WEV edge Maribor in over­time – Lustenau win clash at HC Kufstein

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein celebrated their long-awaited home debut in the Eastern Division of the Ö Eishockey Liga after four consecutive away games, taking on HDK Maribor in the atmospheric WEV Arena in front of Vienna's Konzerthaus. 

The Foxes had travelled to the Austrian capital with a short line-up of just eleven skaters, but kept the game open in the first period. In fact, Danilo Tomašević – who had made headlines by scoring the decisive goal with a "Michigan Move" in the opener against champions Kapfenberg – gave the Slovenians a late 1:0 lead (18.).

Daniel Aschauer equalised at 26. to make it 1:1. Just under three minutes after the halfway mark, Gal Petek stunned the Viennese as the forward beat WEV netminder Moritz Merkader to put Maribor 2:1 ahead (33.). The hosts fought their way back into the game in the second period – and how. First, Nils Granitz scored another equaliser (37.). With just under a minute remaining in the period, Lukas Kaider put WEV ahead for the first time with his goal to make it 3:2 (39.). Head coach Philipp Ullrich's team had turned the game around. 

The final period remained highly exciting. The hosts were unable to add another goal, while the Slovenians fought back and Nejc Voh equalised to make it 3:3 (46.). Daniel Aschauer and Nils Granitz for WEV, as well as Žan Kuzman and Rene Zernko for the Foxes, were then sent to the dressing room. 

The team from the Drava city had to continue the game with nine skaters. No further goals were scored in regulation time, and, as in the meeting in Maribor in mid-October, the game went to overtime. Just as in Slovenia, WEV came out on top, with Patrick Bolterle scoring the celebrated winner for the Viennese (62.).

Kapfenberg win Styrian derby at ATSE Graz

The ATSE Graz faced champions Kapfenberg in the Styrian derby at Merkur Eisstadion on Saturday. ATSE made a blistering start, with Clemens Lennkh giving Kapfenberg netminder Oliver Zirngast no chance from the slot after exactly 73 seconds to put the underdogs 1:0 ahead (2.). However, the defending champions from the Mürz Valley quickly found the right response and equalised: following a swift, incisive move via Pierre Graf, Lukas Draschkowitz fired a precise shot to make it 1:1 (4.). 

The two teams then neutralised each other somewhat. Nevertheless, there were chances at both ends, which were dealt with by the two netminders – Oliver Zirngast for Kapfenberg and Florian Zeugswetter for Graz. Little initially changed in the character of the game in the second period. The Kangaroos struggled offensively and were not clinical enough in front of the opposition goal. 

The Eggenberg side stood firm and kept the game open. At the halfway point of the game, the visitors had to negotiate a tricky spell of two successive penalty kills. Florian Hoppl then powered through, suddenly finding himself alone in front of ATSE netminder Zeugswetter, and put Kapfenberg 2:1 ahead (37.). Four seconds (!) after the face-off, Stefan Trost scored from Florian Hoppl's pass to make it 3:1 (37.). 

ATSE Graz responded immediately: Rupert Strohmeier fired from the blue line and the quick goal to reduce the deficit to 2:3 was in (38.). Kapfenberg then had a 5:3 power play, and Iacopo Granza restored their two-goal lead with a powerful shot to make it 4:2 (39.). Four goals had been scored in just under two minutes.

The goal fest continued apace in the final period: Stefan Trost made it 5:2 on the power play from the left face-off circle (42.). Luca Rodiga brought head coach Markus Losch's team back into the game at 3:5 (43.). But Kapfenberg repeatedly managed to pull away. Pierre Graf scored to make it 6:3, seemingly sealing the game (45.). 

However, ATSE refused to give up: after a quick burst, Rodiga produced a magnificent shot to make it 4:6, his second goal in succession (47.). Christoph Draschkowitz then played a through ball to Pierre Graf, who found the net to make it 7:4 for the Kangaroos (49.). Graz had nothing more to offer after that, and Kapfenberg ultimately took all three points.

