Austria opened its latest campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Latvia, extending its winning streak to three games in the tournament.
Benjamin Nissner ignited the offense with a power‑play marker in the third period, while Tim Harnisch had put the Austrians ahead early with a second‑period strike. Vinzenz Rohrer sealed the win with an empty‑net goal in the dying minutes.
Austria’s Position in Group A
The triumph moved Austria to the top of Group A, level on points with Switzerland and Finland, while Latvia’s captain Rudolfs Balcers managed only a solitary goal to briefly level the score.
Goaltender Henrik Haukeland was flawless, repelling all 30 shots directed at him, underscoring Austria’s defensive solidity.
Norway’s Commanding Performance
Across the ice, Norway delivered a 4‑0 shutout against Italy, securing its second straight win and second clean sheet of the competition.
Eskild Bakke Olsen, Noah Steen, Christian Kaasastul and Tinus Luc Koblar each found the net, while Henrik Haukeland — who also starred for Austria — stopped every attempt on goal.
The result leaves Italy, a newcomer to the top division, still searching for its first point, highlighting the competitive gap between the established teams and the tournament debutants.
Looking Ahead
Later in the day, Britain will face Hungary in Zurich, and Slovakia will meet Slovenia in Fribourg, fixtures that could further reshape the group standings.