“The fact that we earned a game seven at the World Cup shows what kind of character this team has. Of course we know who is coming, we know that the USA are a great opponent. We are in a good starting position and I firmly believe that we can get points there,” says Paul Huber expressed the fighting spirit of the ÖEHV selection.
The starting position is clear for both teams. Assuming the U.S. defeats Hungary on Monday, the defending champions will also need a win over Austria to book their quarterfinal ticket. Conversely, Red White Red also needs a win, whether after 60 minutes or in overtime or in a penalty shootout.
“We have to go into this game with a nothing-to-lose mentality,” explained Paul Huber and in doing so pushes aside all calculation games in our own camp and even more so in other people’s camps. “We have to play our game right from the start, play compact, aggressive and defiant.”
The USA will play hard and with a lot of body, put a lot of targets on goal and create a lot of traffic in front of the Austrian goalkeeper. “They will create a lot of pressure against us in the attack zone. We have to counter that,” said Huber.
defender Ramon Schnetzer once again sees a possible recipe for success in a unified team performance and the much-vaunted fighting spirit: “We are all really looking forward to being in the position to be able to play for the quarter-finals. There is nothing better for a player. In games like this you have to be more ready than usual. When everything is at stake for both, everyone drives harder and faster. It’s no secret that we will have phases in which we have to defend well and probably have to defend for a long time. But that doesn’t say much “That’s how we can win. We have to be good at the back, we have to defend everything we can, we need a good goalie performance and the goal has to bounce a little for us too. If we have the necessary luck, the fighting spirit and grow together as a team, everyone gives it their all, no matter who they are and no matter when.”
Moving forward, it is important to get as many discs as possible in front of the opponent’s goal, Ramon Schnetzer: “Then luck arises and you have to work for it. Especially on the ice. If you bring everything to the goal, you go where it hurts, then the disc will jump for you. And that’s exactly what we need.”
With a unified performance they also want to unsettle the USA, Paul Huber: “If we stand compactly and allow little, they might also lose their nerve. Then it’s our time to strike.”
The last duel was four years ago. At the 2022 World Cup in Tampere (FIN), the USA only lost 3-2 in overtime. By the way, that would be the scenario that our neighbors Germany would like to see. The DEB selection would then move into the playoffs, provided they beat relegated Great Britain on Monday evening and Latvia beat Hungary. This would move Latvia to third place with at least 11 points and Germany, the USA and Austria would each have 10 points. Germany would end up in fourth place in the small table.
2026 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
May 15, 2026 – May 31, 2026, Zurich and Friborg (SUI)
Defending champion: USA
Group A, Zurich: USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain
Group B, Friborg: Canada, Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy
Game plan
USA vs. Austria
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 4:20 p.m., Swiss Life Arena
Live on ORF 1
eishockey.at , Image: ÖEHV-Nicolas Zangerle
