Youth Olympic Games: Depar­ture for Gangwon (KOR)

The ÖEHV delegation comprises a total of 13 players and will depart Vienna for Seoul on a direct flight on Sunday evening. One of the first key measures on site will be to minimise jet lag as much as possible. “We will land in Seoul at around 13:00 local time and then have a three-hour bus journey ahead of us. As soon as we have checked into the hotel, we want to take a look at the ice rink and, if possible, complete a conditioning session,” explains Head Coach Florian Mühlstein. The first on-ice practice session in South Korea is scheduled for Thursday.

Due to the lack of ice time, the team will complete off-ice sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, before opening the tournament against Great Britain on Saturday at 12:00. The top 4 after the preliminary round qualify for the semi-finals, featuring 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3.

The tournament is played in the 3x3 format, with line changes required every 45 seconds. Playing time is divided into 3x15 minutes, with 5 minutes’ break between each period.

3x3 ice hockey is a modified version of ice hockey played on half a rink, with just three players and one goaltender per team. 3x3 tournaments are played across the width of the ice surface, allowing two games to take place simultaneously, one at each end of the rink. In this format, play does not stop for goals.

Most regular ice hockey rules apply, but bodychecking is not permitted. There is also no icing or offside. If the score is level after regulation time, the winner is determined by a penalty shootout.

The discipline made its international debut at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne (FRA).

A format with a future
For Florian Mühlstein, who has intensively explored this young variant of ice hockey in recent months, the 3x3 format has a future, particularly at youth level: “In terms of the playing format, it is completely new. The rules have been adjusted slightly to create more flow in the game. It is less shaped by team tactics. Individual tactical skills need to be spot on. An important factor will be how we change, how we play the puck and support it. It is certainly a format that should be promoted at youth level.”

“It is extremely fast, with plenty of chances at both ends. That creates excitement and keeps the players constantly on their toes,” adds Sporting Director Roger Bader.

Given the limited experience with this format so far, according to Florian Mühlstein, it is difficult to make a clear prediction for the tournament: “Our goal is to improve day by day. As a coaching team, we need to make sure that the boys enjoy themselves and this experience. Then we will see what comes of it in the end. The big dream would, of course, be a medal.”

And Roger Bader certainly believes Florian Mühlstein and his charges are capable of achieving that: “If everything goes optimally, a medal is probably within reach.” This includes the players staying healthy and coping physically with the demands of two games a day.

Sporting Director Roger Bader, who himself had the opportunity to take part in the Youth Olympic Games three times (2x with Switzerland, 1x with Austria), also highlights the overarching purpose of this tournament: “It is a fantastic experience for everyone involved. It should and must provide inspiration and motivation for the players to develop the ambition to one day take part in the Olympic Games as adults.”

Schedule

Austria vs. Great Britain
Sat, 20 January 2024, 04:00 (12:00 local time)

Austria vs. Kazakhstan
Sun, 21 January 2024, 02:30 (10:30 local time)

Austria vs. Chinese Taipei
Sun, 21 January 2024, 09:30 (17:30 local time)

Austria vs. Spain
Mon, 22 January 2024, 01:00 (09:00 local time)

Austria vs. Latvia
Mon, 22 January 2024, 08:00 (16:00 local time)

Austria vs. Denmark
Tue, 23 January 2024, 02:30 (10:30 local time)

Austria vs. Poland
Tue, 23 January 2024, 09:30 (17:30 local time)

24 and 25 January: cross-over games and final

Youth Olympic Games squad, Gangwon (KOR)

Youth Olympic Games 2024, 19 January – 1 February 2024
3v3 U16 Men's Tournament: Austria, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Spain, Chinese Taipei