when two players broke clear on goal.

Although the Lady Hawks repeatedly tested Karla Kronberger's pads, the Devils created several high-quality chances and kept the game open. Sara Confidenti's 4:0 in the 58th minute ultimately proved decisive, while Emma Lintner added the 5:0 eleven seconds later.

Villach Lady Hawks are DEBL champions for the fourth time. It was also the first all-Austrian final since 2012, when Neuberg Highlanders faced EHV Sabres Wien II.

Martin Kogler, ÖEHV General Manager Women’s Ice Hockey: “Congratulations to the Lady Hawks, who crowned an outstanding season today. Congratulations also to Devils Graz, who produced a strong play-off series and delivered a strong performance today as well. We are delighted that, for the first time in more than ten years, two Austrian teams have reached the final again this year, providing the best possible advertisement for domestic women’s ice hockey.”

DEBL 2022/2023 final

Villach Lady Hawks vs. DEC Devils Graz 5:0 (0:0 / 3:0 / 2:0)
Sun., 2 April 2023, 12:30
Villach Lady Hawks scorers: Sara Confidenti (24., 58.), Martina Eineter (32.), Zoey Hobitsch (33.), Emma Lintner (58.)

Results and standings