In the ice hockey final

Steindorf clashes with Althofen in a small derby

Steindorf celebrating

(Bild: Sobe Hermann)

Exciting final in Carinthia's top amateur ice hockey league! Steindorf clashes with Althofen in a best-of-five series in Division I from Sunday (3.45 pm)! The series champions have been warned, their opponents are goal machines. The fact that there are eleven former Eagles in one team and nine former Red Jackets in the other makes the match even more explosive.

The two strongest teams in recent years will face off in the Division I final. They have met twice in the final in five seasons: Althofen won 3-0 in 2019/20 and Steindorf 3-1 in 2022/23 - Steindorf's third title in five years.

The Blue-Whites from Lake Ossiach against the Rhinos is also the meeting of the best defense against the best offense: Steindorf has only conceded 49 goals this year, Althofen 51 - but the Rhinos are the goal factory with 124 full goals. Steindorf scored 103 times.

Eleven ex-Eagles against nine ex-Red!
To top it all off, the final is also a little derby. There are twelve ex-VSV players on the Steindorf team and nine former KAC players on the opposing team. "It always comes down to the wire in a match like this," says Steindorf defensive boss Stefan Bacher. "Our opponent is extremely strong offensively, we have to be on our guard."

Klagenfurt against Villach

• Nine ex-KAC players in the Althofen squad: Kevin Schettina, Simon Hammerle, Lucas Herrnegger, Maxi Isopp, Fabian Horn, Johannes Kirisits, Florian kurath, Philipp Waldner, Jakob Jagarinec.
• Twelve ex-VSV players in the Steindorf squad: Stefan Bacher, Martin Oraze, Martin Pewal, Patrick Ratz, Kristian Kravanja, Fabian Stichauner, Fabian Groyer, Philipp Kreuzer, Manuel Wuntschek, Daniel and Lukas Friedrich, Lukas Moser.

Althofen bomber Kevin Schettina has high hopes: "They are top defensively and offensively this year, but we are certainly not without a chance." An interesting fact: both clubs are still undefeated at home this year.