World Championship preparation week #3: Two U20 players to make senior national team debuts
While Elias Wallenta will miss the remainder of the World Championship preparation and the World Championship itself due to a shoulder injury, and Peter Schneider will complete an individual training programme, two U20 players have the opportunity to prove themselves. Adrian Gesson and Leon Kolarik are taking part in this week's team camp in Vienna and could make their senior national team debuts against Czechia. The home game against the 2024 world champions will take place this Thursday at 19:00, live on ORF SPORT +, at the Steffl Arena in Vienna.
5 min read
As announced following last week's win over Italy, the squad for week #3 of World Championship preparation remains almost unchanged, with only minor changes made,Head Coach Roger Bader: "Elias Wallenta is out injured. I also agreed with Peter Schneider some time ago that he would train individually this week and rejoin the national team next week. In return, we have brought in two U20 players, Adrian Gesson and Leon Kolarik, who will now receive their first opportunity."
After Latvia in the first week and Italy last week, Czechia are now next. Next Thursday, Austria host the seven-time world champions at the Steffl Arena in Vienna before travelling to Jihlava (CZE) on Friday. "Czechia have more skill than Italy did most recently, and they also play with enormous intensity and pace. That forces us to match them and, by doing so, we will improve," expects Roger Bader to see the next step from his team.
National Military Night
Fans can expect a very special atmosphere at Thursday's home game. In cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces, the game will be held under the motto "National Military Night". The Austrian Armed Forces will present themselves with an extensive supporting programme around and inside the arena. From 17:30, the Guards Band will perform outside the arena and the Austrian Armed Forces will host a military display. Together with the fans, drummers and trumpeters will create a unique atmosphere during the game. In addition, the Guards Band will play the national anthems of both nations before the game, while Austrian Armed Forces uniforms will also be on display.
World Championship preparation squad, week #3
No. | Surname | First name | Pos | Height | Weight | Date of birth | R/L | Club | GP | G | A | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | KICKERT | David | GK | 188 | 83 | 16.03.94 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 122 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
31 | TOLVANEN | Atte | GK | 182 | 87 | 23.11.94 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 | VORAUER | Florian | GK | 188 | 81 | 09.12.99 | L | EC KAC | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | HACKL | Dominic | D | 187 | 91 | 08.11.96 | L | EV Vienna Capitals | 45 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
10 | KLASSEK | Thomas | D | 184 | 85 | 18.02.05 | L | RPI Engineers (USA) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
12 | MAIER | David | D | 187 | 86 | 12.10.00 | R | EC KAC | 83 | 2 | 10 | 61 |
8 | NICKL | Thimo | D | 191 | 87 | 04.12.01 | R | EC KAC | 51 | 1 | 4 | 27 |
4 | SCHNETZER | Ramon | D | 178 | 83 | 12.08.96 | L | Pioneers Vorarlberg Eishockeyclub | 72 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
9 | SÖLLINGER | Patrick | D | 188 | 97 | 05.08.04 | L | Steinbach Black Wings Linz | 19 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
13 | STEFFLER | Devin | D | 187 | 86 | 14.07.00 | R | HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
25 | UNTERWEGER | Clemens | D | 183 | 91 | 01.04.92 | L | EC KAC | 92 | 6 | 25 | 32 |
27 | WIMMER | Philipp | D | 195 | 96 | 13.12.01 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 41 | 0 | 1 | 35 |
32 | WOLF | Bernd | D | 178 | 84 | 23.02.97 | L | EHC Kloten (SUI) | 120 | 6 | 20 | 62 |
6 | GESSON | Adrain | F | 178 | 78 | 13.09.06 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