Western Division:

League leaders Lustenau win clash at HC Kufstein

The marquee matchup of the round in the West Division was HC Kufstein against league leaders EHC Lustenau. And the match fully lived up to its billing as a "marquee matchup" in a spectacular opening period. Defence was a foreign word for both teams from the outset, with the opening minutes played at a furious pace. The Dragons took the lead on their first power play through a powerful shot from Valentin Hammerle, making it 1:0 (3 min.). Barely a minute later, Hammerle scored from the right to make it 2:0 (4 min.).

Just 22 seconds later, the Lions pulled one back to make it 1:2, with Philipp Koczera converting from close range after being set up perfectly (5 min.). After a brief scoring lull, during which both teams still had several chances, Lustenau equalised while shorthanded: following an error at the blue line, Chris D'Alvise seized the puck, went one-on-one with Kufstein netminder Patrick Fuchs and made it 2:2 (14 min.).

Shortly after this power play ended, the Tyroleans took the lead again: Valentin Hammerle volleyed his own rebound out of the air to make it 3:2 (15 min.). This completed the hat-trick for the Vorarlberg native in Kufstein colours. Kufstein did not enjoy their lead for long, however, as Philipp Koczera quickly equalised (16 min.).

Emotions boiled over for the first time in the second period, and the match now also had the edge that makes a marquee game. Both teams now tried to bring greater stability to their defensive units. Nevertheless, the game remained highly entertaining, with intense battles and scoring chances at both ends.

As the middle period progressed, the players became increasingly nervous and emotions flared up again. After six goals in the first period, this one remained scoreless, also because both netminders – Felix Beck for Lustenau and Patrick Fuchs for Kufstein – were now fully alert and gave nothing away. A highly tense final period was in store.

The action continued to go back and forth, with Kufstein surviving a tricky shorthanded spell. Then crunch time arrived in the fortress town and the league leaders from Vorarlberg suddenly had the lead: Josef Kutzer surprised Dragons netminder Patrick Fuchs to put his side 4:3 ahead (56 min.). Barely half a minute later, Christopher D’Alvise scored into the empty net to make it 5:3 (57 min.). When Philipp Koczera made it 6:3 with his third goal just 27 seconds later, the marquee clash was finally decided (57 min.).

Lustenau returned to winning ways after their defeat in Hohenems.

EHC Crocodiles Kundl gain derby revenge against Wattens Penguins

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl hosted the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins in the West Division on Friday for a "back-to-back" derby. Last Friday, the Crocodiles suffered a 0:2 defeat at Wattens' Alpenstadion in snowfall and were eager for revenge just one week later.

And that is exactly how Jaroslav Betka's team began the game: following a quick attack down the left, Simon Brandner was completely unmarked in the slot and put the hosts 1:0 ahead (8 min.). Kundl then controlled the match. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Maximilian Ager fired the puck under the crossbar to make it 2:0 (11 min.). Wattens then appeared to have a chance to pull one back on their first power play, but it turned out differently: Daniel Frischmann took the puck, left the Penguins defence in his wake and coolly scored to make it 3:0 (18 min.).

As in the first period, both teams played out a lively end-to-end contest in the second. The major chances initially failed to materialise until Penguins forward Noah Polig took matters into his own hands and gave Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny no chance with a superb shot to make it 1:3 (28 min.). Barely four minutes later, the visitors pulled one back to make it 2:3 following a delayed penalty and a fine cross-ice pass from Lorenz Klingler (32 min.). Suddenly, the Lower Inn Valley derby was wide open again.

Both teams also tried to move quickly through the neutral zone in the final period. Sebastian Schild restored a two-goal lead early on with a fine shot from the left face-off circle to make it 4:2 (45 min.).

