The Austrian national ice hockey team is currently preparing for the Germany Cup, in which the ÖEHV selection will take part again. There are also six cracks from Carinthian ICE clubs, even if there is a certain imbalance here.
Team boss Roger Bader has called up no fewer than five KAC cracks: goalie Florian Vorauer, the three defenders Thimo Nickl, Tobias Sablattnig and Clemens Unterweger, as well as striker Simeon Schwinger. Things are going really well for the latter this season, as with eight goals in just 15 games he is clearly on course to deliver his best season. Remarkable: with eight goals, he is also the Red Jackets’ most dangerous crack to date – KAC top scorer Nick Petersen has seven.
Schwinger: “It would be a dream to go to the World Cup!”
The Dornbirn native is going into the Germany Cup with corresponding motivation: “Hopefully I can continue like this there. It would be a dream if I could be at the World Cup in Zurich in 2026 – it’s not far away from my home in Dornbirn and practical for the family. Now I can advertise myself to the team,” the 28-year-old winger told the “Crown newspaper“.
Debutant Sintschnig: “I want to show what I can do”
Many eyes will be on VSV rough diamond Paul Sintschnig during the preparation and during the tournament. The 16-year-old from Klagenfurt was called up for the first time and is celebrating his national team debut. VSV sports director Herbert Hohenberger: “It’s a great experience for Paul – but in the future I want to see more of our players in the national team.” Sintschnig took advantage of his chance this year and was able to collect six scorer points in 13 games.
Most recently he even received an “upgrade” from head coach Tray Tuomie and was placed on a line with John Hughes and Adam Helewka. “Of course it’s about getting a taste of it – but I also want to show what I’m capable of. I always enjoy playing against Germany – I won three of four games against them in the youth team.” He describes himself as shy, “but on the ice it’s completely different.”
Today the ÖEHV selection has its first encounter against Slovakia. The prestigious duel with hosts Germany follows on Saturday, and a showdown with Latvia awaits on Sunday.
Image: VSV/STEFAN
