WEV win come­back game at the Heumarkt against ATSE Graz – Stein­dorf defeat USC Pirates Velden

League leaders Kapfenberg won 9:4 at UHT Dukes Graz. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and Sharks Gmunden celebrated a ‘Family Day open house’ in the Lions’ 11:6 win.

In the South Group, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf defeated USC Pirates Velden 4:1. EC LiWoDruck Spittal secured a clear 7:2 victory over UECR Eisbären Huben. Leaders Althofen prevailed 5:4 in overtime against VSV’s Jungadler.

In the West Group, league leaders HC Kufstein continued their winning run with a 7:1 victory over HC TIWAG Innsbruck II. SC SAMINA Hohenems had already won 7:2 away to EHC Crocodiles Kundl on Friday.

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein experienced a historic moment on Saturday in its Ö Eishockey Liga North-East Group game against ATSE Graz. After around six decades, WEV returned to its traditional and illustrious home at Vienna’s Heumarkt and played a league game in the open air.

WEV officials had created a fitting setting for the comeback in Vienna, and the hosts put on a show against Graz with the Vienna Konzerthaus in the background. With 14 minutes played, Stefan Nador sent the fans into raptures with the 1:0. Marko Ilic extended the lead to 2:0 for player-coach Mario Kubeczka’s team later in the opening period.

After a scoreless middle period, Stefan Nador's second goal, making it 3:0 at 47, proved decisive in favour of the Yellow-Blacks. With 81 seconds remaining, Bogdan Stupak put the finishing touch on an atmospheric ice hockey occasion with the 4:0.

WEV goaltender Mathias Lichtenecker was able to celebrate a shutout, while the Viennese side collected three important points in the battle to reach the play-offs. WEV’s open-air home-game series at the Heumarkt continues on 10 December, when they face league leaders Kapfenberg in a blockbuster clash.

Goal fest between Murtal Lions and Sharks Gmunden

The EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions had invited UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden to a ‘Family Day’, but it became an open house on the ice. The hosts celebrated an 11:6 victory after 60 minutes.

The game at the Aichfeldhalle was virtually decided after the first period. Oliver Setzinger and company came out firing against the Upper Austrians, who had travelled with only 13 skaters, and led 2:0 after just under four minutes thanks to goals from Marco Quinz and Peter Mateicka.

Just a few seconds later, Laurens Ober pulled one back to make it 1:2 for the Sharks from Lake Traunsee. By the 22nd minute, the Styrians had extended the score to 5:1 through goals from Raphael Rieger, Marko Tadic and Marco Kuntze, before Elias Haas made it 2:5 on the power play.

The Murtal Lions then took command again in the second period and scored four unanswered goals. In the final period, André Flatscher initially reduced the deficit to 3:9, before Peter Mateicka completed his hat-trick to make it 10:3 and take the score into double figures.

After that, the goal fest continued: the Lions had satisfied their appetite for goals with Thomas Schiechl making it 11:4, but the Sharks from Gmunden struck late on, scoring two further goals through Alessandro Mühllechner on a 5:3 power play in the 59th minute and Konstantin Schlair on a 5:4 power play 33 seconds later.

The visitors showed character and won the final period 4:2. With their home victory, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions remain the closest challengers to leaders Kapfenberg in the standings.

Dukes Graz lose to leaders Kapfenberg

The UHT Dukes Graz faced league leaders Kapfenberger SV at the Frohnleiten ice rink. The Mürztal side showed in the first period why they have dominated the North-East Group since the start of the season.

The team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler wrapped things up in the opening 20 minutes. Rupert Fichtinger opened the scoring for the Kangaroos after exactly 78 seconds. Three further goals from Stefan Trost in the eighth minute, player-coach Kris Reinthaler himself in the 13th minute and Stefan Derler in the 15th minute left no doubt as to who would leave the ice in Frohnleiten as winners.

Although the Dukes made the better start to the second period and got on the scoreboard through Robert Karitnig in the 22nd minute, Kapfenberg then took control again and pulled away to 6:1 through a power-play goal from Florian Hoppl and Pierre Graf. Sascha Sudnikiewicz made it 2:6 from the Dukes' perspective shortly before the end of the period.

In the final period, the Graz Dukes responded to the Kangaroos' two further goals, which made it 8:2. After Sudnikiewicz made it 8:4 in the 60th minute, Christoph Draschkowitz made it 9:4 just 21 seconds later. Kapfenberg thus celebrated their seventh win in seven games.

