Last year, Austria nearly made the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 and had a flair for the dramatic. The Austrians erased a 6-1 deficit in the third period against Canada, ultimately losing 7-6 in overtime, and also had a comeback win over Finland on a last-second goal. Then, needing a win to advance, they inexplicably dropped their last game to Great Britain, 4-2.

This year, they’re bringing back mostly the same roster. This year, the team will be without Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild, who was a big part of the team’s success, but it will have Marco Kasper of the Detroit Red Wings. As well, Montreal Canadiens prospect Vinzenz Rohrer, playing in his first Worlds last year, will return with a year of experience under his belt.

Vinzenz Rohrer on Austrian team, his summer & coming season Austrian forward Vinzenz Rohrer was the Montreal Canadiens’ third-round pick in 2022 and is just coming off his first professional season for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League. After a solid rookie campaign as <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/zurich-lions-win-swiss-title-malgin-injures-knee">part of a national championship team</a>, the 19-year-old was <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/vinzenz-rohrer-enjoying-ride-in-first-worlds">selected to play in his first IIHF World Championship</a> in May for an Austrian team that surprised many people and came <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/benjamin-baumgartner-for-austria-its-frustrating">agonizingly close to reaching the quarterfinals</a>.

Defenseman Gregor Biber, a Utah HC prospect who was a big part of Austria’s team that earned a promotion to the elite division of the World Junior Championship, will make his senior World Championship debut.

Another interesting player on this Austrian team is goaltender Atte Tolvanen – A Finn who has played for Red Bull Salzburg over the past four years and, in the process, become a naturalized Austrian citizen. In the team’s opener against Finland, he will play against younger brother Eeli Tolvanen, who plays from the Seattle Kraken.

Goaltenders: David Kickert (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Atte Tolvanen (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Florian Vorauer (KAC Klagenfurt).

Defensemen: Gregor Biber (Rögle BK, SWE / Utah HC), Dominique Heinrich (Vienna Capitals), Luis Lindner (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), David Maier (KAC Klagenfurt), Thimo Nickl (KAC Klagenfurt), Ramon Schnetzer (Pioneers Vorarlberg), Paul Stapelfeldt (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Clemes Unterweger (KAC Klagenfurt), Bernd Wolf (EHC Kloten, SUI).

Forwards: Oliver Achermann (HC Le Chaux-de-Fonds, SUI), Benjamin Baumgartner (SC Bern, SUI), Lukas Haudum (Graz 99ers), Paul Huber (Moser Medical Graz99ers), Lukas Kainz (Graz 99ers), Marco Kasper (Detroit Red Wings), Nikolaus Kraus (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Brian Lebler (Black Wings Linz), Thomas Raffl (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Vinzenz Rohrer (ZSC Lions, SUI / Montreal Canadiens), Peter Schneider (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Lucas Thaler (EC Red Bull Salzburg), Dominic Zwerger (HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI).