Austria narrowly loses after great fight against Switzerland

© Sportreport

In the only game to prepare for the IIHF U20 World Championship, the Austrian U20 team in Edmonton was defeated. Switzerland just 2: 3. After Christmas the World Cup tournament against the United States begins for Austria.

The Austrian U20 team played the only preparation match for the IIHF U20 World Championship in Canada, which begins on December 25, Wednesday night. At Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Austrians lost just 2: 3 (0: 1.1: 1.1: 1) against Switzerland.

From the beginning a varied game developed with scoring chances from both sides. For both teams it was the first game since they moved in together nearly three weeks ago. Switzerland scored their first goal through Gaetan Jobin (13th). Towards the end of the first third, the Austrians gave a double majority and thus entered the first half with a 0-1 disadvantage.

Captain Marco Rossi had to go to the penalty area in the second half for a check with a 10-minute disciplinary penalty. During this time, the Austrian tie fell through Mathias Böhm (36th), but also the renewed Swiss leadership of Inaki Baragano (38th). In the final section, the Austrians clearly got more match, but again failed to seize a two-man power play opportunity.

Lionel Marchand scored 3-1 for Switzerland (54th), before Leon Wallner once again secured an exciting final phase with the connecting goal (55th). After another penalty against Switzerland, the ÖEHV team played the last minute of the match with a sixth outfield player, but the draw was no longer successful.

“I am very happy with the game. We could keep up. That was an important finding before the start of the World Cup, ”said head coach Roger Bader. “Unfortunately we don’t use our power play options. Therefore, it could have turned out differently. It was a good start, but of course there is still room for improvement. The fact that we were at eye level with Switzerland was an exclamation point for our team. “

Players were also happy with their first game since December 6. “We can take away a lot of positive things. All the players fought for the team. We will take the good and the bad for the World Cup tournament, “said Clemens Krainz and Dominik Unterweger added:” We have implemented a lot that the coach has given us in recent weeks. All in all, it was a good match for us. We still have some time until the beginning to improve small things. We are ready for the first match of the World Cup. “

This IIHF U20 World Championship begins on December 25 and will be held at Rogers Place in Edmonton without a spectator. Austria joins this tournament on the night of December 27 with the match against the United States. The two games against Sweden (CET: December 29, 00:00) and the Czech Republic (CET: December 31, 8:00 pm) will be broadcast live on ORF Sport +. In the third game of the World Cup, the U-20 team will also face their co-favorites Russia (CET: December 30, 2020, 3:30 am).

U-20 men’s team
December 13-24, 2020: Preparation for the U20 World Cup
Location: Edmonton / Canada
December 13, 2020: Flight to Canada
12.18.2020: Start of training

Prep game
12/22/2020, 4:00 pm (CET: 12/23/2020, 12:00 am): Switzerland – Austria 3: 2 (1: 0.1: 1.1: 1)
Goals: Jobin (13th), Baragano (38th / PP), Matchand (54th) and Böhm (36th), Wallner (55th)
Penalty minutes: 16 or 8 plus 10 disciplinary sanction Rossi

Information for the ÖEHV media

23.12.2020