Austria’s U20 men’s ice hockey national team delivered a convincing performance against the top division team Denmark at the four-nation tournament in Stavanger, Norway, and ultimately won clearly 7-2. The goals for the ÖEHV selection were scored by Benedikt Krainer (7th, 22nd, 36th), Jakob Schnabl (19th), Lukas Zach-Kiesling (20th), Paul Oberhauser (30th) and Tobias Koller (50th). The final World Cup countdown starts in Ferlach at the beginning of December, and the World Cup against hosts Slovenia begins on December 7th.
Head coach Philipp Pinter introduced Luca Haitzmann in the final match against Denmark, which will play at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul, Minneapolis in the USA over the Christmas period. The Austrians gave their peers from Scandinavia a fight on equal terms and were ahead 1-0 early on thanks to Benedikt Krainer (7th).
The Austrians then survived the first outnumbered period and set off fireworks shortly before the end of the period: with a double strike within 20 seconds, the red-white-red team gained a three-goal lead at the perfect time. First, Jakob Schnabl made it 2-0 (19th), Lukas Zach-Kiesling increased it to 3-0 (20th).
The second third began after just under a minute and a half just as the first had ended: with another goal for the Austrians, once again it was Benedikt Krainer who increased the score to 4-0 with his second direct hit (22nd). Austria continued to build momentum and Paul Oberhauser made it 5-0 (30th) 20 seconds before halftime.
In the 36th minute the Danes were on the scoreboard, Oliver Larsen made it 1:5. Just 32 seconds later the five-goal lead was restored, Benedikt Krainer made it 6-1 with his third goal (36th). In the final period, Adrian Gesson missed a penalty after five minutes. A little later, Tobias Koller made it 7-1 (50th). Oliver Green shortened the score to 2:7 for Denmark (52′).
In the end, Austria celebrated a convincing victory against Denmark after the 2:6 against Latvia and the narrow 3:4 against Norway.
For Austria’s U20 team, the World Cup preparation camp continues at the beginning of December in the HTC ice rink in Ferlach: a test match against World Cup opponents Slovenia follows on December 3rd. One day later, on December 4th, the ÖEHV selection will meet Norway, also a World Cup opponent. Things get serious on December 7th, when the World Cup starts in Bled with the game against hosts Slovenia.
U20 national team men – Four Nations Tournament (NOR):
Denmark vs. Austria 2:7 (0:3,1:3,1:1)
Sat. November 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m., Stavanger
Goal scorers Austria: Benedikt Krainer (7th, 22nd, 36th), Jakob Schnabl (19th), Lukas Zach-Kiesling (20th), Paul Oberhauser (30th), Tobias Koller (50th)
Already played:
Austria vs. Norway 3:4 (0:0,2:3,1:1)
Fri, November 7, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Stavanger
Goal scorers Austria: David Waschnig (36./PP1), Paul Oberhauser (38.), Adrian Gesson (55.)
Latvia vs. Austria 6:2 (2:0.3:1.1:1)
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 3:00 p.m., Stavanger
Goal scorer Austria: Johannes Neumann (30th, 57th/PP1)
www.eishockey.at, Pic: Norges Ishockeyforbund
