WEV back at the top of the table – HDK Maribor complete the play-offs

Just a few hours after the away defeat to the Sharks Gmunden, ATSE Graz faced Wiener Eislauf-Verein. During the game, the Styrian traditional club marked the 50th anniversary of its first Austrian ice hockey championship title in 1974/1975 at the Merkur Eisstadion.

However, the occasion also saw the Graz side bid farewell to a club icon. Hans Dobida, who had led ATSE to the title before later serving for many years as ÖEHV president and subsequently becoming IIHF treasurer, died on 16 January in his 96th year.

Both teams engaged in an intense battle from the opening shift, although the really clear scoring chances were initially few and far between. Niki Zierer missed the best opportunity for ATSE while shorthanded after a breakaway, followed by Luca Rodiga, who missed the net after a cross-ice pass, and finally Sebastian Fellner, who was denied by WEV netminder Moritz Merkader.

In the second period, WEV increased the tempo and repeatedly tested ATSE netminder Paul Mocher, who, like his opposite number Moritz Merkader, exuded calm and assurance. Remarkably, Niki Zierer again had the Graz lead on his stick while shorthanded following a breakaway and a race for the puck with netminder Merkader, but he could only hit the post from a tight angle.

The game remained exciting in the final period, also because the special teams failed to capitalise on their power-play opportunities or produced strong penalty killing. After winning the puck at centre ice, Theodor Fichtinger quickly entered the offensive zone and gave netminder Mocher no chance with a well-placed shot as WEV took a late 1:0 lead (52.).

With a minute and a half remaining, Graz pulled their netminder but could not find an equaliser. The Viennese side therefore reclaimed top spot from Kapfenberg. ATSE Graz – semi-finalists last season – missed out on the play-off quarter-finals, which league newcomers HDK Maribor now complete.

Sharks Gmunden claim emphatic win over HDK Maribor

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden concluded their regular-season campaign after beating ATSE Graz with their second home game within 24 hours, against HDK Maribor on Sunday. The Sharks from Lake Traun have found their form again just in time for the start of the play-offs and demonstrated that from the outset against the Slovenians with two goals in 36 seconds. 

Jan Maierhofer scored the early 1:0 after winning a face-off (3.), before Nicolai Obojes fired in to make it 2:0 (4.). The Upper Austrians extended their lead to 3:0 in the opening period. Nicolai Obojes sent Bastian Szieber through, and he finished superbly (13.).

The Sharks left no doubt in the second period either as to who would leave the ice victorious. Elias Koller made it 4:0 from close range (23.). When legendary defenceman Marc-André Dorion fired home to make it 5:0, the game was finally decided (35.). The veteran was sent to the dressing room shortly afterwards with a five-minute major and game misconduct. Shortly before the end of the period, the Foxes also got on the scoreboard: Danilo Tomašević delicately lifted the puck into the net following a cross-ice pass to make it 1:5 (39.). 

In the final period, Laurens Ober was perfectly positioned in the slot and scored to make it 6:1 (46.). Gmunden continued to press forward, with Bastian Szieber finding the net with a well-placed shot for the final score of 7:1 (53.). With the win, the Sharks moved ahead of defending champions Kapfenberg in the standings, but unlike the Styrians, they have no regular-season games remaining. Despite the heavy defeat, HDK Maribor secured their place in the Ö Eishockey Liga play-offs thanks to ATSE's defeat against WEV.

Western Division:

SC Hohenems thrash Dornbirner EC in derby

On Sunday, the SC Samina Hohenems in the fourth and final derby of the regular season against Dornbirner EC and took the lead with their first attack, as Benjamin Kyllönen fired home from the left face-off circle after exactly 14 seconds to make it 1:0 (1.). The Steinböcke struck again straight away: Julian Grafschafter put a rebound over the line to make it 2:0 (3.). 

The home side continued to apply pressure, with Johannes Hehle converting a cross-ice pass on the power play to make it 3:0 (13.). Two and a half minutes before the end of the period, Felix Vonbun made it 4:0 for the Skating Club with a shot from the blue line (18.).

Early in the second period, it was already 5:0 as Dominik Hron sent Christian Haidinger clear, and he left DEC netminder David Bernhard – who had replaced Kilian Wempe in goal during the first period – no chance with a deke (22.). With four skaters aside on the ice, Haidinger was ideally positioned in the slot and made it 6:0 for Hohenems (29.). The Bulldogs pulled back to 1:6 on the power play after winning a face-off, through Theo Riedler (36.). 

In the final period, Niklas Gehringer scored from the slot after a quick attack to make it 7:1 (43.). Julian Payr then produced a moment of magic, scoring with a trick shot by deking the puck through his own legs to make it 8:1 (44.). Head coach Thomas Sticha's team had not had enough: Fabian Mandlburger added 9:1 (51.). Shortly afterwards, Felix Vonbun took the home side into double figures (52.). With 35 seconds remaining, Tobias Metzler-Wagner scored to make it 2:10 for Dornbirn, before Leon Schmeiser restored the final score of 11:2 just 17 seconds later (60.).

EHC Lustenau celebrate home win over EHC Crocodiles Kundl

For the dominant regular-season winners of the West Division, EHC Lustenau faced EHC Crocodiles Kundl at home on Sunday with the aim of maintaining their form for the play-offs. The Lions made use of their first power play to take the lead: Martin Grabher Meier redirected a pass from close range into the net (2.). The Vorarlberg side then had a four-minute power-play opportunity, and Dominic Haberl was perfectly placed in front of goal to make it 2:0 (10.).

