The 2021-22 international season was an eventful one for Austria, with horrific results at the U16 and U18 levels, but an appearance at the Elite World Junior Championship and the Top Senior World Championship Division nonetheless, the latter of which secured participation in the elite division for the following season. With that, here are the prospect rankings upon the conclusion of the 2021-22 hockey season.
2002-2004 Rankings
S Tier
Marco Kasper – The move to Sweden to play Senior hockey at such a young age may have caused Kasper to earn an underserved reputation as a low-ceiling defensively-minded two-way center. This could not be further from reality. Kasper may have developed tendencies to work the net-front area more since moving up to senior hockey, because of the difficulty of styling on his senior level opponents. But fundamentally, Kasper is a line-driving, game-breaking 1C. He led his team in the SHL playoffs among forward regulars in Corsi, and he similarly led Team Austria’s Senior National Team in this category as well. He drives play. He is dynamic with the puck. Far from being a low-ceiling player, he is one of if not the best prospect Austria has ever produced.
Vinzenz Rohrer – Rohrer is incredibly fast and has great stickhandling. His game is incredibly aesthetic, but he’s also a diligent worker. Dynamic passer. Rohrer posted some of the best numbers at the CHL combine. He scored 48 points in 64 games in the OHL this regular season, and 4 points in 4 games in the playoffs. His size, power and physicality could use work. However, he’s the type of forward who you want in your top 6 because he makes plays, puts defenses to the test with his pace and skill, and is always a threat to end up on the scoreboard.
Luca Auer – Auer is an incredibly intelligent center. He is strong on his skates, although not necessarily fast. But his passing and play with the puck are what earn him his high marks. He is a bigger, stronger forward, and he can use that strength at times to make things happen. However, he is in no way reliant on his strength to play at any level. He was a prolific scorer as an 18 year old in the Alps Hockey League, a men’s league. Auer may develop into a two-way center for Austria, as he doesn’t quite have the dynamism that a Kasper or Rohrer have. However, he’s a player who will be able to play anywhere, on the PP, on the PK, on any line, and be able to have an impact.
Senna Peeters – He ended up in the doghouse for the Halifax Mooseheads, which was incredibly unfortunate. But Peeters has always been and will remain a fast forward with good stick work who loves to pick his spot in front of the net and work it. An elite finisher, he may not necessarily drive play at the next level, but he is a player that you will always want to have on the ice to capitalize on chances and turn them into goals. He has a solid opportunity next year to play for HC Innsbruck, where he will likely be able to play top 6 minutes and special teams, which will facilitate his transition to senior hockey. He is also right handed, which the National Team severely lacks.
Sebastian Wraneschitz – Austrian hockey has really lacked prospects in net for a while. The OEHV recently identified this area as the greatest area for improvement in Austrian hockey, an assessment which I agree with. Wranschitz served as the backup goalie for the Tri-City Storm this season, behind Calgary Flames prospect Arseni Sergeyev, where he posted a record of 13-3-1 and helped the Storm win the Regular Season Title. Beneath his valiant appearances for the U20 side in 2020, he still has a lot of points of refinement to work on. However, with the right guidance he could become a very good goalie at the ICEHL level, and work his way into the conversation of Austria’s next starter.
A Tier
Tobias Sablattnig – Sablattnig is a really exciting defensive prospect who appeared surprisingly late on everyone’s radar. Great skater who can keep up with a lot of fast forwards. He’s not big but he’s quite physical. His work with the puck in his own zone is fantastic. I would compare him to Kilian Zundel. And the U20 coach used him in a similar manner as a defensive foil to cover the defensively challenged Urbanek, just as the Senior Team’s coach used Zundel to cover Dominique Heinrich. He does have a big body or a long stick, but he uses every pound and every inch to make plays defensively. He may even be more offensively gifted, though he projects more as a top pairing defenseman who can log heavy minutes than a first unit PP specialist. But that’s what you want.
Lukas Horl – like Sablattnig, more of a defensive defenseman than an offensive option. He doesn’t wow with his skating or his shot, so he gets less credit than he deserves. However, defensive play is far more important for a defenseman than offensive capabilities, a lesson Austria has had to learn the hard way many times for many years. His decision making is mind-blowing. Both with and without the puck, he reads the play and makes the correct decisions, to step up, to back off, to take the body, to play the stick, to pass it or to carry it out. He earned a call up to the senior team in Salzburg and could even push Wimmer and Schreier for some ICEHL ice time with Zundel leaving for Switzerland.
