Zeltweg Murtal Lions win open-air spec­tacle at WEV – Hohenems win derby against Dorn­birn

Everything was set for the great open-air classic between Wiener Eislauf-Verein and EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions. Second in the table hosted the third-placed team against the magnificent backdrop of Vienna's Konzerthaus, in the wonderfully adapted WEV Arena with its new stand and new VIP area. 

The Styrian visitors caught WEV cold, with Michal Dudas giving Murtal Lions a 1:0 lead after just 41 seconds (1nd minute). Things got even worse for the hosts as Michael Grüneis added the 2:0 on the power play (4th minute). There was no time for the Viennese side to be stunned after falling two goals behind so quickly. Stefan Nador fired home to make it 1:2 (7th minute). After the frantic start, the game developed into an intense contest with plenty of physical battles.

It was WEV who made a lightning start to the second period: Lukas Kaider put the puck over the line to make it 2:2 after exactly 31 seconds (21st minute). The match now offered everything an open-air classic has to offer: hard battles and good scoring chances. The game grew more intense by the minute and recalled the teams' direct clash in the season opener. 

Once again, it was the Styrians who took the lead. Robin Weihager set up Michael Grüneis on the power play, and he fired home perfectly to make it 3:2 (29th minute). Just under three minutes before the end of the second period, Cedric Ehrenreich, who deflected a shot from Stefan Nador, equalised at 3:3 (37th minute). 

The Viennese side then took several penalties, which Murtal Lions ruthlessly exploited. Robin Weihager again found Michael Grüneis, who made it 4:3 for the visitors with his third power-play goal, 46 seconds before the end of the period (40th minute).

Michael Grüneis was not done scoring yet. Just 41 seconds had been played in the final period when he appeared in front of WEV netminder Mathias Lichtenecker and tucked the puck home after a fine feint to make it 5:3 (41st minute). It was his fourth goal, set up by Robin Weihager. 

The team coached by Head Coach Mario Kubeczka now found themselves two goals behind again, as they had been at the start of the game, but could not respond during this phase. The Lions from the Murtal valley added another, with Daniel Forcher making it 6:3 (49th minute). 

Head Coach Philipp Ullrich had prepared his team perfectly for the spectacle at Vienna's Heumarkt. WEV pulled netminder Lichtenecker late on, and Stefan Nador did indeed cut the deficit to 4:6 two minutes from time. That was how it remained, as EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions gained revenge for their defeat in the season opener and took second place in the table from the Viennese side.

Sharks Gmunden sink their teeth into UHT Dukes Graz

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden faced UHT Dukes Graz at Eishalle Gmunden. After a lively start, play went back and forth. Both teams fought intensely for every inch of ice. There was a hint of playoff atmosphere in the air at the Shark Tank on Lake Traun. 

Late in the first period, the Sharks struck on the power play: Alwin Schuster beat Graz netminder Daniel Garneyer to make it 1:0, following an ideal pass from Bastian Szieber (18th minute). The team coached by Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner added another on the next power play, with Bastian Szieber making it 2:0 after converting a rebound from close range 52 seconds before the first buzzer (20th minute).

As the game progressed, UHT Dukes Graz's short bench began to tell, while the Styrians took several penalties. 

After just 29 seconds of the middle period, Laurens Ober scored again on the power play to make it 3:0 (21st minute). Only 32 seconds later, the Upper Austrians effectively sealed the outcome: Felix Mayer made it 4:0 with a powerful shot (22nd minute). The Sharks now wanted more, and Alwin Schuster caught netminder Garneyer out after a quick attack to extend the lead to 5:0 (26th minute). 

The Dukes' netminder was replaced shortly afterwards, with Lukas Troppenauer now guarding the Graz goal. Troppenauer could not prevent Bastian Szieber scoring the 0:6 from close range while shorthanded (31st minute). Before the end of the second period, Patrick Gaffal made it 7:0 from the slot after a fine attack (39th minute).

Just 57 seconds into the final period, Sharks Gmunden led 8:0, with Laurens Ober getting his stick perfectly on the puck after a quick attack (41st minute). Eric Hruby completed the final score with the goal for 9:0 (49th minute), while star netminder Luka Gračnar kept a clean sheet to record a shutout for the Sharks.

