World Cup hopes dashed after 1-4 loss

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Austria loses to the USA.(Bild: AFP/SEBASTIEN BOZON)

In the showdown for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Ice Hockey World Championship, Austria put up a good fight but, unsurprisingly, ultimately stood no chance against the USA. The world and Olympic champions took an early 2-0 lead with two goals in 45 seconds (7th minute) and ultimately won decisively 4-1. 

Roger Bader’s team thus finishes the 16-team tournament in 11th place.

Here is the standings:

Bader forced to reshuffle
Since Zwerger and Rebernig had to sit out the showdown due to injury, head coach Roger Bader was forced to reshuffle his lines: For example, Tim Harnisch, one of the red-white-red discoveries of this World Championship, moved up to the first line alongside Schneider and Nissner. The first shot on goal came just a few seconds in from Harnisch, causing a bit of trouble for US goalie Cooley.

Roger Bader(Bild: EPA/ANDREAS BECKER)

Double strike by the USA
At the other end, Leonard broke through in the middle but missed the net. Before Austria had its first big chance, Harnisch hit the crossbar off an assist from Nissner (4th minute). Austria’s goalie Tolvanen deflected Coronato’s attempt over the net on the counterattack. 

Exactly 5:34 minutes in, the favorites took the lead: Clifton, after a pass from Borgen, let Neubauer run into open space before firing a powerful shot from the blue line to make it 1-0—Tolvanen’s view had been blocked. Just 45 seconds later, it was already 2-0: Tolvanen let Ufko’s shot—which was saveable this time—get past him (7th).

(Bild: EPA/ANDREAS BECKER)

Rohrer had a great chance to make it 2-1 (9th), charging alone toward Cooley, but was denied by the U.S. goalie. When Nissner was then penalized for high sticking for two minutes, a 3-0 deficit loomed—but it didn’t happen despite numerous power-play chances.

Then Austria was penalized again, once more for high sticking—this time it was Scherzer (16th). Tolvanen saved his team from conceding another goal with strong saves. Before the ÖEHV team could get its first power play, Howard had to sit out two minutes in the penalty box for hooking (18th). But there was little sign of the man advantage. Given the 16-4 shot ratio, Team Austria was very fortunate to be up 2-0 after 20 minutes. A

A rocky start to the second period
The long-overdue 3-0 goal came 1:07 into the second period: Unterweger lost the puck behind the net; Tolvanen was then able to block Borgen’s shot, but Cotter coolly tapped in from a sharp angle to make it 3-0 (22nd). But Austria didn’t give up, hitting the post a second time: Schwinger’s impressive shot clanged off the post (27th). At the other end, Tolvanen was also on hand to deny Coronato (29th)—but then conceded the 0-4 goal in the 32nd minute: Superstar Matthew Tkachuk poked the puck over the line in the scramble during a power play (32nd).

Austria doesn’t give up
But the Red-White-Red never gave up and were rewarded for their fighting spirit in the 37th minute: Schwinger deflected Maier’s shot from the blue line in spectacular fashion to make it 1-4. Nissner tried to follow up but was denied by Cooley (38th). Bader’s team kept pressing, and Mario Huber also came close to making it 2-4 (39th minute)—but it just wouldn’t go in.

The world’s No. 11 team carried that momentum into the final period: Nickl, Thaler, and Mario Huber had the first shots on goal. The U.S., which had noticeably taken its foot off the gas after the 4-0 lead, showed offensive presence through forward Howard; Tolvanen caught his sharp shot in his glove (43rd).

(Bild: GEPA)

Rohrer’s deflected shot missed by just centimeters (50th minute), and Schneider also had no luck with his attempt in front of 9,126 spectators at the Swiss Life Arena (57th minute)—the score remained 1-4, meaning the U.S. still managed to advance to the quarterfinals, while both Austria and Germany fell by the wayside in Group A.

Thus, after three wins to start the tournament, Peter Schneider and his teammates suffered four consecutive losses against Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and the USA—all ranked in the top 7 in the world—finishing the tournament in 11th place. The goal of avoiding relegation was comfortably achieved; the next Division I tournament will take place in May 2027 in Germany (with venues in Düsseldorf, Mannheim, and—featuring the opening game in front of 70,000 spectators at the Veltins-Arena—Gelsenkirchen).

USA – Austria 4:1 (2:0, 2:1, 0:0)
Goals: 1-0 Clifton (6.), 2-0 (7.) Ufko, 3-0 (22.) Cotter, 4-0 (32./PP) Tkachuk, 4-1 (37.) Schwinger.

Austria: Tolvanen; Wolf, Unterweger; Nickl, Biber; Hackl, Maier; Stapelfeldt, Schnetzer; Schneider, Nissner, Harnisch; Thaler, Rohrer, P. Huber; Neubauer, M. Huber, Kolarik; Scherzer, Wallner, Schwinger.