Photo: X Österreichischer Eishockeyverband
Only one preparatory match against Canada was played by the Austrian national team in the lineup in which it should appear at the world championship. The final series of the ICE Hockey League between Klagenfurt and Salzburg lasted for seven games, and Austria added twelve hockey players from both finalist teams.
The Austrians played five matches in preparation. They lost twice to the Czech team, but only six to seven players from the then Austrian team make it to the team that will play at the world championship. Austria and Germany played two matches with one win and one defeat. Last Sunday, they already played a balanced game against Canada in the first half of the match, although in the end they lost 1:5.
The Austrians do not have good memories of their last appearance at the world championship in Prague in 2015. Although they defeated the Swiss and the Germans, they were relegated in the end. In their last match at the tournament, Latvia lost to France after separate raids, and in the final table the Austrians had the same points as the Latvians and the French, but they were relegated due to worse mutual matches.
Hokej.cz tip for the final position: 12th place
Team personality – Marco Rossi
The biggest star of the Austrian selection is the twenty-year-old Minnesota center Marco Rossi. After a long time, Austria has an NHL player in its center at the world championship. The last time an NHL player played for Austria was in 2019. He was Michael Raffl, who today, at the age of thirty-five, plays for the Swiss vice-champion from Lausanne. However, the Austrian veteran apologized for participating in this year’s WC. He spent a significant part of this year on the sidelines and does not feel fit enough to represent.
Marco Rossi | Photo: nhl.com
View of Hokej.cz
Goalkeepers: If something is a weakness of the Austrian team, then it is undoubtedly the goalkeepers. At the championship last year, 38-year-old Bernhard Starkbaum intercepted all four separate raids by the Hungarians at a key moment and was largely responsible for Austria’s stay among the elite. However, last year’s championship put an end to his playing career. All three Austrian goalkeepers nominated for the World Cup have made only 65 appearances this season and only one of them is the number one goalkeeper in their team. It was thirty-two-year-old David Madlener in the Austrian team Pioneers Vorarlberg, who will probably get the most space in the Austrian team at the championship from the goalkeeping coach, legend Reinhard Divis. Number two should be David Kickert.
Defenders: After the rejuvenation of the squad, a group of young, tall and strong defenders is also maturing. Defense has been Austria’s weak point in recent years, but this year it might not be. However, the Austrians will miss their best defender, only nineteen-year-old David Reinbacher, who was drafted fifth in the order last year by Montreal. He started this season in Kloten and finished it for the AHL team Laval Rocket. However, he was injured at the end of the season and will miss the Czech Republic. Austria’s most experienced defender will be 33-year-old Dominic Heinrich, for whom this will be the eighth world championship.
Attackers: Michael’s older brother Thomas Raffl will not be missing in Prague, this huge fighter and heartthrob will be the Austrian captain at the age of thirty-seven. Center Benjamin Baumgartner had probably the best season of his career this year in Bern, Switzerland, Lukas Haudum in Klagenfurt and Dominic Zwerger in Ambri-Piotta also had an excellent year. At the last minute, Peter Schneider, who had been struggling with an injury during the season, was able to pull himself together for the World Championship. Schneider studied at a gymnasium in the Czech Republic and was also the architect of Austria’s historic victory over the Czech Republic at the World Cup last year. From the team of Swiss champions ZSC Lions, only nineteen-year-old Vinzenz Rohrer will arrive, who was drafted by Montreal and has only completed his first season among adults.
Roster
Goalkeepers
Thomas Honeckl (Black Wings Linz), David Kickert (EC Salzburg), David Madeler (Pioneers Voralberg).
Defenders
Nico Brunner (Vienna Capitals), Dominique Heinrich (Vienna Capitals), David Maier (EC-KAC), Ramón Schnetzer (HC Thurgau, SWI), Paul Staplefeldt (EC Salzburg), Steven Strong (EC-KAC), Clemens Unterweger (EC-KAC), Bernd Wolf (HC Lugano, SWI), Kilian Zündel (HC Ambri-Piotta, SWI).
Attackers:
Benjamin Baumgartner (SC Bern, SWI), Manuel Ganahl (EC-KAC), Lukas Haudum (EC-KAC), Mario Huber (EC Salzburg), Paul Huber (EC Salzburg), Benjamin Nissner (EC Salzburg), Thomas Raffl (EC Salzburg), Vincenzo Rohrer (ZSC Lions, SWI), Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild, NHL), Peter Schneider (EC Salzburg), Lucas Thaler (EC Salzburg), Ali Wukovits (EC Salzburg), Dominic Zwerger (HC Ambri-Piotta, SWI).
Noticeable absence – Four supports are still missing
In addition to Reinbacher, the Austrians will also miss the 30-year-old defensively tuned center Oliver Achermann, who plays for La Chaux-de-Fonds. Marco Kasper, who was drafted by Detroit two years ago, is still missing from the Austrian lineup. Kasper is fighting in the AHL playoffs for Grand Rapids, and our neighbors to the south are still hoping that he will join the team. The same goes for defenseman Thimo Nickl, who is also fighting in the playoffs in the ECHL.
Coach – Roger Bader
The Swiss coach has a contract for the upcoming season as well, so he shouldn’t be under much pressure. He let it be known that only if the Austrian national team stays among the elite for three seasons in a row, it will become an A hockey nation. This year is the third year in a row among the best for Austria. By the way, Bader received a text message during the second break of the last warm-up match against Canada that his son Thierry Bader had made the final nomination for Switzerland for the World Cup and he was very happy about it. On Sunday evening, he should coach the Austrian team against the Swiss team with his son in the lineup.
Previous placement at the WC
2023 – 14
2022 – 11.
2019 – 16
2018 – 14
2017 – Division IA (Promotion)
2016 – Division IA (4th)
2015 – 15
2014 – Division IA (Promotion)
2013 – 15
2012 – Division IA (Promotion)
Schedule of matches at the World Cup
May 11: Austria – Denmark
May 12: Austria – Switzerland
May 14: Austria – Canada
May 16: Austria – Finland
May 17: Austria – Czech Republic
May 19: Austria – Norway
May 21st: Austria – Great Britain
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