The young Austrian ice hockey team started the season with a 3-2 defeat against Norway on Thursday with the climax of the A-WM. After Dominic Zwerger’s opening goal and Thomas Hundertpfund’s 2-2 equaliser, Ken Andre Olimb’s second powerplay goal in Innsbruck ensured the Olympic participant’s success.
The line-up of ÖEHV team boss Roger Bader presented himself against the highly valued, because with the almost complete squad for the Winter Games of advanced opponents very strong and held up well over long distances. The decision was made by the guests in the over-the-counter game. Konstantin Komarek received a match penalty after an unintentional foul, and the Norwegians took advantage of the 4:3 superiority in the extra time to score a winner.
“Unfortunately, we have taken too many penalties,”regretted captain Hundertpfund in the ORF TV interview,”We fought until the very last minute. The punishment from Komarek was a stupid accident, and in powerplay the Norwegians played their class.”
Dominic Zwerger was the man of the game on the Austrian side, who also entered his debut in the ÖEHV-Dress into the shooting list. The 21-year-old from Vorarlberg, Germany, with four years of experience in North America, achieved a record-breaking 12th place in the first six months of his career. I put a hook on the backhand and luckily the puck slipped past the goalie,”said the striker of the Swiss Oberhausclub Ambri-Piotta.
The lead lasted a long time, but in the final section the ninth place finishers in the world rankings took advantage of one of several good opportunities. Anders Bastiansen defeated Goalie David Kickert (48th). After the Norwegians had used a Powerplay chance (Philipp Lindner sat on the bench) by Olimb (56.) for the lead, also the native ones got in the finish still the possibility of a supernumerary play. Captain Hundertpfund scored 2-2 (58th) after a scissors.
However, in a further numerical defeat after the exclusion of Komarek, the ÖEHV-selection had to accept the 2:3 in the overtime (63.). For team boss Bader, however, the game had served its purpose:”We can develop as a team and I can see players well,”the Swiss player explained before the match.
The nearest opponent of ÖEHV is the Olympic host South Korea on Friday evening.