WEV take Kapfen­berg’s first point – Stein­dorf win top clash against Althofen

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions recorded a comprehensive 9:0 victory over UHT Dukes Graz. Sharks Gmunden sent out another strong signal of intent with their 4:2 win against ATSE Graz.

In Group South, Steindorf won the top clash against leaders Althofen 5:3 after a thriller. The fans witnessed a goal fest as Velden beat Spittal 8:5. VSV’s Jungadler won 6:4 away to Eisbären Huben.

In Group West, leaders HC Kufstein celebrated a comfortable 7:3 win at VEU Feldkirch.

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein hosted clear Group North-East leaders Kapfenberg in their second Open Air appearance against the magnificent backdrop of Vienna’s Heumarkt.

The Styrians had travelled to the federal capital with an extremely short line-up of twelve skaters. In three-degree temperatures and windy conditions, the two teams engaged in a lively exchange of quick attacks in the opening period, with only the goals missing.

The battles became more intense in the second period, but both teams played without any unfair challenges and continued to rely on fast, skilful skating hockey. The favoured Styrian leaders took a 1:0 lead through Stefan Trost with 27 minutes played, as he beat WEV goaltender Mathias Lichtenecker.

The WEV, coached by Head Coach Mario Kubeczka, were now forced to take even greater attacking risks. With 34 minutes played, Felix Müller had the fans in front of Vienna Konzerthaus celebrating an equaliser for 1:1 following a fine combination.

The match remained thrilling and evenly balanced in the final period. Kapfenberg player-coach and driving force Kris Reinthaler restored the lead with 47 minutes played. But the Viennese fought back: Stefan Nador equalised for 2:2 just 103 seconds later.

That was how it remained after 60 minutes, with WEV having inflicted the Kangaroos’ first dropped point of the season. In overtime, the league leaders secured a 3:2 victory and the extra point through Florian Hoppl in three-on-three action.

Murtal Lions rout Dukes Graz

At Zeltweg’s Aichfeldhalle, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions were looking to take another step towards play-off qualification against UHT Dukes Graz.

From the outset, the Lions sought to take control of the game. Luka Petelin gave the second-placed team in Group North-East a 1:0 lead with 14 minutes played. UHT Dukes Graz had travelled to the Murtal with only eleven skaters, and that became apparent as the game progressed.

After the narrow 1:0 scoreline following 20 minutes, Zeltweg stepped it up in the second period and extended their lead to 2:0 through an early Marco Kuntze goal after 58 seconds.

Towards the end of the period, the Lions’ further goals came at one-minute intervals. Exactly two minutes and 21 seconds separated Peter Mateicka’s 3:0 goal with 38 minutes played and Dominik Walchshofer’s 5:0 goal one second before the siren, with Bernhard Liebscher having made it 4:0 for Murtal Lions in between.

A further quick-fire double at the start of the final period from Daniel Forcher and Marco Kuntze made it 7:0. Michael Grüneis in the 53rd minute and Peter Mateicka in the 56th minute completed the rout from the Lions’ perspective.

ATSE Graz lose at home to Gmunden

ATSE Graz had a thrilling match on the agenda in the battle for their last chance to remain in the Group North-East play-off race against ATSE Graz in the small Hall B at Graz’s Merkur Eisstadion against the UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden.

The motto for both teams was: “Three points are a must!” This resulted in a close contest, with ATSE taking a 1:0 lead through player-coach Rupert Strohmeier in the 13th minute.

An early quick-fire double at the start of the second period from player-coach André Flatscher and Alwin Schuster within 90 seconds turned the game around for the Sharks from Lake Traun, who suddenly had the upper hand. Graz hit back on the power play through Andreas Meixner in the 34th minute. Three minutes later, the Upper Austrians were back in front, with Nicolai Obojes scoring on the power play to make it 3:2.

The game then remained on a knife edge for a long time, but ATSE were unable to find an equaliser. Elias Haas sealed the result with an empty-net goal seven seconds before the final siren. Following the 5:4 win over WEV, the Sharks Gmunden secured their second consecutive victory and kept their play-off hopes alive.

Group South: Steindorf beat league leaders Althofen

The Group South clash between ESC SoccerZone Steindorf and league leaders 1. EHC Althofen was an exciting affair.

From the outset, both teams battled for every inch of ice, creating a slight play-off atmosphere at Lake Ossiach even before Christmas. Both defences were compact in the opening period and gave little away. The chances, particularly on the respective power plays, were thwarted by the impressive goaltenders Fabian Horn for Althofen and Anja Adamitsch for Steindorf.

