VIENNA – Good news for Austrian hockey fans: The Austrian ice hockey association has confirmed that Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek will help the team to reach promotion at the IIHF World Championship Division I on home ice in Innsbruck.

The 24-year-old number 5 draft pick hit the headlines as the first Austrian NHL star and he became one of the most expensive hockey players worldwide when he signed a $50m 7-year contract with the Sabres in July 2007. The Graz native scored 36 goals and 28 assists in 82 games but missed the post-season with Buffalo.

Austria was relegated from the top division of the World Championship last year in Russia. In the Division I tournament in Innsbruck, April 13-19, the Austrians want to achieve an immediate promotion to the 2009 IIHF World Championship in their neighbouring country Switzerland.

It will be Vanek’s first appearance for his native country since an Olympic qualifier tournament in the 2004-2005 season. The winger is expected to join the team in Innsbruck on Thursday. He will probably be the only Austrian player in the roster who plays in North America.