South Group: Steindorf beat Velden

The ESC SoccerZone Steindorf – labelled title favourites by ice hockey experts and league rivals in Carinthia – struggled for a long time to turn their superiority into goals against the USC Pirates Velden, who lined up with a depleted squad of twelve skaters.

The visitors held firm in the opening period – supported by an outstanding performance from goaltender Thomas Stroj – and even took a 1:0 lead through Christian Ban in the 13th minute. The statistics showed 22:7 shots on goal for the Ossiacher See side after 20 minutes.

It took until the 29th minute for Franz Wilfan to level at 1:1 for the team coached by Robert Moser. 24 seconds before the end of the period, Martin Oraze gave the home side a 2:1 lead on a 5:3 power play. In the final period, it was Martin Oraze again who put Steindorf on course for victory with the 3:1 on a power play in the 44th minute.

Franz Wilfan also completed a brace in the 46th minute and wrapped things up at 4:1. Despite conceding four goals, Velden goaltender Thomas Stroj posted a save percentage of 92,3 per cent, with 52 shots fired at his net, of which he saved 48.

Spittal comfortably beat Eisbären Huben

Looking at the standings in the South Group, the clash between EC LiWoDruck Spittal and UECR Eisbären Huben was also a genuine top-of-the-table encounter, with second hosting third.

The hosts got off to a dream start, with Daniel Zauchner giving the Hornets a 1:0 lead in the fourth minute. Three minutes before the end of the period, Noel Brunner made it 2:0 for the team coached by Florian Orzetek on the power play. The Eisbären hit back in the second period: Johannes Warscher in the 24th minute and Robert Trojer on the power play in the 33rd minute levelled the score at 2:2. However, that was all the East Tyroleans had left in the tank that evening.

Spittal stepped up a gear and retook the lead through Daniel Zauchner in the 37th minute.

In the final period, the Hornets pressed on and pulled away to 6:2 by the 53rd minute through goals from Kevin Essmann, Marco Zorec and Florian Kucher. 13 seconds after the 6:2, Daniel Zauchner scored his third goal of the evening, which also sealed the 7:2 final score for the hosts, who remain second in the standings behind Althofen.

Althofen edge VSV in overtime

League leaders 1st-placed EHC Althofen won the afternoon game in the South Group against the Young Eagles of EC iDM VSV 5:4 after overtime.

From the outset, an entertaining match with a thrilling momentum developed at the Stadthalle Althofen. Christoph Kronlechner gave the team coached by Gerald Ressmann an early lead after exactly one minute and 35 seconds. Villach hit back on the power play through Maximilian Aumaier in the eighth minute.

Just after the halfway point of the game, the visitors took the lead for the first time: Lukas Floriantschitz made it 2:1 for the team coached by Günther Lanzinger in the 33rd minute. The team from the Drau Valley could not celebrate for long, as just 37 seconds later Simon Hammerle scored to level the score at 2:2 for Althofen. The Young Eagles from Villach took the lead once more, with Florian Lanzinger making it 3:2 in the 38th minute.

The Rhinos were unfazed and quickly equalised at 3:3 through Florian Kurath in the 39th minute. Just under three and a half minutes had been played in the final period when Marc Ettinger put Althofen 4:3 ahead.

VSV refused to give up and levelled the score once again: Florian Lanzinger sent Villach into overtime, where the hosts wrapped it up through Florian Kurath after exactly one minute and 57 seconds, making it 5:4. The Rhinos therefore remain top of the South Group.

West Group: Kufstein beat HC Innsbruck II

West Group leaders HC Kufstein struggled only in the opening period to convert their numerous chances into goals in their home game against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II.

Innsbruck, who had travelled to Kufstein with only 13 skaters, resisted by every means and were backed by a strong Markus Gratzer in goal. In the second period, Samuel Sappl gave the Dragons a 1:0 lead in the 23rd minute. Czech goal-getter David Hrazdira made it 2:0 in the 28th minute. After Patrick Hager scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3:0 in the 32nd minute, the young Innsbruck Sharks' resistance was broken.

Martin Kosnar on the power play and Florian Eder extended the lead to 5:0 before Michael Markart scored a consolation goal for the Innsbruck side coached by Werner Strele. The team coached by Ivo Novotny were not finished yet and added two further goals through Leevi Ahonen and David Hrazdira, both on the power play.

