The Austrian national ice hockey team did well at the end of the A World Championship in Denmark. Head Coach Roger Bader’s team lost 3-4 (1:2, 0:1 ,2:1) to the favoured Czech team and finished 14th.
Austria had lost 0:2 after 2:27 minutes, but still managed the best result against the Czech Republic in competitive matches. Tomy’s Hyka after only 31 seconds (1st) and Filip Chytil (3rd) ensured a quick 2-0 lead for the favourite.
Konstantin Komarek shortened to 1:2 (18th). After goals from Dominik Kubalik (26th) and Hyka (50./pp), NHL striker Michael Raffl scored his tournament goals number three and four (51st, 58th).
For both teams practically nothing was at stake anymore. The Czechs had already secured their quarter-final ticket, the Austrians their place in the class. Team boss Roger Bader therefore gave third goalkeeper David Kickert the chance to prove himself at A-level for the first time.
The start was tough for Kickert. Hyka scored the first goal after 31 seconds, Chytil increased after 2:27 minutes to 2:0 for the favourite. It was only slowly that Captain Thomas discovered a hundred pounds and his colleagues.
Lukas Haudum (12th) and Patrick Spannring (16th) had their first chances, after a nice double pass with Fabio Hofer Komarek finally scored the following goal (18th).
In the middle third Dominik Kubalik increased to 3:1 (26.), Kickert made an unfortunate figure. In the final third, the Austrians left a two-man 1:40-minute overtime game unused (43) and had to take Hyka’s fourth goal in Czech Powerplay (50).
However, Raffl set the final points with two goals, including a wonderful solo. Manuel Ganahl even had the chance to equalize.
Goals: Hyka (1., 50./PP), Chytil (3.), Kubalik (26.) and Komarek (18.), Raffl (51., 58.)
Penalty minutes: 8 or 4.