The Augsburg Panthers have lost the first preparatory game for the 2024-25 season. The AEV lost clearly 1:6 against the Graz 99ers. TJ Trevelyan scored the Augsburg goal (57th). Casey Bailey (4th), Marcus Vela (18th), Trevor Gooch (20th), Lenz Moosbrugger (25th, 60th) and Lukas Kainz (60th) were successful for Graz.
Panther still has a lot of work to do
After a few training sessions on the ice, the Panthers’ main goal in the test against Graz in Kitzbühel was to gain insights. After the game, it is clear that head coach Ted Dent and his players still have a lot of work to do.
Offensively, the Panthers missed many good opportunities, especially in the second and third periods, and failed to score more goals – especially during numerous power plays.
In defence, they were too sloppy, especially in front of their own goal. The goals that made it 0-1, 0-3 and 0-4 were only conceded because Graz had far too much time and space in the slot in front of new signing Strauss Mann.
Busdeker is out at short notice
In addition to Mann, numerous other new signings made their debut in the Fuggerstadt team’s jersey. Only DJ Busdeker had to miss the match at short notice due to illness. In addition to the attacker, Leon van der Linde was also missing due to injury. Konrad Fiedler, Justin Volek and Marco Niewollik did not make the squad.
The other players actually got into the game well, but Graz took advantage of its first chance to take the lead through Bailey (4th). The Austrians were better and, above all, more efficient in the first half.
A wrist shot from the blue line by Vela went past friend and foe into the net to make it 2-0 (18th minute) and then the 99ers, in the person of Gooch, took advantage of the freedom in front of the Augsburg goal 20 seconds before the first siren to go into the first break with a 3-0 lead (20th minute).
Graz extremely efficient
In the second period, the AEV improved, but missed numerous good chances and another lack of attention in defense led to Graz’s fourth goal by Moosbrugger (25th). In the last period, things looked similar to the second period, but Augsburg clearly still have room for improvement when it comes to converting chances.
The Panthers still managed to score a consolation goal. Dent took Strauss off the ice and the AEV did well with six field players.
Honorary goal by Trevelyan
Trevelyan only had to push the ball in from close range (57th minute). Even after that, Augsburg continued to play without a goalkeeper, so Kainz scored into the empty net to make it 5-1 with 15 seconds left (60th minute).
But that was not the end of the game, as Graz even scored 6:1 (60th minute) with Moosbrugger’s second goal of the evening after a quick attack. The Panthers’ next warm-up game will be on August 25th at 4:00 p.m. against the Ravensburg Towerstars.