After a scoreless opening period, Markus Pöck relieved the home fans and gave Steindorf an early 1:0 lead after exactly one minute and six seconds. Just under two minutes later, Martin Oraze made it 2:0 for the team coached by Robert Moser.

The contest became tougher by the minute, resulting in numerous penalties. Simon Hammerle capitalised on a power play in the 27th minute to pull the Rhinos back to 1:2. However, Steindorf hit back, with Kristian Kravanja restoring their two-goal lead in the 32nd minute. In the 37th minute, Martin Oraze once again scored on the power play for the hosts, netting his second goal to make it 4:1.

Towards the end of the second period, the spa-town side coached by Gerald Ressmann had a great chance to get back into the game, but Althofen were unable to turn a two-minute 5:3 power play into anything tangible.

In the final period, Sandro Seifried took possession of the puck and scored to make it 2:4 for the league leaders. When Florian Kurath appeared in front of Steindorf goaltender Anja Adamitsch in the 54th minute and reduced the deficit to 3:4, the game was at boiling point.

The Rhinos pushed for an equaliser but were ultimately unable to capitalise on a power play, with goaltender Fabian Horn having also left his net. On the contrary: Franz Wilfan put the game beyond doubt three seconds before the siren with a short-handed goal into the empty net to make it 5:3.

Goal festival as Velden beat Spittal

The USC Pirates Velden made the better start in the offensive spectacle at the Eishalle Velden against EC LiWoDruck Spittal.

Christian Ban beat Hornets netminder Renè Zauchner from close range exactly 1:23 into the game to make it 1:0 for the hosts. Head coach Herwig Gressel's team followed up, with Sebastian Höffernig extending the lead to 2:0 just under five minutes into the game on the western shore of Lake Wörthersee. Kevin Essmann pulled it back to 1:2 in the eleventh minute with Spittal's first goal of the season against Velden – the Pirates had won the first encounter away from home 5:0. Sebastian Höffernig restored the two-goal lead with his second goal in the 14th minute.

However, the Hornets refused to be shaken off and Florian Kucher struck to make it 2:3 in the 15th minute. Velden responded to the goal and stepped up the pace. Niklas Ofner scored to make it 4:2 three minutes before the end of the period, while Nikolaus Holzer made it 5:2 with 21 seconds left before the siren.

Just after the midway point of the game, Patrick Matschigg increased Velden's lead to 6:2, seemingly deciding the contest. But coach Florian Orzetek's side showed character and fought their way back to 4:6 and into the game through a quickfire double from Daniel Nageler and Florian Kucher within 37 seconds.

In the final period, Lucas Wilblinger made it even more exciting with the 5:6 ten minutes from time. Four minutes after the goal, Sebastian Höffernig netted his third goal of the evening. Patrick Matschigg followed up the 7:5 with the 8:5 in the 57th minute, as the Pirates claimed three points after a hard-fought battle.

VSV overcome Eisbären Huben away from home

An intense duel was contested by UECR Eisbären Huben and the Young Eagles of EC iDM VSV in this instance at a pleasant temperature of one degree.

At their previous home game against Althofen, temperatures of minus 10 degrees were recorded in East Tyrol. The situation before the opening face-off was clear: both teams needed to secure three points to remain in the ÖEL play-off race. Samuel Corradini gave the Eisbären a 1:0 lead three minutes before the end of the period.

In the second period, VSV turned the game around with a quickfire double from Patrick Bruckner and Marco Steiner within 50 seconds. The Eisbären appeared stunned, and the Villach side followed up, opening up a 4:1 lead through goals from Christof Tschnurnig and Samuel Hobitsch shortly before the midway point of the game. Simon Holzer breathed new life into the East Tyroleans with the 2:4 in the 34th minute.

In the final period, it was a Villach player of all people who ensured high drama: Martin Pewal cut the deficit to 3:4 38 seconds after the restart. In the 51th minute, Jonas Trojer made the Huben ice stadium shake with the 4:4 equaliser.

Florian Lanzinger then dashed Huben's hopes of claiming points. He first scored to give VSV a 5:4 lead in the 56th minute, before Lanzinger fired the puck into the empty Eisbären net exactly one minute from time to seal the 6:4 away win.

