WEV hand league leaders Sharks Gmunden another defeat – Lustenau cele­brate emphatic derby win

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein faced league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. ÖEL clashes in the atmospheric WEV Arena in front of Vienna’s Konzerthaus have always been a guarantee of genuine ice hockey thrillers. This time, too, the opening period was tense and evenly balanced.

Emotions soon boiled over for the first time in this high-stakes match, with WEV’s Rene Pospisil and Sharks player Bastian Szieber coming to blows. Both goaltenders – Domenic Burghard for the Traunsee Sharks and Moritz Merkader – combined with their respective defensive units to ensure a scoreless first period.

Vienna made a dream start to the second period: after a quick attack down the left, Andre Paule scored 1:0 for the hosts (23). The two opponents engaged in an intense open-air battle, with scoring chances at both ends. After both teams failed to convert another power-play opportunity, the Upper Austrian league leaders stepped up their efforts to find an equaliser. 

Head coach Philipp Ullrich’s team stood firm and attempted to keep the game under control. The marquee clash therefore remained highly tense, also because head coach Gregor Baumgartner’s team failed to take another man-advantage opportunity. 

WEV began the final period with a quick power-play goal: Stefan Nador converted a cross-ice pass from the left corner while enjoying the man advantage to make it 2:0 (43.). The Sharks then failed to convert two power plays, and it was only 57 seconds before the final buzzer that the visitors pulled one back following a face-off: Mario Pichler scored on the rebound to make it 1:2, turning the closing stages into a thriller. 

WEV held on to their narrow 2:1 lead and inflicted the league leaders’ second defeat of the season, following the 4:3 penalty-shootout loss on 9 November.

Kapfenberg again claim clear win over ATSE Graz

Defending champions KSV Kängurus hosted ATSE Graz in a back-to-back match at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday. The champions from the Mürztal had won last weekend’s clash in Graz 7:4. Both teams made a lively start and created scoring opportunities at both ends with quick attacks. Initially, Kapfenberg’s Oliver Zirngast and Graz’s Florian Zeugswetter kept their respective nets clean. 

ATSE had their second power play towards the end of the opening period, but it was the champions who took the lead: Florian Hoppl stole the puck, broke away and scored with a backhand shot to make it 1:0 (19.).

Early in the second period, the players from the Styrian capital had their next power play, and this time head coach Markus Losch’s team did better: Maximilian Schwarz fired into the near corner from the left face-off circle to level the score at 1:1 (22.). Both teams continued to play with attacking intent. The Kängurus became more dominant after a power play, while ATSE increasingly looked to counterattack but remained dangerous. 

During another spell of pressure, Kapfenberg regained the lead when Adrian Stühlinger scored from the slot to make it 2:1 (37.). At the start of the final period, ATSE Graz pressed for an equaliser on the power play, but could not find one. 

Kapfenberg were more efficient in front of goal: Pierre Graf gave Graz netminder Florian Zeugswetter no chance with a powerful shot following a quick attack to extend the lead to 3:1 (45.). When Kevin Moderer scored 4:1 for the Mürztal side with a backhander on the counterattack, the match was decided (49.). Player-coach Kris Reinthaler’s team now played as one and gave Graz no further chance. 

Iacopo Granza added 5:1 on the power play (51.), before Florian Hoppl scored from close range to make it 6:1 (53.). Just under two minutes from the end, Michael Malle sent team-mate Christoph Draschkowitz clear with a superb pass, resulting in 7:1 (59.).

Western Division:

EHC Lustenau celebrate emphatic derby win against Dornbirner EC

In the West Division, league leaders EHC Lustenau at home in front of over 950 fans in the Ländle derby to a Dornbirner EC in the Ländle derby in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_AB_A__ fans. The Lions were dominant from the outset, although the visitors initially played with confidence. Following an offensive-zone face-off, Felix Zipperle fired from the blue line to make it 1:0 to Lustenau (9 min.). A minute and a half later, prolific scorer Chris D‘Alvise added the 2:0 from close range (11 min.). 

Following a swift attack, D’Alvise was set up perfectly by Martin Grabher Meier just under three minutes later, and the 3:0 from the slot was a mere formality (13 min.). The leaders had put the derby firmly in their favour early on and subsequently controlled proceedings. With the first shot on goal of the second period, Jonas Kutzer made it 4:0 after just 54 seconds (21 min.), and the derby was decided early in favour of the favourites. Lustenau continued to maintain the tempo, with Thomas Auer scoring the 5:0 from point-blank range (24 min.). 

After a brief respite, Martin Grabher Meier produced a moment of brilliance for the goal of the night. The forward first danced around a Dornbirn defenceman, then rounded goalie David Bernhard before sliding the puck home on the backhand for the 6:0 (35 min.). With 16 seconds remaining in the period, Stefan Hrdina got his stick on a cross-ice pass from Felix Zipperle to score the 7:0 (40 min.). 

In the final period, Robin Wüstner made it 8:0 for the West Division leaders from close range (44 min.). And the goals kept coming: Philipp Koczera was completely unmarked on the left and made it 9:0 (51 min.). Following a swift attack, Maid Meduseljac scored the 10:0 for Lustenau (53 min.). There were two scuffles towards the end, but Lustenau ultimately won the derby by a double-digit margin and remain clear leaders in the West.

