Ice hockey: Austria had no chance in the first World Cup test
Debutant Nico Feldner made sure in the 48th minute with his first goal in the national team that the Austrian was able to book a third win in the first test for May 13th in Tampere and Helsinki of the A-WM. The 23-year-old, who earns his money at HC Innsbruck, completed one of the few successful offensive actions by the Austrians with a nice wrist shot for a consolation goal. “This is an extremely important milestone in my career. I’m really happy. Scoring a goal against the Czech Republic is something very special,” said Feldner.
Before that, the game was played in front of 4,200 spectators on an incline in the direction of the Austrian goal. Jiri Cernoch (8th), Jan Hladonik (13th) and Patrik Zdrahal (15th) in the first half as well as in the second period David Cienciala on the power play (21st) and Petr Fridrich (22nd) ensure clear relations of the hosts. Already on Friday (5.30 p.m., live on ORF Sport+) the Austrians have the chance to take revenge. Then the Czechs will be in Linz for a second test.
Austria is subject to the Czech Republic
Austria’s national team started intensive preparations for the A World Cup in Finland in May with a friendly against the Czech Republic. In Znaim, however, the young ÖEHV selection had no chance.
“Faster decisions” asked
After all, Bader’s boys can take an increase of third to third as a positive result of the first test, which the team boss also emphasized in his analysis after the game. “I am very satisfied with that. Even if the Czech Republic, like us, are not yet on the ice with the World Cup squad, I am not surprised by the level of the Czechs. They were the better team,” said the Swiss.
The point of criticism in the first third was above all the expandable defensive performance, which the Czechs used to score three goals in seven minutes. “In the beginning we weren’t compact in defence, we were too weak,” said Bader, even though the Czechs’ opening goal was actually scored with a skate. “We take away from this game that we have to make quicker decisions with the disc. Here we sometimes carried the puck for too long. The Czech Republic immediately put pressure on them. That also got better as the game progressed.”
Six debutants in the squad
Before the final round in Finland on May 13, the ÖEHV selection has nine test matches on the program, including against Olympic champions Finland and Sweden and at the World Cup dress rehearsal on May 9 against Germany. A few changes are to be expected in Austria’s team before the World Cup.
Against the Czech Republic, Bader relies on a squad that was primarily made up of professionals from the clubs from Klagenfurt, Linz, Graz, Dornbirn and Innsbruck that were eliminated early in the play-off. There were 14 players in the squad who had played a maximum of five internationals before this game, including six debutants.
Test match in Znojmo
Wednesday:
Czech Republic – Austria 5: 1 (3: 0 2: 0 0: 1)
Znojmo, 4,200
Goals: Cernoch (8′), Hladonik (13′), Zdrahal (15′), Cienciala (21’/PP), Fridrich (22′) and Feldner (48′)
More friendlies in preparation for the World Cup
April 8 in Linz: Austria – Czech Republic (5.30 p.m.) *
April 14 in Graz: Austria – Poland (7.00 p.m.)
April 16 in Graz: Austria – Poland (4 p.m.)
April 23 in Brunico: Italy – Austria (6 p.m.)
April 24 in Innsbruck: Austria – Italy (2.30 p.m.)
April 28 in Vienna: Austria – Sweden (7.00 p.m.)
April 30 in Ostrava: Austria – Finland (12.00)
May 1st in Ostrava: Czech Republic – Austria (4 p.m.)
May 9th in Schwenningen: Germany – Austria (5 p.m.)
* Live on ORF Sport+