ÖEHV women: A good start, but “nothing has been won here yet”

With six points from two games, the ÖEHV women got the most points against Norway and tournament favorite Denmark. Goalie Selma Luggin has not yet conceded a single goal, which makes goalie coach Thomas Dechel particularly happy. The OÖN reached the ex-Black Wings goalie in a video call.

“Selma is doing a really good job. She was good last year, but this year she’s been really on point. It’s welcome to continue like this,” says the Linzer by choice, who has been an integral part of the Austrian women’s delegation is. The ice arena, which can seat 18,000 spectators, is particularly impressive, although the humid tropical weather requires acclimatization. “You can’t breathe at all at first. It’s extremely muggy, high humidity and temperatures up to 35 degrees.”

Today’s Tuesday is a training program for Austria’s ice hockey women. The official team photos will also be taken. A few prominent faces are missing from the local squad: like Theresa Schafzahl, Janine Weber had to cancel for personal reasons. Furthermore, with Eva Beiter, Lena Dauböck and Hanna Obermayr from Linz, “a total of five of the ten best strikers” are missing. The atmosphere in the dressing room was “very good despite, or perhaps because of it. Everyone can get along with everyone and they are a good unit,” says Dechel.

“Only the Netherlands counts until tomorrow”

The focus on today’s rest day is on the next game against the Netherlands tomorrow, Wednesday. “They play physical and fight for every inch. It won’t be an easy task.” And the day after, the hosts from China are waiting, who “sometimes have the greatest potential offensively. It’s just about scoring a goal more than your opponents. But nobody’s thinking about China at the moment, just like Slovakia (Saturday, Note) or promotion. Only the game against the Netherlands counts until tomorrow.”

In recent years, a few points have always decided on promotion or whereabouts. Austria needs one of the first two places for promotion to the A-WM. Anna Meixner and Co are currently leading the table with six points ahead of China (also 6). Behind them are Denmark (3) and the Netherlands (3). The Slovaks, who are traded as promotion candidates, surprisingly lost to the Netherlands and hosts China and are still penultimate with no points and without scoring their own goal. The Norwegians hold the Red Lantern after two matchdays.

Austria’s other games:

• Netherlands – Austria
  Wednesday, 10:30 a.m
• Austria – China
  Thursday, 2 p.m
• Slovakia – Austria
  Saturday, 07.00 a.m