Lustenau remained dominant in the second period and tried plenty in attack, but were often too elaborate in front of the opposition goal. Late on, Jonas Kutzer did make it 3:0, scoring from the left on the power play (35.). In the final period, Chris D‘Alvise added 4:0 from close range (49.). The Tyroleans got on the scoresheet shortly afterwards, as Matko Pavetic beat EHC netminder Lukas Reihs with a backhand to make it 1:4 (51.). 

Lustenau's 5:1 was a stunning shorthanded goal, with Martin Grabher Meier scoring spectacularly after a one-two with Chris D’Alvise (55.). The Crocodiles were able to reduce the deficit by one goal on the power play: Tobias Dinhopel fired home to make it 2:5 (57.).

HC Kufstein win goal fest against WSG Wattens Penguins

The HC Kufstein hosted the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins for their third meeting on Sunday, with the rematch taking place in Wattens the following Friday. The visitors, who definitively missed out on the play-offs on Friday, took a 1:0 lead. Pavel Soukharev entered the offensive zone and surprised Kufstein netminder Patrick Fuchs (7.). 

Straight from the face-off, the Dragons launched a quick attack, and goalscorer Ethan Browne beat Wattens netminder Wotan Kecht to make it 1:1 just nine seconds later (7.). The home side took the lead for the first time on the power play, with Valentin Hammerle putting the puck into the empty net to make it 2:1 (14.).

Andreas Luchner's team were dominant in the second period, while Wattens fought back and repeatedly created danger. One of those attacks brought the 2:2 equaliser, as Paul Probst scored with a fine shot (26.). After that, it was open house at the Kufstein Arena, with both teams abandoning their defensive play. 

Ethan Browne scored from the left face-off circle to make it 3:2 (27.). The Penguins, who had only twelve skaters at their disposal, would not be shaken off: Ricards Purins made it 3:3 from the slot shortly before the halfway point (30.). HCK captain Dominique Saringer then made it 4:3 just moments later (31.). 

Then Canadian goal machine Ethan Browne struck again, driving purposefully towards the net and scoring for 5:3 (34). The ice hockey madness continued: the visitors pulled back to 4:5 through Luca Muigg from close range (36). Shortly afterwards, Lukas Jaunegg even equalised on the power play from the right face-off circle (38). But Kufstein found an answer before the end of the second period: Ethan Browne restored the lead at 6:5 on the power play after a one-two with Clemens Paulweber (39), his fourth goal of the evening. 

Early in the final period, with Thomas Hechenberger in goal for Kufstein, the Dragons extended their lead: Valentin Hammerle finished off a fine move to make it 7:5 (42). Wattens still refused to give in: Ricards Purins fired home superbly after a quick counter-attack down the right to make it 6:7 (49). 

Valentin Hammerle ultimately set the home side on course for victory with a brace: first, he scored from close range to make it 8:6 (55) before adding 9:6 following a solo run (58). Like Browne, Hammerle scored four times.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Eastern Division:

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 0:1 (0:0,0:0,0:1)
Sun., 26 January 2025, 14:30, Merkur Eisstadion
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Theodor Fichtinger (51:24)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor 7:1 (3:0,2:1,2:0)
Sun., 26 January 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Jan Maierhofer (02:41), Nicolai Obojes (03:17), Bastian Szieber (12:38, 52:39), Elias Koller (22:19), Marc-André Dorion (34:40), Laurens Ober (45:41)
HDK Maribor goalscorer: Danilo Tomašević (38:31)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Western Division:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC 11:2 (4:0,2:1,5:1)

Sun., 26 January 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

SC Hohenems goalscorers: Benjamin Kyllönen (00:14), Julian Grafschafter (02:59) Johannes Hehle (12:24/PP1), Felix Vonbun (17:23, 51:41), Christian Haidinger (21:04, 28:27), Niklas Gehringer (42:29), Julian Payr (43:26), Fabian Mandlburger (50:54), Leon Schmeiser (59:42) 

Dornbirner EC goalscorers: Theo Riedler (35:01/PP1), Tobias Metzler-Wagner (59:25)

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 5:2 (2:0,1:0,2:2)

Sun., 26 January 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Martin Grabher Meier (01:34 min./PP1, 54:26 min./SH1), Dominic Haberl (09:29 min./PP1), Jonas Kutzer (34:28 min./PP1), Christopher D‘Alvise (48:41 min.)

EHC Kundl scorers: Matko Pavetic (50:04 min.), Tobias Dinhopel (56:41 min./PP1)

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 9:6 (2:1,4:4,3:1)

Sun., 26 January 2025, 17:35, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Ethan Browne (06:26 min., 26:58 min., 33:44 min., 38:47 min./PP1), Valentin Hammerle (13:50 min./PP1, 41:34 min., 54:10 min., 57:43 min.), Dominique Saringer (30:18 min.)

Wattens Penguins scorers: Pavel Soukharev (06:17 min.), Paul Probst (25:11 min.), Ricards Purins (29:35 min., 48:52 min.), Luca Muigg (35:36 min.), Lukas Jaunegg (37:52 min./PP1)

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More articles:

Kapfenberg top the table after victory in Maribor – Sharks Gmunden win convincingly against ATSE Graz

EHC Crocodiles Kundl secure a playoff place against Wattens Penguins