Leon Wallner – He is still quite skinny. All the skills are there. He can skate well, he can handle the puck, he can skate with the puck, he’s an elite passer with tremendous vision, and can score very well around the net. He put up fantastic numbers in the Swedish Junior League and even the Allsvenskan. Defensively, he doesn’t shadow particularly well, but he will fight in front of the net and in the dirty areas for the puck, willingness is not a concern. However, sometimes he appears to coast, and he consistently doesn’t get enough touches of the puck because he lacks aggression, and that is concerning if he is to be an offensive option. All the skills are there and he’s at a great club, if he develops aggression he could be a dangerous player to play against.
Lucas Thaler – He’s become more dynamic than I thought he would be initially. He’s got a fantastic release and can skate well. His edge work and turns are sharp. He’s not big but he plays bigger than he is. Plays with very good compete and a good motor. It will be interesting to track his development. As it stands he doesn’t quite have the dynamism of a scoring line forward, or the defensive presence of a checking line forward, so he sits in a weird place. What works in his favor is that his latest viewings have been his best. Benjamin Nissner snuck into my last age group rankings as a late bloomer because in my last viewings he demonstrated a dynamism that I hadn’t seen before in him or the other fringe prospects. Thaler is a much more high-profile prospect, but may also benefit from a similar rate of improvement, and even a somewhat similar playstyle.
David Reinbacher – he is an incredible skater and stickhandler for a defenseman of his size. He’s the PP quarterback, he’s the offensive defenseman that you’re looking for. His skills can at times be mesmerizing, and this is reflected in his offensive stats for Kloten both at the Junior and SL levels. That said, he is prone to some really egregious defensive gaffes, and needs to work on that aspect of his game in general. He will, however, get plenty of opportunities to improve his game in Kloten next year at the NL level. Because of his late birthday, he may even become an NHL draft candidate. I certainly hope so.
B Tier
Mathias Bohm – he’s a power forward. And he’s demonstrated the power element adequately, as he plays with great tenacity. He’s also a great skater, an has a great shot. He uses his size and length well to threaten in front of the net. What remains to be seen is if he can develop his dynamism with the puck, because that will dictate whether or not he will be able to make it onto scoring lines.
Christoph Tialler – he is a great skater and was, ahead of Sablattnig, the defenseman to watch coming into the season. His play with the puck and defensive decision-making are not on the level of Sablattnig or Horl.
Max Stiegler – really emerged as a leader late in the season for the Red Bull Akademie team. His trajectory is strictly upwards. He is very skinny, but he is pretty fast, and has nice hands and a decent shot.
Maximilian Thierich – his skating is marvelous, but his small size is a significant hindrance. Aside from that, his stickhandling doesn’t necessarily allow him to compensate for his small size with tremendous elusiveness. His development in the AlpsHL is worth continued watching.
Finn Van Ee – he can score, and he can also play with good tenacity. His skating stride seems a bit inefficient, while his movement is smooth, he’s not quite as fast as other age group forwards at the position. He is a good passer. His other fundamentals could also use continued work, but he will be, at the very least, a good forward to have in your own end.
Johannes Tschurnig – he’s quite craft an elusive and uses his body well to get around checks by bigger and more tenacious forwards. His tenacity is inconsistent, and some of his offensive skills will need continued development, but he is very young and can make big strides in his U19 and U20 seasons.
Jonas Dobnig – he is a capable skater and a capable passer. Capable of some good give and go hockey. His physical strength and explosiveness are a work in progress. Like Tschurnig, is very young and has time to develop, but must show more offensively and defensively.
Lukas Necesany – an offensive-defenseman. Boasts a good shot and some good puckhandling skills. Also can play physically as necessary. His defense is not as good as those ranked above him.
2005-2006 Rankings
S Tier
Ian Scherzer – an elite shot, smooth stickhandling, and great skating. Will play in the Top Swedish Junior league for Rogle next year and has a shot at the 2023 NHL draft.
A Tier
Thomas Klassek – an offensive defenseman. Nimble and agile with the puck, but still energetic defensively. Will play in the AlpsHL next year and gain important experience there.
Fabian Baumann – slow skater and needs to work on that. But works hard, makes good decisions and has a shot. Will continue his development in Salzburg next season.
Gregor Biber – OEHV believes he’s the next big Austrian prospect. His offensive game is still in development but he plays a tenacious defensive game and has the size to back it up.
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