Release from 03.04.2026

Austin Rueschhoff equals fastest playoff goal in league history

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HC Falkensteiner Pustertal is putting on an impressive playoff performance and has already etched its name multiple times in its own history – now also in the history of the win2day ICE Hockey League. The 1–0 goal on Thursday by Austin Rueschhoff is the fastest playoff goal in league history. The American shares this record with Lucas Thaler (RBS), who also scored just eight seconds into a game on March 9, 2024.

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In the end, Pustertal secured their third win in the semifinal series against Olimpija Ljubljana with a 3–0 victory, remaining undefeated in the 2026 playoffs and earning their first chance to reach the finals for the first time this Sunday.

The perfect start to Game 3 came from Austin Rueschhoff, who won the puck right off the faceoff, charged decisively to the net, and scored in just eight seconds into the short corner. In the fifth minute, Tommy Purdeller extended the lead to 2–0 after a quick transition play. In the final stages, Cole Bardreau sealed the 3–0 win – the third straight victory in the series.

The previously sole fastest playoff goal was scored by Lucas Thaler on March 9, 2024, for EC Red Bull Salzburg. In the fourth quarterfinal against the Steinbach Black Wings Linz, he also scored after eight seconds. The Red Bulls went on to win the game 3–2, the series 4–1, and eventually claimed the championship.

The third fastest playoff goal was also scored in the 2026 playoffs: Manuel Ganahl of the Moser Medical Graz99ers netted the 1–0 goal just eleven seconds into the game on March 31 in Fehérvár.

Here are the ten fastest goals in playoff history:
02.04.2026, Austin Rueschhoff (HCP) – 00:08 seconds
09.03.2024, Lucas Thaler (RBS) – 00:08
31.03.2026, Manuel Ganahl (G99) – 00:11
26.02.2013, Danny Irmen (BWL) – 00:11
18.04.2021, Matthew Fraser (KAC) – 00:16
03.03.2024, Nick Pastujov (PIV) – 00:17
09.03.2022, Guillaume Leclerc (VSV) – 00:19
19.03.2026, Jan Mursak (KAC) – 00:18
20.03.2022, James Sheppard (VIC) – 00:20
11.03.2014, John Hughes (VSV) – 00:20