Release from 10.02.2024

Austria without a win at four-nations tournament| Hungary misses out on fourth Olympic Qualifying Round

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Over the past few days, numerous players from the win2day ICE Hockey League were in action with their national teams. Austria played in a four-nation tournament in Epinal, France, and lost both games. Hungary hosted a tournament for the third Qualifying Round for the 2026 Winter Olympics. After two victories, they were narrowly beaten 1:2 by Japan in the deciding match for promotion. In addition, Slovenia celebrated two test match victories against Italy.

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The four-nation tournament in Epinal, France, ended without a win for the Austrian national team. On Friday, the ÖEHV team, in which 20 ICE players were in action, lost 0:6 to France, followed by a narrow 2:3/SO defeat against Norway in the placement game on Saturday. Julian Metzler of the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg scored his first goal for the national team. Nico Feldner of the Steinbach Black Wings Linz scored Austria's second goal.

Hungary misses out on fourth Olympic Qualifying round
From Thursday to Saturday, Hungary hosted a tournament for the third Qualifying Round for the 2026 Winter Olympics, but missed out on advancing to the fourth and final Qualifying Round with two wins and one defeat. The hosts, who had six players from Hydro Fehérvár AV19 in their squad, started the tournament with a clear 7:3 victory over Spain. Akos Mihaly scored a brace in the win against the Iberians, while two other Fehérvár players, Bence Stipsicz and Istvan Terbocs, also got on the scoresheet. In the second game, Hungary beat Lithuania 7:1. This time Janos Hari scored twice, Akos Mihaly added another goal and Roland Kiss also scored. The big showdown for promotion against Japan, who also won the first two games, took place on Saturday. In a thrilling game, Hungary were narrowly beaten 1:2 and thus missed out on promotion. The home side led 1:0 after 40 minutes, but the Japanese equalized in the final period in the 44th minute and turned the game around just two minutes later.

Austria and Slovenia were already seeded for the fourth and final Qualifying Round, while Italy has already qualified for the 2026 Olympic Games as hosts.

Slovenia wins both test matches against Italy
On Thursday and Friday, two ICE nations, Italy and Slovenia, faced each other twice. The matches served as preparation for the World Cup Division I, Group A, where the two teams will meet again. Italy is hosting the World Cup, all matches will take place in Bolzano, and the test matches were also held against Slovenia in Bolzano, with one match also taking place in Val Gardena. The visitors, who had 16 ICE players in their squad, won both games. On Thursday, Slovenia clearly won with 5:1, while the next day the relegated team from the 2023 World Cup celebrated a 2:1/SO victory. With Ziga Mehle (HKO), Jan Cosic (HKO), Robert Sabolic (VSV) and Anze Kuralt (AVS), four players from the win2day ICE Hockey League also got on the scoresheet. Michele Marchetti from Asiago scored for Italy. A total of 17 ICE players were in Head Coach Mike Keenan's squad.

Olympic Qualification Round 3:
Hungary - Spain 7:3
Hungary - Lithuania 7:1
Hungary - Japan 1:2

Four Nations Tournament in Epinal (FRA)
France - Austria 6:0
Austria - Norway 2:3/SO

Test matches:
Italy - Slovenia 1:5
Italy - Slovenia 1:2/SO