15 goals! EHC Kundl win high-scoring shootout against Dorn­birn Bull­dogs in the Ö Eishockey Liga

On Sunday, the Dornbirner Bulldogs and EHC Kundl engaged in an end-to-end battle at the Messestadion to conclude the round in the West Division. At least for two periods.

As in the first meeting of the season, the Vorarlberg side took an early lead: Tobias Metzler-Wagner scored on the first power play after just under a minute and a half to make it 1:0 (2 min.). The visitors also made perfect use of their first power play: Sebastian Schild scored the equaliser for 1:1 (5 min.). The game continued in the same vein, with Dornbirn receiving another power-play opportunity, and Fabio Haas made it 2:1 two seconds before the Kundl penalty expired (9 min.). Just under three minutes later, Dornbirn led by two goals for the first time, with Moritz Reichel making it 3:1 (12 min.). Only 39 seconds later, Maximilian Agerer pulled one back for Kundl to make it 2:3 (13 min.).

Little changed in terms of the nature of the game in the second period, with both sides wide open. While shorthanded, Michal Kluka picked up the puck and levelled the score at 3:3 after a solo effort (33 min.). Moritz Reichel restored Dornbirn's lead at 4:3 from the slot (36 min.). It got even better for the home side: Markus Zeitler lifted the puck into the net from the left to make it 5:3 (39 min.).

Again, just 55 seconds later, Michal Kluka pulled one back for the Unterinntal side on a quick counter-attack to make it 4:5 – with 18 seconds still remaining in the second period (40 min.). In the final period, Maximilian Agerer got his stick blade to a shot to make it 5:5 (43 min.). Late in the game, Kundl took the lead for the first time: Michal Kluka converted a rebound from close range on the power play to make it 6:5 (49 min.).

47 seconds later, Kundl led 7:5, with Valentin Ploner scoring shorthanded on his second attempt (50 min.). Dornbirn's resistance was now broken. Following a shot off the post on the next power play, Valentin Ploner scored from a tight angle to make it 8:5 for Kundl (52 min.). Moments later, Franz Erschbamer scored from the slot to make it 9:5 (53 min.). Valentin Ploner completed the 10:5 final score from close range (59 min.).

Lustenau cannot be stopped, not even by Kufstein

Straight after their rescheduled win against Wattens on Thursday, fans at the Eisarena Kufstein were treated to the next West Division blockbuster on Saturday: HC Kufstein challenged the league leaders, who had been in commanding form so far, EHC Lustenau. The Vorarlberg side had won the season's only previous meeting 5:3 away from home in the fortress town in mid-October.

The Dragons made a flying start: Florian Eder won the puck in the left corner, set up Aleksi Airaksinen perfectly, and the Finnish centre scored from the left face-off circle to give them a 1:0 lead after exactly 16 seconds (1 min.). The lead did not last long: after a quick attack, Christopher D’Alvise produced the wraparound, skated around the Kufstein net and levelled the score at 1:1 for the Lions (3 min.).

The leaders then survived their first penalty kill and took a 2:1 lead through Manuel Metzler after a quick attack (10 min.). The Tyroleans again failed to make use of a power play, but shortly afterwards Valentin Hammerle was perfectly positioned in the slot and scored the equaliser for 2:2 (16 min.).

The visitors made the better start to the second period. Following a clever pass from Manuel Metzler, leading scorer Chris D’Alvise quickly entered the attacking zone and gave HCK netminder Thomas Pfarrmaier no chance to make it 3:2 (24 min.). Both teams continued to engage in an end-to-end battle, with chances at both ends.

Shortly after the halfway mark, the equaliser arrived: Aleksi Airaksinen converted a rebound from a tight angle on the power play to make it 3:3 (31 min.). Early in the final period, Chris D’Alvise won a face-off and immediately scored his third goal to make it 4:3 for Lustenau (43 min.). Shortly afterwards, Manuel Metzler made it 5:3 for the Vorarlberg side on the power play and put them on course for victory (45 min.).

