Release from 05.09.2019

Graz loses CHL home debut

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The Moser Medical Graz99ers lost their first Champions Hockey League game on home ice, as the Austrians got defeated by Frölunda Indians (SWE). With a 5:1 road win the reigning champion took revenge for the shootout defeat against Graz in the CHL opening game. Dwight King made Graz’ lone goal to tie the game at one after about twelve minutes. Further, Graz early lost three players due to injuries and a penalty. 

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The visitors struck first as a wicked bounce on a shot by Johan Sundström saw the puck find its way past Christopher Nihlstorp to put Frölunda up 1:0, but a few minutes later it was a bit of a lucky bounce of their own that saw Graz level the score. Dwight King used his speed to open a lane for himself, and as he couldn’t settle the puck fully on his first effort, it swatted it out of mid-air towards Frölunda goalie Johan Mattsson, and as the puck bounced back towards King, it took a deflection off his skate and into the back of the net, which was awarded as a goal after review.


A solid second period saw Frölunda take the lead thanks to some great play by their captain Joel Lundqvist. Firstly the veteran forward was on hand to tip a shot past Nihlstorp to give his side a 2:1 lead, and then later in the period he fired a wicked wrist shot into the back of the net to go 3:1 up in the contest as the reigning champions started to take control of the game.

Coming out for the third period, Frölunda continued to impress and were rewarded early as 17-year-old forward Lucas Raymond grabbed his first ever Champions Hockey League goal with a great one timer to make it a 4:1 game, and then again Raymond added a second with a shot from in tight to give his side a 5:1 advantage late into the third period. With neither team able to put the puck in the back of the net for the rest of the third period, Frölunda cruised their way to a 5:1 victory to secure their first win of this year’s Champions Hockey League campaign.

Champions Hockey League, game day 3:
Thursday, September 5th: Moser Medical Graz99ers – Frölunda Indians 1:5 (1:1, 0:2, 0:2)
Goal G99: Dwight King (13.)

Fotocredit: (c) CHL Krainbucher