Western Group: HC Kufstein win at VEU

In the Western Group, league leaders HC Kufstein celebrated an untroubled VEU Feldkirch 7:3 victory.

The Tyroleans encountered only minor difficulties against the young, quick Vorarlberg side in the opening period. Tobias Wilhelm initially gave the Dragons a 1:0 lead on the power play in the fourth minute. Yannik Lebeda equalised in the 13th minute.

From the start of the second period, the league leaders stepped things up with a quick double from Czech power duo Martin Kosnar and David Hrazdira, pulling clear to 3:1. Samuel Sappl, Hrazdira again and Robert Schopf extended the score to 6:1 by the 38th minute, still in the second period.

Benjamin Kyllönen and Simon Hämmerle reduced the deficit to 3:6 in the third period. David Hrazdira netted his third goal on the power play in the 51st minute, as Kufstein celebrated their sixth successive victory and won at the Vorarlberghalle for the second time.

The match SC SAMINA Hohenems against WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins had to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions, with a new date to follow.

Matchday, West Group

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein 3:7 (1:1,0:5,2:1)
Sat, 10 December 2022, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch scorers: Yannik Lebeda (12:53), Benjamin Kyllönen (44:03), Simon Hämmerle (47:57)
HC Kufstein scorers: Tobias Wilhelm (03:45/PP1), Martin Kosnar (20:34), David Hrazdira (21:15, 35:49, 50:24/PP1), Samuel Sappl (31:06), Robert Schopf (37:44)

SC SAMINA Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Cancelled due to the weather; a new date will be announced.

Matchday, North-East Group

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. Kapfenberger SV 2:3 n.V. (0:0,1:1,1:1,0:1)
Sat, 10 December 2022, 18:00, Wiener Eislaufverein
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Felix Müller (33:18), Stefan Nador (47:54)
Kapfenberger SV scorers: Stefan Trost (26:49), Kris Reinthaler (46:11), Florian Hoppl (63:35)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UHT Dukes Graz 9:0 (1:0,4:0,4:0)
Sat., 10 December 2022, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle Zeltweg
Goalscorers for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Luka Petelin (13:01), Marco Kuntze (20:58, 42:56), Peter Mateicka (37:38, 55:31), Bernhard Liebscher (38:45), Dominik Walchshofer (39:59), Daniel Forcher (41:11), Michael Grüneis (52:12)

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 2:4 (1:0,1:3,0:1)
Sat., 10 December 2022, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion Graz
Goalscorers for ATSE Graz: Rupert Strohmeier (12:36), Andreas Meixner (33:06/PP1)
Goalscorers for Sharks Gmunden: André Flatscher (21:19), Alwin Schuster (22:49), Nicolai Obojes (36:14/PP1), Elias Haas (59:53/EN)

Matchday, South Group

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. 1st EHC Althofen 5:3 (0:0,4:1,1:2)
Sat., 10 December 2022, 15:15, Ossiacher See Halle Steindorf
Goalscorers for ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Markus Pöck (21:06), Martin Oraze (23:04, 36:46/PP1), Kristian Kravanja (31:11), Franz Wilfan (59:57/SH1)
Goalscorers for 1st EHC Althofen: Simon Hammerle (26:30/PP1), Sandro Seifried (48:40), Florian Kurath (53:08)

USC Pirates Velden vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal 8:5 (5:2,1:2,2:1)
Sat., 10 December 2022, 18:30, Eishalle Velden
Goalscorers for USC Pirates Velden: Christian Ban (01:23), Sebastian Höffernig (05:09, 13:31, 53:51), Niklas Ofner (16:54), Nikolaus Holzer (19:39), Patrick Matschigg (30:52, 56:15)
Goalscorers for EC LiWoDruck Spittal: Kevin Essmann (10:46), Florian Kucher (14:47, 33:14), Daniel Nageler (32:37), Lucas Wilblinger (49:48)

UECR Eisbären Huben vs. EC iDM VSV 4:6 (1:0,1:4,2:2)
Sat., 10 December 2022, 19:00, Eisstadion Huben
UECR Eisbären Huben scorers: Samuel Corradini (16:59), Simon Holzer (33:48), Martin Pewal (40:38), Jonas Trojer (50:17)
EC iDM VSV scorers: Patrick Bruckner (21:45), Marco Steiner (22:55), Christof Tschnurnig (25:29), Samuel Hobitsch (29:57), Florian Lanzinger (55:40, 59:00)

ÖEL matches are broadcast on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Game Centre

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!