Ice Hockey World Cup Group Stage, Thursday, May 15, 2025, 8:20 p.m.
Have you checked out the ESC winner odds yet? Behind Sweden, the Austrians are currently considered the top favorites to win the coveted international music award.
However, the Alpine republic can still only dream of ice hockey gold. Nevertheless, according to my Canada Austria tip, I believe the ÖEHV selection is capable of standing up to the motherland of ice hockey on Thursday, at least in phases.
If there are two things you can count on with the ÖEHV team, it’s their fighting spirit and tactical discipline – and that’s exactly what the team has impressively demonstrated at this World Championship.
A narrow defeat against Sweden, a respectable 1-2 loss to Finland, and then that emotional overtime victory over Slovakia.
The starting position could hardly be better: good chances of staying in the division, the mood in the team is excellent – and the belief that they can hold their own against the big names is there. And now comes the big name: Canada. Sounds like a must-win game for the Maple Leafs?
Maybe on paper. But anyone who thinks Austria will just let themselves be beaten has not been paying attention over the last few days.
Because the ÖEHV selection is exactly what sometimes causes Canada problems: unpleasant, combative, annoying. Many of the key players play in Switzerland, some at home, but almost all of them have plenty of playoff experience behind them.
Someone like Dominic Zwerger brings vision and flair, Marco Kasper brings NHL toughness, and Vinzenz Rohrer knows the pace from his season with the ZSC Lions. Then there’s Thomas Raffl, who just won the championship with Salzburg – a captain who understands and lives his role.
And very importantly, Atte Tolvanen is in goal, someone who exudes calm and gives the team confidence. This mix of talent, experience, and unity makes Austria stronger than many think in 2025 – especially in games where there is nothing to lose.
Canada? Sure, strong as always. The squad is packed with NHL quality, the pace is high, and the transition game is brutal. But even Canada is not invincible.
In the group stage, the Maple Leafs often start with a little less intensity, rotate a lot, and sometimes lack that final bite, especially against opponents like Austria. If you don’t believe that, just remember last year: Canada was leading 6-1 – and then the miracle happened.
Five goals in one period, a historic comeback, overtime. That’s still fresh in everyone’s minds, on both sides. The Canadians will be warned, but Austria will play freely – and that’s exactly what makes the Alpine puck hunters so dangerous.
What does all this mean for your betting slips? First of all, a Canada win is likely, but the odds for it aren’t really worth mentioning.
The value lies elsewhere – for example, in a bet that Austria will hold the handicap. +3.5 or +4.5 goals? That looks good. The German bookmakers seem to be thinking in old patterns, but the reality is now different.
The Austrians are well organized defensively, don’t let themselves be pulled apart so easily, and with players like Kasper and Rohrer, they even have counterattacking potential.
So a consolation goal is definitely possible – and with a close game, you’d be on the right side of things here.
While the Austrians were able to put their feet up yesterday, the Maple Leafs had to battle hard against France to secure their third win in three games. However, they mastered the task with flying colors, sweeping the French off the ice 5-0.
But this clear victory could also be deceptive, as it carries the risk of complacency creeping in. Therefore, we should not automatically expect another improvement in performance against Austria…
And if you want to follow the action live, keep an eye on the first few minutes. If Canada gets off to a slow start, Austria could even make the first period a close one – the perfect time to bet on a moderate final score.
Look for a betting provider that accepts PayPal to save time and hassle, especially if you want to bet live.
My Canada Austria tip for you is short and sweet: Team Austria to win with HC +4.5 or, alternatively, Canada to win but Austria to score at least once.
If you’re feeling a little more speculative, you could also go for a correct score of 4:2 or 5:2 for Canada – both realistic scenarios in which Austria keeps up well, but in the end, individual class makes the difference.
My tip: Austria to win with HC +4.5