The Dragons then remained on the power play, briefly even with a five-on-three advantage, but failed to score. At the other end, Timo Demuth scored from the slot to make it 6:3 and all but settle the contest (53 min.). Lustenau remain unstoppable, celebrating their ninth win in their ninth game.

SC Hohenems win away to the Wattens Penguins

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins were hosting, following Saturday's rescheduled game against Kufstein in the West Division, SC Samina Hohenems in a clash of the open-air clubs at the Alpenstadion. In their first meeting in mid-October, the Penguins suffered a narrow 4:5 away defeat to the Steinböcke.

Of all people, a former Penguins player left his mark on the game in the opening ten minutes: following a fine move down the right, Ricards Purins converted a cross-ice pass from Christian Haidinger to give the Vorarlberg side a 1:0 lead (8.). Shortly afterwards, the Latvian forward crossed the blue line on the left and fired the puck into the net with a slap shot for 2:0 (10.).

Wattens were then unable to make the most of the game's first power play. 14 seconds before the end of the period, Ricards Purins showed that he knows every inch of ice at the Alpenstadion, completing his flawless hat-trick from the slot for 3:0 (20.).

The fourth Latvian goal of the game came in the second period, this time for Wattens: Mikus Mintautiskis pulled one back to 1:3 for the Penguins with a fine shot on a 5:3 power play (29.). However, Hohenems did not allow the Tyroleans to mount a comeback: Benjamin Kyllönen restored the three-goal lead for 4:1 after a forceful drive and follow-up effort (33.).

The hosts made the game exciting again in the final period: once more, it was Mikus Mintautiskis who scored from close range to make it 2:4 for Wattens following a brief spell of pressure (44.). But once again, the Steinböcke quickly ended any hope of a Wattens comeback: after a misplaced pass, Patrick Spannring said thank you and made it 5:2 for Hohenems (47.). Shortly before the end, Noel Vetter added 6:2 with a powerful shot from the left (58.).

East Division:

Sharks Gmunden prevail against WEV

Leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Saturday in the East Division at the muki Arena. Following their narrow 1:2 home defeat to the reigning champions at Steffl Arena Halle 3 at the end of October, the Viennese were looking for revenge and made a good start: Lukas Pohl scored from the high slot after almost four minutes to make it 1:0 (5.).

Just 41 seconds later, Elias Koller levelled at 1:1 with a splendid shot from the right into the far corner (5.). Both teams engaged in an intense battle, with the first emotions also beginning to boil over. Sharks player Jonas Kail exchanged a few choice words with WEV's Daniel Aschauer.

The game remained an intense affair in the second period, with neither side giving an inch. The Viennese appeared to take a 2:1 lead after a fine attacking sequence, but the officiating team disallowed the goal. Both sides then failed to convert a man advantage into a goal, and the game grew more exciting with every shift.

Four seconds before the second siren, emotions flared again as Vienna's Stephan Rossmann and Patrick Gaffal clashed; the tight contest was gradually beginning to test the players' nerves.

Little changed in the final period, with WEV standing up strongly to the league leaders and reigning champions. That was until Bastian Szieber bundled the puck over the line from close range to make it 2:1 for the Sharks (47.). Both teams continued to create good chances, while WEV's Moritz Merkader and the Sharks' Luka Gračnar made some strong saves.

Following a top chance for the Viennese, there was another skirmish, with Rupert Fichtinger and Lukas Stöttner sent to the penalty box. The match had long since entered crunch time. In the end, WEV had a power play. They could not find the equaliser, even when head coach Philipp Ullrich pulled netminder Merkader for a sixth skater. On the contrary: Ian Motil scored into the empty net eight seconds before the siren to make it 3:1, securing the Sharks' seventh win in their seventh game (60.).