28 | HUBER | Mario | F | 188 | 90 | 08.08.96 | R | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 67 | 10 | 14 | 20 |
14 | KOLARIK | Leon | F | 180 | 80 | 23.09.07 | L | Peterborough Petes (USA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 | KOSCHEK | Felix | F | 186 | 84 | 23.10.05 | L | EV Vienna Capitals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
20 | NEUBAUER | Henrik | F | 184 | 90 | 15.04.97 | R | Steinbach Black Wings Linz | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
7 | NISSNER | Benjamin | F | 182 | 80 | 30.11.97 | L | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 56 | 12 | 14 | 24 |
24 | REBERNIG | Maximilian | F | 193 | 103 | 03.09.00 | L | EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV | 20 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
21 | SCHERZER | Ian | F | 181 | 89 | 03.07.05 | L | RPI Engineers (USA) | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
23 | SCHWINGER | Simeon | F | 182 | 75 | 07.10.97 | L | EC KAC | 42 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
15 | THALER | Lucas | F | 180 | 80 | 21.01.02 | R | EC Red Bull Salzburg | 52 | 9 | 9 | 39 |
19 | VAN EE | Finn | F | 182 | 88 | 12.01.03 | L | EC KAC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
11 | WALLNER | Leon | F | 185 | 89 | 01.07.02 | R | EV Vienna Capitals | 26 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
2 | WASCHNIG | David | F | 184 | 86 | 24.04.07 | L | EC KAC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
16 | ZWERGER | Dominic | F | 183 | 93 | 16.07.96 | L | HC Ambri-Piotta (SUI) | 102 | 26 | 39 | 51 |
184,6 | 86,7 | 25.01.00 | 1108 | 85 | 158 | 449 |
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World Championship preparation
Austria vs. Czechia
Thu, 23 April 2026, 19:00, Steffl Arena Vienna
Live on ORF SPORT +
Czechia vs. Austria
Fri, 24 April 2026, 17:00, Jihlava (CZE)
Further World Championship preparation
30.04, 19:00, Zell am See: Austria vs. Germany
02.05, 17:00, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER): Germany vs. Austria
09.05, 16:20, Klagenfurt: Austria vs. Slovenia
ÖEHV ticket shop
Already played
Latvia vs. Austria 3:4 (0:1, 3:3, 0:0)
Wed, 8 April 2026, 18:30, Riga (LAT)
Austria goalscorers: Maximilian Rebernig (9 min), Benjamin Nissner (21 min), Luca Erne (29 min), Lucas Thaler (39 min/PP)
Latvia goalscorers: Karlis Ozolins (30 min), Glebs Prohorenkovs (33 min/PP), Deniss Smirnovs (36 min)
Game Sheet
Latvia vs. Austria 1:0 (0:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Thu, 9 April 2026, 18:30, Riga (LAT)
Latvia goalscorer: Oskars Lapinski (51 min)
Game Sheet
Austria vs. Italy 3:2 after penalty shoot-out (0:0, 2:1, 0:1, 1:0)
Thu, 16 April 2026, 19:00, Dornbirn
Austria goalscorers: Benjamin Nissner (27 mins, 29 mins/PP), Peter Schneider (65 mins)
Italy goalscorers: Bryce Misley (30 mins), Tommaso De Luca (55 mins)
Game Sheet
2026 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
15 May 2026 - 31 May 2026, Zurich and Fribourg (SUI)
Defending champions: USA
Group A, Zurich: USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain
Group B, Fribourg: Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy
Schedule
Great Britain vs. Austria
Sat, 16 May 2026, 12:20, Swiss Life Arena
Austria vs. Hungary
Sun, 17 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena
Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 19 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena
Austria vs. Switzerland
Wed, 20 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena
Austria vs. Germany
Sat, 23 May 2026, 20:20, Swiss Life Arena
Finland vs Austria
Sun, 24 May 2026, 20:20, Swiss Life Arena
USA vs Austria
Tue, 26 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena
Information on World Championship ticket sales at 2026.iihfworlds.com!
Link to World Championship tickets for Zurich and Fribourg (Ticketcorner.ch)
Link to individual matches involving Austria - (Ticketcorner.ch)
Link to World Championship packages including Austria’s matches - (Ticketcorner.ch)
