Austria took the lead 48 seconds into the first power play after Konstantin Komarek scored following a blocked shot by Manuel Ganahl.

Slovenia tied the game on a counter-attack five minutes later.

Rok Ticar sent a blind pass forward to Ziga Jeglic on the right side, who skated behind the net and found Robert Sabolic on the left side, who made it 1-1 with his shot.

Both sides missed chances to take the lead before Ograjensek scored what proved to be the decisive goal for Slovenia 12 seconds before the end of another powerplay.

The European side, who have been sliding between the top two tiers in recent years, will now compete at next year's top tier of the World Championships in Germany and France.

It marked their fourth consecutive title in Division1 events they have participated in following previous victories in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Austria will now finish either third or fourth depending on the result of tonight's late game between Poland and Japan.

Finishing 19th or 20th overall, as they will once the top tier is factored in, is reportedly the country’s worst placement in history since joining the international stage at the 1928 Winter Olympics.

Italy overcame South Korea 2-1 earlier today to secure second place.

They will join Slovenia in securing promotion if there are two relegated teams from the top division, which will be the case as long as next year’s co-hosts Germany and France do not finish in the bottom two places of their preliminary-round group of the upcoming 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In that scenario only one team would be relegated.

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