ATSE Graz gain revenge against HDK Maribor

The ATSE Graz faced HDK Maribor on Saturday in the East Division in the Styrian derby between the partner cities. Their first meeting almost a month ago was an emotionally charged thriller, ending in a narrow 2:1 home win for the Füchse. Graz enjoyed more possession in the early stages and repeatedly established themselves in the offensive zone.

Eggenberg failed to make the most of their early first power play. However, ATSE struck on their second power play: Mathias Werkl scored the 1:0 for the home side from close range (16 min.). Just under a minute before the end of the period, ATSE added another: following a swift counter-attack, Maximilian Schwarz played the puck across to Tobias Fellner, who scored to make it 2:0 (20 min.).

At the start of the second period, the Slovenian visitors had an extended power-play phase, but the Draustädter were unable to score. The contest was once again emotionally charged, with frequent minor skirmishes. Just under two minutes before the end of the middle period, Filip Matijević deflected a shot to make it 3:1 for the home side (39 min.).

In the final period, Graz managed their lead and had two further power-play opportunities, but failed to score. Just under two minutes from time, Maribor netminder Lazar Ilić was pulled, but they could not find a goal to reduce the deficit. ATSE Graz celebrated a 3:1 home victory and avenged their narrow defeat in Slovenia. Graz now hold an eight-point lead over HDK Maribor in the standings.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl 5:10 (3:2,2:2,0:6)
Sun, 30 November 2025, 17:30 hrs, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirn Bulldogs goalscorers: Tobias Metzler-Wagner (01:26 min./PP1), Fabio Haas (08:29 min./PP1), Moritz Reichel (11:36 min., 35:50 min.), Markus Zeitler (38:47 min.)
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Sebastian Schild (04:38 min./PP1), Maximilian Agerer (12:15 min., 42:23 min.), Michal Kluka (32:25 min./SH1, 39:42 min., 48:30 min./PP1), Valentin Ploner (49:17 min./SH1, 51:42 min./PP1, 58:41 min.), Franz Erschbamer (52:19 min.)

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 3:6 (2:2,1:1,0:3)
Sat, 29 November 2025, 17:00 hrs, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Aleksi Airaksinen (00:16 min., 30:26 min./PP1), Valentin Hammerle (15:23 min.)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Christopher D’Alvise (02:38 min., 23:41 min., 42:16 min.), Manuel Metzler (09:30 min., 44:19 min./PP1), Timo Demuth (52:29 min.)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:6 (0:3,1:1,1:2)
Sat, 29 November 2025, 19:30 hrs, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Mikus Mintautiskis (28:38 min./PP2, 43:43 min.)
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Ricards Purins (07:56 min., 09:34 min., 19:46 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (32:08 min.), Patrick Spannring (46:38 min.), Noel Vetter (57:28 min.)

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 5:3 (2:0,1:1,2:2)
Thu, 27 November 2025, 19:30 hrs, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Valentin Hammerle (06:28 min./SH1), Stefan Reiter (09:28 min., 35:40 min., 59:59 min./EN), Aleksi Airaksinen (57:58 min./PP1)
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Noah Polig (29:45 min.), Alexander Erlacher (41:07 min.), Daniel Frischmann (52:53 min./PP2)

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:1 (1:1,0:0,2:0)
Sat., 29 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena, Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Elias Koller (04:47 min.), Bastian Szieber (46:11 min.), Ian Motil (59:52 min./EN)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Lukas Pohl (04:06 min.)

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor 3:1 (2:0,1:1,0:0)
Sat., 29 November 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Mathias Werkl (15:22 min./PP1), Tobias Fellner (19:04 min.), Filip Matijević (38:04 min.)
HDK Maribor goalscorer: Jan Bizjak (32:23 min./PP1)

KSV Kängurus have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its opening round on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature two and a half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

After Phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, starting with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will again provide additional excitement following the regular season. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select its quarter-final opponent from the team finishing third or fourth in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off match-ups will be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecentre

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