Wattens Penguins crowned Ö Eishockey Liga cham­pions!

Image information: The Wattens Penguins are Ö Eishockey Liga champions - Photo: ÖEHV/Ferdinand Perktold

The situation after last Sunday’s 2:2 first-leg draw in Innsbruck between the Kapfenberg Kängurus and the Wattens Penguins was very simple ahead of the decisive second leg of the final: the winner after 60 minutes, overtime or a penalty shootout would be crowned Ö Eishockey Liga champions. Before the game, the championship trophy was ceremonially displayed on a table between the two finalists lined up to listen to the Austrian national anthem.

In contrast to the first final, in which no goals were scored until shortly before the second intermission, both teams meant business from the start in front of a sell-out crowd of almost 800 fans at the ice rink in Leoben. The Penguins got off to the better start and took the lead with a quick double. First, Lukas Schwitzer scored from close range to make it 1:0 after a chain reaction of errors in the Kapfenberg defence (6th minute), before Markus Prock made it 2:0 for the visitors from the slot following a short save by Kapfenberg goaltender Oliver Zirngast just 58 seconds later (7th minute).

The game then developed into a typical play-off battle. The Kängurus were nervous after falling behind so quickly, with several minor skirmishes. The game was played intensely. When Mathias Kastner of the Tyroleans was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for slashing, the Böhlerstädter pressed for a goal to pull one back. Just under two minutes before the end of the first period came the curious highlight of this scintillating opening period: Wattens forward Moritz Geisler somehow got the puck to the net and it suddenly fell into the net behind Kapfenberg netminder Oliver Zirngast to make it 3:0 (19th minute).

Kapfenberg back in the game with a power-play goal

Wattens took two penalties in the second period. The second penalty kill, with Daniel Frischmann in the penalty box for delaying the game, proved costly: Adrian Stühlinger received the puck at the blue line, took a few steps and fired home to make it 1:3 (25th minute). The match remained intense and physical from both teams. Spurred on by player-coach Kris Reinthaler, the hosts now went on the offensive and created plenty of traffic in the Penguins’ defensive zone. Wattens goaltender René Huber increasingly found himself at the centre of the action. The Penguins, excellently prepared by head coach Jaroslav Betka, were increasingly forced to rely on counter-attacks but remained very strong defensively. Four minutes before the end of the period, the visitors had a power-play opportunity to restore their three-goal lead, but KSV netminder Zirngast and company kept it at 1:3. Excitement was guaranteed ahead of the final period.

Right at the start of the final period, the Styrians had a power play and the chance to score a goal to pull one back. Following a spell of Kängurus pressure in the first minute of the power play, the Penguins suddenly had two short-handed chances, but Zirngast kept his team in the title race. As the period progressed, Kapfenberg pressed for a goal to pull one back, while netminder René Huber and the Wattens defence, with the title in sight, stood firm. On one of their few counter-attacks, Moritz Geisler sent the puck off the crossbar.

Five and a half minutes from the end, Kapfenberg coach Reinthaler called a timeout, giving his side final instructions for the hosts’ late offensive push. Mathias Kastner then had the decisive goal on his stick for Wattens from close range, but Zirngast made the save.

Pure drama in the final two minutes. Kapfenberg risked everything, shooting from every angle. Wattens had to send Moritz Geisler to the penalty box for delaying the game. Kapfenberg also pulled goaltender Zirngast. Martin Sturm chipped the puck out of the defensive zone and sealed the championship for the Wattens Penguins with an empty-net goal to make it 4:1 with 69 seconds remaining.

After the final siren, the Tyroleans’ emotions spilled over, with gloves and hockey sticks flying as all the players rushed towards the hero of the final – goaltender René Huber – and celebrated the first title in the newly founded Ö Eishockey Liga.

First, Andreas Ösze, ÖEHV Board member and representative of the regional association presidents, presented the runners-up plate to the Kapfenberg Kängurus during an atmospheric awards ceremony. Afterwards, ÖEHV President Dr. Klaus Hartmann presented the championship trophy to the Wattens Penguins, who had prevailed against ATSE Graz in the quarter-finals, 1st EHC Althofen in the semi-finals and finally the Kapfenberg Kängurus in the final.

Final second leg:
Kapfenberger SV Eishockeyclub vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 1:4 (0:3,1:0,0:1)
Sat., 19th March 2022, 19:00, Eishalle Leoben
Kapfenberg Kängurus scorer: Adrian Stühlinger (PP/24:37 min.)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Lukas Schwitzer (05:23 min.), Markus Prock (06:21 min.), Moritz Geisler (18:04 min.), Martin Sturm (EN/58:51 min.)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins are the first champions of the Ö Eishockey Liga, with an aggregate score of 6:3.

Final, first leg:
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Kapfenberger SV Eishockeyclub 2:2 (0:0,2:0,0:2)
Sun, 13 March 2022, 17:00, TIWAG-Arena Innsbruck
Wattens Penguins scorers: Valentin Schennach (38:02), Christoph Hörtnagl (39:52)
Kapfenberger Kängurus scorers: Lukas Draschkowitz (46:36), Stefan Trost (49:24)