LINZ. Series are there to be broken. Because the Steinbach Black Wings don’t want to be accused of an ice hockey nemesis, they stopped their negative run against the Vienna Capitals (seven defeats en suite) and celebrated a 5:2 (2:1, 1:0, 2: 1) victory.
“Extremely important,” Stefan Gaffal breathed a sigh of relief. The striker had made it 3:1 (37th) with an impressive body deception – point to the right, pass to the left.
That was to the liking of most of the 3,300 spectators, who also saw Captain Brian Lebler in action. The 34-year-old goalscorer was spared a suspension after the game misconduct penalty imposed on Friday in the 5-4 draw in Ljubljana.
Others entered the EHC’s shooting list this time: Logan Roe (8th), Martin Schumnig (17th), Gaffal, Michael Haga (51st) and Jakob Mitsch (59th).
When you look at the table, your eyes light up. Success over the Viennese counts a lot in the fight for a top six place, which is equivalent to a play-off quarter-final ticket. The Black Wings (5th) are nine points clear of the Capitals (8th).
“Like Family”
Good news had already made the rounds before the opening bully: the Upper Austrians will not receive a Grammy for their pre-Christmas song performances performed in the Linzerie on Saturday, but they will have Gerd Kragl in their ranks for a long time to come. True to the motto “Once a Linzer, always a Linzer”.
The 25-year-old team defender, who is working on his comeback in rehab after torn cruciate and collateral ligaments in his knee, extended his contract until 2025, even though other Austrian clubs – above all the Graz 99ers – had been courting the assistant captain .
“I’m held in high esteem here. There’s no other club that I hold in my heart like the Black Wings. They’re like family to me,” said Kragl, who “tore up” his first skates for the EHC at the age of eight. would have.
Alexander Lahoda has only been on board since 2020 and was also thrown back by a knee injury in preparation. Now the 26-year-old attacker is fighting his way back into the professional squad via the second-class Steel Wings.
The approaches are promising. Lahoda scored a direct hit in the 4: 6 of the Alps Hockey League tail light against Gherdeina. “I hope that I can really get going again soon,” said the man from Salzburg.
For a good cause
The players’ wives are also committed with heart and soul – for a good cause. The “Ladies Charity” was in full swing, on Sunday key chains in the form of mini pucks with portraits and signatures of the ice hockey cracks were sold in the hall.
The proceeds will benefit little Samuel, who was born six months ago with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). A noble gesture.
more from Black Wings
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5-4 – Black Wings won in Ljubljana
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Black Wings sang themselves into a varied weekend
Sports Editor
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Source: Nachrichten
