WEV now the Sharks Gmunden’s closest chal­lengers – wins for Hohenems and Lustenau

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein welcomed ATSE Graz for the next outdoor classic at the WEV Arena in front of Vienna’s Konzerthaus on Saturday. Vienna had made an exceptionally strong start to the season with five wins from six games and took to the ice for the home game full of confidence. 

WEV held the upper hand from the outset and at times pinned ATSE Graz deep in their own defensive zone, but carelessly squandered good opportunities. The capital side had to kill off two penalties, while Graz came through a spell of being shorthanded unscathed. 

Shortly before the end of the period, Lukas Kaider seized the puck following an error by the Styrians, broke away and scored for the hosts to make it 1:0 with exactly 15 seconds remaining before the first siren (20.). Head coach Philipp Ullrich’s team then carried a penalty into the second period.

Vienna killed off that penalty, after which Graz spent almost the entirety of the remaining second period shorthanded. WEV took a long time to capitalise on the situation. On the power play, Patrick Bolterle slid the puck over the line from a tight angle to make it 2:0 (34.). The shot count in the middle period was 12:4 in Vienna’s favour. 

With their two-goal lead, WEV patiently waited for further opportunities and took one of them to seal the result: Lukas Kaider converted a rebound on the backhand to make it 3:0, his second goal of the game (49.). In the end, Graz had a 5:3 power play, with head coach Markus Losch also pulling goaltender Paul Mocher. Jan Billa fired the puck into the empty net to make it 4:0 (59.). 

In the closing seconds, Vienna preserved the shutout for netminder Moritz Merkader. WEV celebrated their fifth consecutive victory and are now the closest challengers to league leaders Gmunden.

Sharks Gmunden give HDK Maribor no chance

League leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced HDK Maribor in the East Division on Saturday. The Upper Austrians had narrowly won the first meeting in Slovenia’s second-largest city 3:2 in mid-November. This time, the Sharks quickly made it clear who was in charge at Lake Traunsee. Following a brief feeling-out period, Markus Krotsch scored to make it 1:0 with a precise shot after almost six minutes (6.). 

The Slovenians, who had travelled with a short roster, equalised just 17 seconds later: Aljaž Ogrizek converted his own rebound to make it 1:1 (7.). Just under a minute later, Fabian Richter made it 2:1 with a backhand effort from close range (8.). The hosts now capitalised on the momentum, with Alwin Schuster increasing the lead to 3:1 from the slot (9.). After a brief spell of respite, Ian Motil made it 4:1 with just under three minutes remaining in the period, giving his side a comfortable three-goal lead (18.).

Gmunden remained on top in the second period, and the next goal was only a matter of time: Jan Hannes Maierhofer deflected a shot to make it 5:1 (27.). Adrian Rosenberger followed up with a wonderful goal. Falling to the ice, the centre lifted the puck into the net on the backhand to make it 6:1 (29.). Maribor netminder Lazar Ilić’s working day was then over, with Omar Ždralović coming on in his place. After some brief hostilities, veteran Marc-André Dorion brilliantly rounded the new netminder to make it 7:1 (35.). 

The Slovenians did manage a consolation goal in the second period, with Nejc Voh pouncing on a rebound following a save by Luka Gračnar to make it 2:7 (39.). In the final period, head coach Gregor Baumgartner’s team comfortably saw out the game, before Mathias Haiböck sealed the 8:2 final score late on with a precise shot (59.).

Kapfenberger SV had a bye, with the Kangaroos returning to action against ATSE Graz on 19 December.  

West Division:

SC Hohenems win derby against Dornbirn convincingly

It is currently derby time in Vorarlberg in the Division West: SC Samina Hohenems welcomed Dornbirner EC to an open-air festival at Herrenried on Saturday. After their overtime defeat in Dornbirn on the first Sunday of Advent, the Steinböcke had a score to settle and began the latest local showdown accordingly: Patrick Spannring gave them a 1:0 lead from close range (3rd min.). 

Following a quick attack and a fine move, Julian Payr made it 2:0 (10th min.). One minute and 20 seconds later, Patrick Spannring added his second goal to make it 3:0 (11th min.) 

Christian Haidinger’s power-play goal for 4:0 effectively decided the derby (13th min.). DEC goaltender Kevin Wanger had seen enough and Cosmo Reichhalter came into goal for the Messestädter. The Bulldogs pulled one back through Mathias Hofer, who finished off a wonderful combination, to make it 1:4 (16th min.). Just under two minutes later, Kai Fässler was on hand from close range to make it 5:1 for the home side (18th min.).

In the second period, after a brief breather, Julian Grafschafter converted a cross-ice pass on the power play to make it 6:1 for the Schlittschuhclub (34th min.). Hohenems calmly saw out the game with their sizeable lead in the final period. The visitors still had a moment of success: Danny Madlener scored from the slot on the power play to make it 2:6 for the Bulldogs (54th min.). In the end, SC Hohenems celebrated a convincing victory and avenged their surprise away defeat.

