ATSE Graz battle Murtal Lions for second place – VEU Feld­kirch take on Hohenems again

ATSE Graz vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

Sat., 02 December 2023, 19:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion – Hall A

The ATSE Graz maintained their season pattern so far with the __OEHV_NUM_I_A__ win over Sharks Gmunden ahead of the home game against EV Zeltweg Murtal Lionscontinued their previous pattern this season with the 3:1 against the Sharks Gmunden – defeat, win, defeat, win, defeat, win. With the three points on Saturday, the Eggenberg side had created the perfect platform for a blockbuster clash with the Murtal Lions. The Murtal side still have a score to settle with Graz, having lost the home game at the Aichfeldhalle 1:6.

The new Head Coach at ATSE, Markus Losch, is looking to build on his successful coaching debut against Gmunden when his side host the Lions: "We are looking forward to the game against EVZ. Zeltweg are a compact team with a strong defence. If my team implements the tactical plan, it will certainly be an exciting game. It is a head-to-head battle for second place. We will therefore try to play offensively from the outset in order to put the opposition goalkeeper and defence under pressure. Then goals will certainly come too. If we can remain solid in defence, we will win this game as well and move up to second place in the standings."

It is extremely tight behind East Division leaders Kapfenberg. Just four points separate second-placed Zeltweg from current bottom side Dukes Graz. The Lions gave Kapfenberg a real test for long spells in the Upper Styria derby on Saturday and even led twice, but ultimately had to accept a 4:8 defeat against the offensively ruthless Kangaroos. 

Christian Mayerl, chairman of Zeltweg Murtal Lions, sees the game in Graz as a pivotal one: "The intensity and heart our team showed against KSV must be our benchmark for the upcoming challenges. We need to make one or two further adjustments and look ahead, because our Lions face an unpredictable ATSE in Graz on Saturday. It is a six-pointer. Either you can create a little breathing space over the teams behind you, or you are right in the middle of the battle for playoff places!"

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat., 02 December 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Another pivotal game is the head-to-head clash between UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden and Wiener Eislauf-Verein. For the Sharks from Lake Traun, it is the final home game before a run of four consecutive away matches. 

Both teams suffered defeats last weekend – the Sharks lost 1:3 to ATSE Graz, while WEV came off second best in the Open Air spectacle against the Dukes, losing 4:5 – and are right in the middle of the thrilling, nerve-racking battle for playoff places in the East Division. It is their first meeting of the season, with the back-to-back clash in Vienna following on Immaculate Conception Day, 8 December.

Thomas Schatzl, chairman of Sharks Gmunden, is aware of the significance of the match against the capital side: "With our final game in front of a home crowd on Saturday before four difficult away games, three points would of course be very useful. WEV appear to have lost some momentum after a strong start to the season. We will see whether that is really the case. If we can build on our performance against the Dukes, I am confident. It will certainly be difficult, but with our fans and a well-filled arena, our boys will give everything again."

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV

Fri, 01 December 2023, 20:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Kapfenberger SV vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sat, 02 December 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

There will be a back-to-back clash within 23 hours in the Division East this weekend as UHT Dukes Graz face league leaders Kapfenberger SV. Graz's home game was cancelled at the start of November due to illness, and the Dukes will now play their home game against the Kangaroos at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Friday. The following day sees Kapfenberger SV's regular home game against Graz take place.

KSV player-coach Kris Reinthaler is targeting the full points haul with his team in the double-header: "We begin a double-header weekend on Friday against an opponent we have not faced yet this season. The Dukes recently beat WEV and, naturally, it is clear to us that we want to come away with the full points haul from both games on Friday and Saturday. As we are playing on Friday, we only have two further training sessions. The focus will be on a few things that, in my opinion, did not work as well in the last game against Zeltweg. Whether we can field a full squad will only become clear during the course of the week. Unfortunately, Thomas Koller will no longer be available to us this season due to injury!"

The team led by player-coach Jurica Bednjanec came alive in the closing stages on Sunday in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus and, under the guidance of head coach Lisa Katzenberger, won the open-air spectacle against WEV with a last-minute winning goal for a 5:4 victory. The win has thrown the Dukes right into the battle for a play-off spot, with the bottom side just four points behind second-placed Zeltweg.

Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC

Sat, 02 December 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

The key question in the Division West at present is who will finish the regular season in first place. Currently, HC Kufstein, who host bottom side Dornbirner EC at Eisarena Kufstein on Saturday, hold a narrow lead over SC Hohenems. However, the Steinböcke have also played two games fewer and won the previous head-to-head meetings against the Dragons.

On paper, the Tyroleans are clear favourites against the young Bulldogs, having convincingly won both away games at the Messestadion.

Willi Lanz, sporting director at HC Kufstein, has called for focus after the Dragons narrowly won 6:5 despite leading 5:0 against VEU: "Dornbirn had a difficult start to the season. Nevertheless, we have to approach the game with full concentration. We saw last Saturday against Feldkirch what happens when we lose our concentration."

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 02 December 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

Last year, the then league newcomers VEU Feldkirchthe first two derbies against SC Samina Hohenems sensationally. This season, however, the Steinböcke have convincingly won twice away from home against the Montfortstädter – once 7:4 and last Friday 4:1. The third meeting of the season between the two local rivals will also take place at the Vorarlberghalle. 

In the Division West, the play-off places are as good as decided, as the young Dornbirner Bulldogs still need to find their feet in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Last Saturday, Feldkirch showed character and resilience after falling 0:5 behind away to league leaders Kufstein, but ultimately suffered a narrow 5:6 defeat after mounting a comeback. The team coached by head coach Thomas Sticha has won all eight matches so far, dropping just one point in the overtime win against HC Kufstein.

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha knows how his players need to approach his former team: "We saw in last week's match that VEU can be clever and dangerous. We certainly had more of the play in Feldkirch, but unfortunately we were unable to score during those phases. Nevertheless, we were able to win the game. We want to avoid that situation next Saturday. We will try to take our chances and give Feldkirch very few opportunities. If we implement that, we will take the three points back to Hohenems once again."

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV

Fri, 01 December 2023, 20:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 02 December 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Kapfenberger SV vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sat, 02 December 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

ATSE Graz vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

Sat, 02 December 2023, 19:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion - Halle A

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC

Sat, 02 December 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 02 December 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

All Ö Eishockey Liga standings, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecenter

The Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook follow!