Division West:

SC Hohenems beat Dornbirn in derby

The SC Samina Hohenems hosted Dornbirner EC for the Vorarlberg derby at Herrenried. Head coach Thomas Sticha's team had clearly won the first meeting away in Dornbirn by 15:1. 

The underdogs from Dornbirn were by no means overawed in the opening minutes and matched the favourites stride for stride. The Steinböcke made the better start in terms of scoring: Janic Heisig appeared in front of Bulldogs goalie Felix Heinzle and converted his own rebound to make it 1:0 in the 6th minute. The hosts repeatedly got in front of the Dornbirn net after quick attacks, but initially found their match in keeper Heinzle.

With a quick double strike within 33 seconds, the Skating Club raced into a 3:0 lead. Janich Heisig first scored from close range to make it 2:0 at the 14 mark. After a wonderful through pass, Marcel Wolf broke clear and made it 3:0 at the 15 mark. The young Bulldogs fought back and quickly pulled one back on the counterattack through Robin Wüstner at the 16 mark to make it 1:3.

Julian Grafschafter restored the three-goal lead with the 4:1 (18th minute), before Stefan Spannring scored on the power play for Hohenems to make it 5:1 just under a minute later (19th minute). Following this goal, keeper Heinzle had had enough and was replaced in the Dornbirn goal by David Bernhard.

It did not take long in the second period before Christian Haidinger extended SC Hohenems’ lead to 6:1 (23rd minute). The home side kept up the pace and gave the Bulldogs hardly any time to control the puck for long. Goaltender David Bernhard kept them at bay for a long time with good saves, but then the Steinböcke turned up the pressure again. Niklas Gehringer found himself alone in front of goal after a forceful drive and made it 7:1 (38th minute). 

A minute later, Lukas Fritz made it 8:1 on the power play (39nd minute). In the final period, the young Bulldogs showed character and did not give up: Leon Schmeiser made it 2:8 (46th minute). SC Hohenems then saw the game out comfortably and celebrated their second win in the second derby against Dornbirn.

HC Kufstein win derby at EHC Crocodiles Kundl

While the first two Kufstein district derbies had still been close affairs, league leaders HC Kufstein claimed a clear 8:1 away win over EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the third meeting of the season on Friday. Once again, the Dragons' two Czech top scorers left their mark on the game. David Hrazdira scored twice and registered three assists, while his perfectly matched partner Martin Kosnar was responsible for two goals and two assists.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 4:6 (1:2,2:2,1:2)

Sat., 18 November 2023, 18:00, Eisstadion Heumarkt

Goalscorers Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Stefan Nador (at 06:42, at 58:00), Lukas Kaider (at 20:31), Cedric Ehrenreich (at 36:56)

Goalscorers EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Michal Dudas (at 00:41), Michael Grüneis (at 03:50/PP1, at 28:24/PP1, at 39:14/PP1, at 40:41), Daniel Forcher (at 48:41)

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. UHT Dukes Graz 9:0 (2:0,5:0,2:0)

Sat., 18 November 2023, 18:15, Gmunden Eishalle

Goalscorers Sharks Gmunden: Alwin Schuster (at 17:22/PP1, at 25:59), Bastian Szieber (at 19:08/PP1, at 30:45/PP1), Laurens Ober (at 20:29/PP1, at 40:57), Felix Mayer (at 21:01), Patrick Gaffal (at 38:29), Eric Hruby (at 48:01)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC 8:2 (5:1,3:0,0:1)

Sat., 18 November 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Janic Heisig (05:10, 13:34), Marcel Wolf (14:07), Julian Grafschafter (17:44), Stefan Spannring (18:43/PP1), Christian Haidinger (22:36), Niklas Gehringer (37:52), Lukas Fritz (38:56/PP1)

Dornbirner EC scorers: Robin Wüstner (15:13), Leon Schmeiser (45:11)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 1:8 (1:4,0:3,0:1)

Fri., 17 November 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorer: Marek Malinsky (17:23)

HC Kufstein scorers: David Hrazdira (05:25, 59:06/SH1), Philipp Sappl (06:43), Taylor Holst (11:28), Leevi Ahonen (12:09), Martin Kosnar (22:30, 30:34), Dominique Saringer (26:46/PP1)

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