WEV cele­brate shootout win at leaders Gmunden - Hohenems claim clear victory over Wattens

League leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced the Wiener Eislauf-Verein at the MUKI Eisarena Gmunden. The Viennese side, who had most recently had a bye, trailed 0:1 after exactly 26 seconds: Mathias Haiböck gave the Upper Austrians an early lead (1.). WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich had mentioned the lack of match rhythm before the game, and Marc-André Dorion took advantage of this slight handicap in the first period on the power play to make it 2:0 for the sharks from Lake Traunsee (18.).

In the second period, Vienna's black-and-yellow side had regrouped, were suddenly wide awake and turned the game around. Daniel Aschauer (22.), Juri Schorna on the power play (29.) and Jan Billa (32.), also with the man advantage, made it 3:2 to the visitors within the first 20 minutes. The game remained highly exciting, with Marc-André Dorion sending Gmunden into overtime five minutes from the end of the final period (55.). 

In the end, the ultimate showdown known as a shootout was needed to decide it: Denis Simek converted to seal a 4:3 win for WEV at league leaders Sharks Gmunden, who dropped points for the first time this season in the East Division.

HDK Maribor gain revenge against ATSE Graz

League newcomers HDK Maribor faced ATSE Graz in the derby between the partner cities at Ledena dvorana Maribor on Saturday. Graz had won the first meeting of the season at home 6:2 on Austria's National Day. 

This time, the Slovenians got off to a dream start: Jan Čerič put the Foxes 1:0 ahead after 52 seconds (1.). Maribor kept going and extended their lead to 3:0 with two goals in just under two minutes, first through Urh Jeram (12.) and then Aljaž Ogrizek, who beat ATSE netminder Florian Zeugswetter (14.). When Jan Čerič made it 4:0 on the power play four minutes before the end of the first period, the game appeared to be decided early on.

Graz could not get back into the game and the Eggenberg side could only add a consolation goal: Luca Rodiga made it 1:4 with the man advantage (44.) Head coach Jure Verlič's team saw out the home win comfortably and celebrated their second full success on home ice after the opening-game upset against champions Kapfenberg.

Kapfenberger SV had a bye – the defending champions continue on Saturday, 16 November, in Vienna against Wiener Eislauf-Verein.

West Division: SC Hohenems again claim clear victory over Wattens

For the second time this season, SC Samina Hohenems hosted the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. The Steinböcke had won the first meeting in the Grafenstadt 9:2 after a hard-fought contest that remained close for a long time. This time, too, the course of the game was similar: the Tyroleans kept the game open in the first period, with only Patrick Spannring scoring on the power play to give his side a 1:0 lead (10 min.).

Spannring was also the one to open the floodgates after 13 seconds of the second period, making it 2:0 (21 min.). Ricards Purins quickly pulled one back for Wattens (23 min.). The Steinböcke then extended their lead to 4:1 through goals from Fabian Mandlburger (29 min.) and Lukas Fritz, who scored on the power play (34 min.). 

Once again, it was Purins who breathed new life into the Penguins with his second goal (38 min.). Johannes Hehle and Christian Haidinger ultimately set the Vorarlberg side on course for victory with two goals in 13 seconds (42 min.).  Johannes Hehle (53 min.) and Lukas Fritz (55 min.) – both scoring their second goals of the game – sealed the 8:2 final score.

League leaders EHC Lustenau give HC Kufstein no chance

League newcomers EHC Lustenau have made a roaring start to their first Ö Eishockey Liga season and held a clear points lead at the top of the table ahead of Saturday's clash with HC Kufstein.

The Dragons, who held firm for at least 40 minutes, also had to acknowledge Lustenau's current form and dominance in the sides' first meeting of the season. Robin Wüstner gave the team coached by Daniel Fekete a 1:0 lead on the power play after exactly 16 minutes.

It took a long time for the visitors to beat Kufstein netminder Patrick Fuchs for a second time: Stefan Hrdina made it 2:0 with 52 seconds remaining in the second period (40 min.). The Lions left nothing to chance in the final period, with Philipp Koczera making it 3:0 (48 min.) and prolific scorer Martin Grabher Meier adding the 4:0 (51 min.) to secure a sixth win in six games.