Immediately afterwards, the Crocodiles prevented a goal while shorthanded. Five minutes after the fourth goal, Tobias Dinhopel added Kundl's fifth to make it 5:2, surprising Wattens netminder Wotan Knecht from a tight angle (50 min.). Tobias Dinhopel put the finishing touch on the game, making it 6:2 from close range to complete a successful revenge for last week's 0:2 defeat (59 min.).

Dornbirn produce derby sensation against SC Hohenems

To conclude the round, Dornbirner EC on the first Sunday of Advent at the Messestadion in the Vorarlberg derby against SC Samina Hohenems. Christian Haidinger gave the visitors a spectacular lead after a solo effort while falling in a fast-paced game (at 9), but the Bulldogs levelled at 1:1 through Moritz Reichel, who fired a well-placed shot into the net, still in the first period (at 18).

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the second period: Johannes Hehle pounced on the rebound after a save by DEC netminder David Bernhard to make it 2:1 for Hohenems (at 23). There continued to be quick attacks at both ends, with the derby played intensely and featuring good passages of play. Following a face-off, Simon Hämmerle won the puck in his own zone, turned on the afterburners and fed the advancing Ricardo Bell, who gave Hohenems goalie Matthias Fritz no chance to make it 2:2 (at 37).

It got even better for the home side: following a quick re-entry over the blue line, Manuel Merk set up Dornbirn's go-ahead goal to make it 3:2 almost two minutes later. Merk passed to Jonas Meschnig, who sent the puck towards goal, where Merk got the decisive touch (at 39).

The derby remained exciting and evenly balanced in the final period. Johannes Hehle crossed the blue line following a pass from Lukas Fritz, drove to the net and scored the equaliser for 3:3 (at 54). There were no further goals in regulation time. Overtime was also fiercely contested for a long time, before Matheo Sottopietro hammered the puck into the net from the left face-off circle to make it 4:3 with 13 seconds remaining, handing the Dornbirn Bulldogs their first win of the season, of all games in the derby against Hohenems (at 65).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor 4:3 n.V. (0:1,3:1,0:1,1:0)

Sat., 30 November 2024, 19:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Daniel Aschauer (25:17), Nils Granitz (36:12), Lukas Kaider (38:56), Patrick Bolterle (61:49)

HDK Maribor scorers: Danilo Tomašević (17:23), Gal Petek (32:49), Nejc Voh (45:34)

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus 4:7 (1:1,1:3,2:3)

Sat., 30 November 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion

ATSE Graz scorers: Clemens Lennkh (01:13), Rupert Strohmeier (37:29), Luca Rodiga (42:29, 46:46)

KSV Kängurus scorers: Lukas Draschkowitz (03:47), Florian Hoppl (36:51), Stefan Trost (36:56, 41:19/PP1), Iacopo Granza (38:42/PP2,), Pierre Graf (44:21, 48:40)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 3:6 (3:3,0:0,0:3)
Sat., 30 November 2024, 17:35, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Valentin Hammerle (02:31 min./PP1, 03:38 min., 14:18 min.)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Philipp Koczera (04:00 min., 15:35 min., 56:30 min.) Christopher D’Alvise (13:48 min., 56:03 min./EN), Josef Kutzer (55:22 min.)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 6:2 (3:0,0:2,3:0)
Fri, 29 November 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Simon Brandner (07:05 min.), Maximilian Agerer (10:43 min.), Daniel Frischmann (17:54 min./SH1), Sebastian Schild (44:30 min.), Tobias Dinhopel (49:25 min., 58:40 min.)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Noah Polig (27:02 min.), Lorenz Klingler (31:14 min.)

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems 4:3 after overtime (1:1,2:1,0:1,1:0)

Sun, 01 December 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorers: Moritz Reichel (17:28 min.), Ricardo Bell (36:06 min.), Manuel Merk (38:18 min.), Matheo Sottopietra (64:47 min.)

SC Hohenems scorers: Christian Haidinger (08:11 min.), Johannes Hehle (22:55 min., 53:57 min.)

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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