Austria’s national ice hockey team got off to a false start at the A World Championship in the Czech Republic. Roger Bader’s red-white-red team deservedly lost 1:5 (1:2, 0:1, 0:2) to Denmark, an opponent once morest whom they had definitely thought they had a chance of winning. 16,935 tickets were sold for the second day of this tournament in the O2 Arena in Prague, and the backdrop was correspondingly impressive and was quite favorable to Team Austria. But that didn’t help.
Austria got off to a committed start, the most noticeable man in the first third was NHL star Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild), which doesn’t necessarily mean outstanding. On the contrary. The 22-year-old striker with number 23 seemed almost over-motivated. He had the first chance when the score was 0-0, but shortly followingwards received his first of two two-minute penalties, which had no consequences (8th).
Nevertheless, the Danes took the lead at four once morest four. After goalie David Madlener was able to clear once morest Joachim Blichfeld, the rebound was captured by Markus Lauridsen – 0:1 (14th).
But that’s not enough. Austria played in the majority, Madlener served Rossi in a seemingly harmless situation, who curved the puck in front of his own goal to advance the game, but it crashed into Frederik Storm, who sank the puck into the empty net for a cheap 0-2 (17th minute). . Something like that shouldn’t happen – especially not at this level.
At least the ÖEHV cracks showed a reaction. At least temporarily. 24.1 seconds before the first break, Manuel Ganahl pulled away from the blue line, center Vinzenz Rohrer cleverly checked his opponent and ducked in time when the goal came rushing in – 1:2 (20th). Linz native Lukas Haudum, who is on Red Bull Munich’s list, was credited with one scorer point for the assist.
The second period belonged to the Danes, who played the power play at times, even though they were not in the numerical majority. The 1:3 by Blichfeld (39th) was somehow logical, but also avoidable. The shot from an acute angle passed Madlener’s stick hand. That somehow suited this game.
Austria didn’t give up, a two-goal deficit in ice hockey is no reason to bury your head in the sand. But it was still an effort. The bottom line was that there were 17:34 shots from the red-white-red perspective. Denmark was better, more hardened, more disciplined – and callous. With Felix Scheel’s 1:4 (54th) the matter was finally over. Blichfeld once more scored the final point in the majority – 1:5 (59th).
Six two-minute penalties are simply too many.
What else was happening? Ramon Schnetzer (Thurgau), the former Black Wings defender, is in the squad but has not (yet) been registered.
There is a simple reason for this: Thimo Nickl left the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers last night. The 22-year-old, 1.90 meter tall defender is expected in Prague soon and should make his contribution to staying in the league.
And someone else wasn’t there for the opener once morest Denmark: striker Benjamin Baumgartner from SC Bern is said to be injured, but he completed at least parts of Friday’s training. Ultimately it was a coaching decision.
Let’s see how Roger Bader lines up once morest his compatriots from Switzerland on Sunday (8:20 p.m., ORF Sport+). A significant increase is needed. The Swiss are clearly to be favoured.
Author
Alexander Zambarloukos
Sports editor
Alexander Zambarloukos
