WEV become new league leaders and secure play-off spot after win at Sharks Gmunden!

Wiener Eislauf-Verein won the Division East showdown away to Sharks Gmunden with the 3:2 winner two seconds before the final buzzer, moved top of the table and became the first team to secure a play-off berth.

05 January 20253 min read

The draw meant that, for the UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden and Wiener Eislauf-Verein, 2025 began just as 2024 had ended. The situation was clear: both teams faced off for top spot in the Muki Eisarena. The Vienna side made an excellent start to the big Division East showdown: Daniel Aschauer set up Stephan Rossmann, who beat Gmunden netminder Luka Gračnar with a fine shot over the blocker after exactly 62 seconds to make it 1:0 (2nd minute).

The two opponents then engaged in an open, fast-paced exchange. The Sharks failed to score on their first power play. Towards the end of the first period, the Upper Austrians even had a 5:3 power play for more than a minute, but the WEV defence, together with netminder Moritz Merkader, did not concede.

After an early power play for the Vienna side had passed without reward, the Traunsee Sharks adopted a slightly more attacking approach at the start of the second period. Head Coach Philipp Ullrich's team tried to keep the game under control during this phase and were more clinical in front of the opposition net. Shortly before another power play expired, Nils Granitz played a cross-ice pass to Denis Simek, who made it 2:0 for WEV from the slot (31nd minute).

In the final period, Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner's team got off to the better start: Lukas Stöttner deflected the puck from close range for the 1:2 goal to make it a one-goal game and turned the showdown into a thrilling affair (43rd minute). Both teams then failed to score on another power play each. It was crunch time in the Muki Eisarena.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and got it late on with an extra skater on the ice. Laurens Ober deflected the puck in for the 2:2 equaliser (59th minute). Just as everyone was expecting overtime, Jan Billa fired home two seconds (!) before the buzzer to secure the 3:2 victory. With their fourth win in four head-to-head meetings, WEV moved top of the table and became the first team in Division East to qualify for the play-offs.

Both teams are back in action on the public holiday, with the Vienna side facing ATSE Graz in a classic encounter at the Walter Znenahlik Night in honour of the WEV legend, who celebrated his 90th birthday on 02 January. Sharks Gmunden are away to defending champions Kapfenberger SV in their next big game.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 2:3 (0:1,0:1,2:1)
Sun, 05 January 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Lukas Stöttner (42:06 min.), Laurens Ober (58:39 min.)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Stephan Rossmann (01:02 min.), Denis Simek (30:10 min./PP1), Jan Billa (59:58 min.)

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22