Ice hockey test match

Austria only loses 2:3 to the Czech Republic in Linz!

The Austrian national ice hockey team only just lost its second test match against World Championship hosts the Czech Republic! 

Team manager Roger Bader's not yet top-ranked team lost 2:3 (1:1, 0:2, 1:0) to the multiple world champions on Saturday in Linz, after losing 1:5 away to the Czechs on Thursday. The previous week had seen two clear defeats against Slovenia.

In the home game against the Czechs, however, the ÖEHV team sold itself dearly. They got off to a promising start in front of 3400 fans and took the lead through Linz striker Nico Feldner (14th). After that, the favored former world champions clearly took command and pulled away to 3:1. However, the Austrians also had some good spells and were rewarded with the equalizer from Capitals player Leon Wallner (58'). However, they were unable to equalize.

"We can still be proud of this performance!"
"I have to praise the whole team, we didn't give up until the end. It got tense again at the end, unfortunately we didn't manage to equalize, but we can still be proud of this performance," said captain Dominique Heinrich. Team boss Bader saw a step forward compared to the first game against the Czechs.

"Of course, the general performance brings a certain amount of self-confidence, we didn't win the game, but we were able to take a lot with us. I'm proud of the way the team played today," said the Swiss. Next week, they will play two duels with runners-up Germany, who lost at home to Slovakia 4-5 after overtime on Saturday. The ultimate acid test before the World Championship awaits Canada on May 5 in Vienna.

The result:
Austria - Czech Republic 2:3 (1:1, 0:2, 1:0)

Goals Austria: Feldner (14.), Wallner (58.)