Kufstein eventually recorded a 7:1 win, reclaiming top spot from SC SAMINA Hohenems. The Vorarlberg side had celebrated a 7:2 win at EHC Crocodiles Kundl on Friday and had led the West Group for around 24 hours.

West Group matchday

HC Kufstein vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II 7:1 (0:0,4:0,3:1)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Samuel Sappl (22:36), David Hrazdira (27:48, 55:26/PP1), Patrick Hager (31:36/SH1), Martin Kosnar (33:50/PP1), Florian Eder (42:55), Leevi Ahonen (51:51/PP1)
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II scorer: Michael Markart (46:17)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC SAMINA Hohenems 2:7 (0:4,2:2,0:1)
Fri, 25 November 2022, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Stefan Rainer (21:12), Vladimir Dolnik (38:45)
SC SAMINA Hohenems scorers: Pascal Kainz (02:40), Martin Grabher Meier (05:42, 07:48), Lukas Fritz (06:17, 21:00), Thomas Auer (28:27), Matthias Fussenegger (51:41/PP1)

VEU Feldkirch vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Due to illness- and injury-related absences in the VEU Feldkirch squad, the matches against WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II have been postponed!

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. VEU Feldkirch
Due to illness- and injury-related absences in the VEU Feldkirch squad, the matches against WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II have been postponed!

North-East Group matchday

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 11:6 (4:1,5:1,2:4)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 17:00, Aichfeldhalle
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorers: Marco Quinz (02:30), Peter Mateicka (04:15, 39:37, 44:13), Raphael Rieger (07:32), Marko Tadic (18:46), Marco Kuntze (21:41), Florian Dinhopel (26:12, 36:30/PP1), Dominik Walchshofer (35:57/PP2), Thomas Schiechl (47:47)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Laurens Ober (04:52), Elias Haas (24:49/PP1), André Flatscher (43:40), Alwin Schuster (47:24), Alessandro Mühllechner (58:02/PP2), Konstantin Schlair (58:35/PP1)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz 4:0 (2:0,0:0,2:0)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 18:00, Wiener Eislaufverein
Goalscorers Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Stefan Nador (13:48 min, 46:29 min), Marko Ilic (17:34 min), Bogdan Stupak (58:39 min)

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV 4:9 (0:4,2:2,2:3)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 19:15, Eishalle Frohnleiten
Goalscorers UHT Dukes Graz: Robert Karitnig (21:56 min), Sascha Sudnikiewicz (39:12 min, 59:12 min), Tobias Tatzer (53:07 min/PP1)
Goalscorers Kapfenberger SV: Rupert Fichtinger (01:28 min), Stefan Trost (07:06 min), Kris Reinthaler (12:38 min), Stefan Derler (14:46 min), Florian Hoppl (25:18 min/PP1, 41:35 min), Pierre Graf (38:13 min), Thomas Koller (42:49 min), Christoph Draschkowitz (59:33 min)

South Group matchday

1st EHC Althofen vs. EC iDM VSV 5:4 AET (1:1,2:2,1:1,1:0)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 15:30, Stadthalle Althofen
Goalscorers 1st EHC Althofen: Christoph Kronlechner (01:35 min), Simon Hammerle (32:54 min), Florian Kurath (38:43 min, 61:57 min), Marc Ettinger (43:25 min)
Goalscorers EC iDM VSV: Maximilian Aumaier (07:28 min/PP1), Lukas Floriantschitz (32:17 min), Florian Lanzinger (37:10 min, 52:56 min)

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. USC Pirates Velden 4:1 (0:1,2:0,2:0)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle
Goalscorers ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Franz Wilfan (28:22 min, 45:18 min), Martin Oraze (39:36 min/PP2, 43:47 min/PP1)
Goalscorer USC Pirates Velden: Christian Ban (12:32 min)

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. UECR Eisbären Huben 7:2 (2:0,1:2,4:0)
Sat, 26 November 2022, 18:15, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal
Goalscorers EC LiWoDruck Spittal: Daniel Zauchner (03:15, 36:47, 52:23), Noel Brunner (16:51/PP1), Kevin Essmann (43:27), Marco Zorec (48:44), Florian Kucher (52:10)
UECR Eisbären Huben goalscorers: Johannes Warscher (23:31), Robert Trojer (32:38/PP1)

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