Crocodiles Kundl celebrate clear win at Dornbirner EC

The Dornbirner EC hosted EHC Crocodiles Kundl on Saturday. The Bulldogs had suffered a 1:4 defeat against the Tyroleans in their season opener in mid-October. 

This time, the match became a goal fest that began early in the first period. Simon Brandner put the Tyroleans ahead on the power play (5 min.), before Mathias Hofer equalised for the Bulldogs barely a minute later (6 min.).

With three goals in just under two and a half minutes, the team coached by Jaroslav Betka raced into a 4:1 lead – Simon Brandner was on target again first (9 min.), followed by Daniel Frischmann (10 min.) and Lion Ramoser, who scored Kundl's fourth goal (11 min.). Matko Pavetić made it 5:1, and the game appeared to be decided early on (17 min.). But the Vorarlberg side quickly fought their way back into the game through a shorthanded goal from Simon Brunner (19 min.).

When Danny Madlener made it 3:5 on the power play after 72 seconds of the middle period, faint hope emerged at the Messestadion. That hope did not last long, as Lion Ramoser also scored on the power play to make it 6:3 just after the halfway point (31 min.). Fabio Müller (33 min.), Simon Brandner with his third goal on the power play (38 min.) and Erik Hefke, who made it 9:3 just 22 seconds later, ultimately put the result beyond doubt. 

Simon Brunner scored Dornbirn's 4:9 in the final period, but Kundl ultimately claimed a comfortable victory and remain level with Hohenems as Lustenau's closest challengers in the table.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Eastern Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:4 n.P. (2:0,0:3,1:0,0:0,0:1)

Sat., 09 November 2024, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden

Goalscorers, Sharks Gmunden: Mathias Haiböck (00:26), Marc-André Dorion (17:53/PP1, 55:54)

Goalscorers, Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Daniel Aschauer (21:29), Juri Schorna (28:16/PP1), Jan Billa (31:53/PP1), Denis Simek (65:00/decisive penalty shot)

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz 4:1 (4:0,0:0,0:1)

Sat, 09 November 2024, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

Goalscorers, HDK Maribor: Jan Čerič (00:52, 16:09/PP1), Urh Jeram (11:16) Aljaž Ogrizek (13:35)

Goalscorer, ATSE Graz: Luca Rodiga (43:10/PP1)

Kapfenberger SV bye

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 4:0 (1:0,1:0,2:0)

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Goalscorers, EHC Lustenau: Robin Wüstner (16:00/PP1), Stefan Hrdina (39:08), Philipp Koczera (47:31), Martin Grabher Meier (50:10)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 8:2 (1:0,4:0,3:2)

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Goalscorers, SC Hohenems: Patrick Spannring (09:23/PP1, 20:13), Fabian Mandlburger (28:37), Lukas Fritz (33:36/PP1, 54:52), Johannes Hehle (41:17, 52:36), Christian Haidinger (41:30)

Goalscorer, Wattens Penguins: Ricard Purins (22:37, 37:00)

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 4:9 (2:5,1:4,1:0)

Sat, 09 November 2024, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

Dornbirner EC goalscorers: Mathias Hofer (05:43), Simon Brunner (18:33/SH1, 46:56), Danny Madlener (21:12/PP1)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Simon Brandner (04:40/PP1, 08:03, 37:37/PP1), Daniel Frischmann (09:54). Lion Ramoser (10:24, 30:21/PP1), Matko Pavetić (16:31), Fabio Müller (32:45), Erik Hefke (37:59)

Dornbirner Eishockey Club vs. EHC Lustenau 0:7 (0:1,0:4,0:2)

Wed, 06 November 2024, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Jonas Kutzer (00:25), Martin Grabher Meier (23:03), Christopher D’Alvise (31:40, 58:57), Dominic Haberl (36:11), Philipp Koczera (36:35), Stefan Hrdina (53:45/PP1)

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecenter

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