SC Hohenems claim away win over the Wattens Penguins

For the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins, Saturday’s home game at the Alpenstadion against current West Division runners-up SC Samina Hohenems carried great importance: keeping pace with the play-off places was the aim for the players from the Crystal City. The visitors from Vorarlberg made the better start, with Patrick Spannring taking advantage of confusion in the Penguins defence to give his side a 1:0 lead from close range (3 min.). 

Both teams engaged in a close battle in the first period, with the Wattens Penguins initially finding the equaliser: Philipp Niederhauser surprised Hohenems goalie Karlo Škec with a long-range shot following a swift attack (10 min.). Hohenems, who had established the upper hand, regained the lead: after a face-off in their own defensive zone, the Steinböcke launched a swift attack which Kai Fässler finished to make it 2:1 (15 min.). Goalie Wotan Knecht then kept the hosts in the game.

The Tyroleans also battled fiercely in the second period, fighting for every inch of ice and ensuring a match that remained exciting for a long time against the Ländle favourites. The hosts then had to negotiate a difficult phase and four minutes shorthanded. Hohenems’ third goal was in the air on several occasions, but keeper Knecht preserved his team’s narrow one-goal deficit. Until Lukas Fritz broke away on a swift counter-attack to make it 3:1 (37 min.). 

Wattens carried a power play into the final period but were unable to use the phase to pull one back. It was a different story for the Emser: following a swift counter-attack and a shot, Joonatan Kyllönen converted the rebound to make it 4:1 (45 min.). Wattens were unable to respond, and Niklas Gehringer clinically scored on the power play to seal the 5:1 final score for Hohenems (56 min.). There were scuffles at the end, while Paul Probst and Patrick Spannring provided the fans with a spirited fight as an added bonus.

HC Kufstein gain derby revenge against EHC Crocodiles Kundl

District derby time on St Nicholas Day in the West Division: HC Kufstein hosted local rivals on Friday in front of more than 800 fans EHC Crocodiles Kundl on Friday in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_AT_A__ fans. The first meeting of the season on 25 October had been won 4:3 by the Crocodiles in overtime after an exciting and fiercely contested game. 

In their second meeting, the Dragons were highly dominant from the opening shift, at times pinning their opponents in their own zone and peppering Kundl goaltender Jakub Kostelny with shots. Kundl had their best moment with a shorthanded chance during their first penalty kill. The hosts were also unable to convert their second power-play opportunity into a goal towards the end of the opening period.

Kufstein continued to launch attack after attack in the second period, while the Crocodiles were primarily occupied with defending their own territory. This set-up kept the second district derby extremely exciting. Head coach Jaroslav Betka's team then had its first power play, but lacked focus.

Kufstein then raised the tempo again. Kundl were unable to break out for minutes on end, but had built a fortress around their own net in the Fortress City. Kufstein were not clinical enough in front of the opposition goal. With five minutes remaining in the period, the Crocodiles were unable to make use of their second power play. The logical result: after 40 minutes, the score was still 0:0.

Little changed in the nature of the game in the third period. Kufstein were on top. Kundl, who had travelled with a short line-up of twelve skaters, held their ground. The Dragons failed to finally take the lead on their third power play, but remained patient. On the next power play, Fabian Nußbaumer fired from just behind the blue line and scored to make it 1:0 with six minutes remaining (55.). 

With 39 seconds left before the final buzzer, Kundl pulled goaltender Kostelny, but could not find an equaliser. HC Kufstein narrowly won the district derby against EHC Crocodiles Kundl 1:0 and avenged their 3:4 overtime road defeat at the end of October.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

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

Sat, 07 December 2024, 19:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Goalscorers for Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Andre Paule (22:33), Stefan Nador (42:02/PP1)

Goalscorer for Sharks Gmunden: Mario Pichler (59:03)

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz 7:1 (1:0,1:1,5:0)

Sat, 07 December 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Goalscorers for KSV Kängurus: Florian Hoppl (18:48/SH1, 52:09), Adrian Stühlinger (36:03), Pierre Graf (44:34), Kevin Moderer (48:36), Iacopo Granza (50:45/PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (58:03)

Goalscorer for ATSE Graz: Maximilian Schwarz (21:32/PP1)

HDK Maribor had a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. Dornbirner EC 10:0 (3:0,4:0,3:0)

Sat, 07 December 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Goalscorers for EHC Lustenau: Felix Zipperle (08:24), Christopher D’Alvise (10:04, 12:48), Josef Kutzer (20:54), Thomas Auer (23:22), Martin Grabher Meier (34:10), Stefan Hrdina (39:44), Robin Wüstner (43:41), Philipp Koczera (50:21), Maid Meduseljac (52:19)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1:5 (1:2,0:1,0:2)

Sat, 07 December 2024, 19:30, Alpenstadion

Wattens Penguins scorer: Philipp Niederhauser (09:22)

SC Hohenems scorers: Patrick Spannring (02:58), Kai Fässler (14:02), Lukas Fritz (36:56), Joonatan Kyllönen (44:52), Niklas Gehringer (55:37/PP1)

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 1:0 (0:0,0:0,1:0)
Fri, 06 December 2024, 19:45, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorer:Fabian Nußbaumer (54:06/PP1)

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