League leaders EHC Lustenau defeat HC Kufstein

Leaders EHC Lustenau welcomed HC Kufstein to the Lustenau Rheinhalle for the second time in the Division West: the Löwen made a dream start, taking a 1:0 lead after 34 seconds through Adem Kandemir with their first good attack (1st min.). The Vorarlberg side kept up the pressure and added another: Philipp Koczera converted a cross-ice pass with a one-timer to make it 2:0 (4th min.). 

After just under five minutes, Lustenau led 3:0, as Dominic Haberl deflected a Stefan Hrdina shot (6th min.) beyond the reach of HCK netminder Jakob Sprachmann. Goalscorer Martin Grabher Meier was where a goalscorer needs to be for 4:0, sweeping the puck into the net with his backhand (17th min.). Just 38 seconds later, Maid Meduseljac broke away following a turnover and made it 5:0 (17th min.). Kufstein finally got on the scoresheet, with Florian Eder working the puck into the net from close range to make it 1:5 (18th min.).

In the second period, with Patrick Fuchs in the HCK net, the league leaders took the pace out of the game. The Tyroleans managed to pull another goal back late on. Returning from the penalty box, goalscorer David Hrazdira took possession of the puck and scored his first goal on his comeback in a Kufstein jersey, making it 2:5 (39th min.). 

Kufstein were unable to raise their game in the final period; on the contrary, Lustenau secured the three points and even extended their lead: Martin Grabher Meier scored twice to make it 6:2 (52th min.) and 7:2 (54th min.) for a clear final score. The final goal was Grabher Meier’s third of the evening. Afterwards, tempers flared, with Jonas Kutzer and Manuel Eder providing the final entertainment.

EHC Kundl win away at the Wattens Penguins

As early as Friday, the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and EHC Crocodiles Kundl met in the Unterinntal derby for the third time in as many weeks. The visitors from Kundl took the lead: Lion Ramoser surprised Penguins goaltender Wotan Knecht at the near post to make it 1:0 (15th min.). The Crocodiles were unable to enjoy their first goal for long. Following a quick attack, Noah Polig fired a well-placed shot into the net just under three minutes before the end of the period to level the score at 1:1 (18th min.).

After killing a penalty, Kundl launched a quick counter-attack through Josef Flick in the second period, with Flick scoring to make it 2:1 (23rd minute). Once again, the lead did not last long, as Matthias Schöser converted a rebound from close range after Kundl goaltender Jakub Kostelny failed to hold on, making it 2:2 (26th minute).

With two goals in 21 seconds, Jaroslav Betka's team pulled clear to 4:2 just after the halfway mark. Daniel Frischmann first made it 3:2 on the power play before immediately adding the 4:2 (31st minute). Goaltender Knecht had seen enough and was replaced in the Penguins' net by Marco Simair.

In the final period, Frischmann completed his hat-trick on the next power play with a superb shot from the slot to make it 5:2 (46th minute). Just under six minutes from the end, Ricards Purins gave his team renewed hope with the 3:5 from close range (54th minute). However, that was all the hosts could manage on the night, as Kundl won the “six-point” game at the Alpenstadion and took a major step towards the play-offs.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz 4:0 (1:0,1:0,2:0)

Sat, 14 December 2024, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Goalscorers for Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Lukas Kaider (19:45 min., 48:18 min.), Patrick Bolterle (33:24 min./PP1), Jan Billa (58:53 min./SH2/EN)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor 8:2 (4:1,3:1,1:0)

Sat, 14 December 2024, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden

Goalscorers for Sharks Gmunden: Markus Krotsch (05:58 min.), Fabian Richter (07:27 min.), Alwin Schuster (08:52 min.), Ian Motil (17:12 min.), Jan Hannes Maierhofer (26:55 min.), Adrian Rosenberger (28:05 min.), Marc-André Dorion (34:14 min.), Mathias Haiböck (58:50 min.)

Goalscorers for HDK Maribor: Aljaž Ogrizek (06:15 min.), Nejc Voh (38:06 min.)

Kapfenberger SV had a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC 6:2 (5:1,1:0,0:1)

Sat, 14 December 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Goalscorers for SC Hohenems: Patrick Spannring (02:03 min., 10:33 min.), Julian Payr (09:13 min.), Christian Haidinger (12:20 min./PP1), Kai Fässler (17:37 min.), Julian Grafschafter (33:53 min./PP1)

Goalscorers for Dornbirner EC: Mathias Hofer (15:15 min.), Danny Madlener (53:28 min./PP1)

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 7:2 (5:1,0:1,2:0)

Sat., 14 December 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Adem Kandemir (00:34), Philipp Koczera (03:02), Dominic Haberl (05:03), Martin Grabher Meier (16:10, 51:10, 53:11), Maid Meduseljac (16:48)

HC Kufstein goalscorers: Florian Eder (17:45), David Hrazdira (38:56)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 3:5 (1:1,1:3,1:1)
Fri., 13 December 2024, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Noah Polig (17:05), Matthias Schöser (25:50), Ricards Purins (53:44)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Lion Ramoser (14:31), Josef Flick (22:12), Daniel Frischmann (30:13/PP1, 30:34, 45:35/PP1)

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