EC-KAC achieved a commanding 4:0 victory over Fehérvár AV19, propelling them to the top of the win2day ICE Hockey League standings. Key moments included a strong defensive effort, timely goals from Jan Mursak, Matt Fraser, and Nick Petersen, and a shutout performance by goalie Sebastian Dahm. Coach Kirk Furey praised the team’s execution and pace throughout the game, marking it as one of their best performances this season.
EC-KAC Dominates with a 4:0 Victory Over Fehérvár AV19
In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, EC-KAC secured a decisive 4:0 shutout against the former league leaders Fehérvár AV19 on Tuesday night, catapulting the Red Jackets to the pinnacle of the win2day ICE Hockey League standings.
Crucial Moments of the Match
The action kicked off with Klagenfurt’s first significant chance—a two-on-one break that was expertly halted by Tobias Sablattnig as he dove to block István Terbócs’s shot in the 3rd minute. Just moments later, Nick Petersen found himself in prime scoring position, but his attempt from a sharp angle was thwarted by goalie Rasmus Reijola (4th minute). Klagenfurt effectively navigated an early penalty kill, though Simeon Schwinger couldn’t convert on a counter (8th minute), and Matt Fraser’s shot from the left hash marks went wide (11th minute).
Fehérvár’s best opportunity in the opening period came from a counterattack led by Chris Brown. However, his shot bounced off Sebastian Dahm and was cleared by Petersen (11th minute). Petersen then played a pivotal role in KAC’s first goal at the 14th minute, assisting Matt Fraser before Jan Mursak found the back of the net with a backhand shot. The Red Jackets doubled their lead just four minutes later when Petersen, after a battle along the boards, set up a ‘two-on-one’ with David Maier and finished the play himself with a shot into the far corner (18th minute).
The second period saw Thimo Nickl pass to Daniel Obersteiner, who set up the third goal for Klagenfurt (22nd minute). Despite several chances, including a missed shot by Schwinger and an unsuccessful power play, the score remained unchanged. Petersen nearly added to the tally but was denied by Reijola and later hit the post (39th minute).
In the final frame, although Fehérvár increased their shots on goal, most attempts were easily managed by Dahm, who made crucial saves, including a remarkable denial against Martin Stajnoch during a power play (48th minute). The fourth goal came from Nick Petersen, who capitalized on a rebound and scored with a wrist shot under the glove (57th minute). As the clock wound down, Dahm secured a shutout with a final save against Brown (59th minute). This victory not only avenged an earlier loss to Fehérvár but also marked a significant milestone for the Red Jackets as they climbed to the top of the league for the first time this season.
Head Coach Kirk Furey praised his team’s effort, stating, “We talked in the last two days about increasing the pace of our game and not making it too complicated. We implemented that very well. The start of the game was strong, the legs were there from the beginning, so the momentum shifted to us early. We did not stray from that path over the full 60 minutes. Solid from start to finish, probably one of our best games this year, considering the quality of the opponent. We are very happy about this victory and can enjoy it a little – on the long drive home and tomorrow on a training-free day. Then it’s back to work and into preparation for a big weekend.”
Stay tuned for more updates and insights from EC-KAC as they continue their journey in the ICE Hockey League!