Back-to-back: Kufstein vs. Kundl and Hohenems vs. Dorn­birn – WEV take on ATSE Graz

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Kundl
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

For the third time this season, HC Kufstein and local rivals EHC Kundl cross sticks in the West Division on Saturday. Following last Friday's district derby, which the Dragons won 4:2 away from home, the teams meet again just one week later in a back-to-back clash at Eisarena Kufstein.

With their second win of the regular season, the Fortress City side had closed to within one point of Kundl in the standings – with a game in hand. That means the second consecutive derby carries even more significance, with third place in the table now at stake in the head-to-head clash. EHC won the first meeting of the season in mid-October 4:3 in overtime on home ice.

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner wants to put the start of the season firmly behind his side in the derby: "For us, the back-to-back game is a huge opportunity to consolidate our position in the top four of the table and put the inconsistent start to the season behind us. Naturally, we want a derby win at home in front of a packed house on Saturday – and that is what we want to deliver for our fans!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is eagerly anticipating the next blockbuster clash with the Dragons: "A back-to-back derby, and the first away derby of the season in the Fortress City. We may have dropped points in the last two district derbies, but there was definitely more in both games. Our team knows exactly what potential we have. We will build on last Friday's performance, raise the tempo even further and take our chances more ruthlessly, then Kufstein will have a real battle on their hands at home in front of their own fans. The time is more than ripe for our first three-point win in this derby!"

EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

League leaders EHC Lustenau host WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins in a back-to-back clash at Rheinhalle on Saturday in the West Division. Last Saturday, the Lions recorded a resounding 10:0 victory in the outdoor game at Wattens' Alpenstadion, while the Vorarlberg side had won the first meeting in mid-October 5:1 at home.

Lustenau, who average almost six goals per game, are currently difficult to stop. The situation is challenging for the Wattens Penguins: the Tyroleans are fifth in the table and, like the Dornbirn Bulldogs, need to be careful early on that the play-off train in the West does not leave without them. The top four are gradually beginning to pull away on points.

Dániel Fekete, coach of EHC Lustenau, is also expecting a focused performance from his team in the rematch against the Penguins: "Based on the recent results, we go into this game as clear favourites. Nevertheless, I expect a focused performance from my team so that we can set the course for victory early in the game!"

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger knows that the task facing his team in the rematch in Lustenau will not be any easier, but at the very least wants to see a different performance: "Last weekend's defeat was unacceptable in every respect. That was not the face we want to show as a team – nor was it what our fans deserve. It will not be any easier in Lustenau; it is up to us to show the right reaction. We have to demonstrate character and put in a completely different performance from the very first second. It is about taking responsibility, working for one another and bringing the basics of our game onto the ice!"

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The third back-to-back clash in the West Division on Saturday is SC Samina Hohenems against the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs. Just one week after the Ibex's 3:1 win over the side from the trade fair city, the two district rivals meet again in an open-air match at Eisstadion Hohenems.

Hohenems won the first game of the season 5:1 away from home in mid-October. The skate club is currently the only team in the West capable of keeping pace with Lustenau. Sitting second behind the Lions, Hohenems are eleven points ahead of current third-placed EHC Kundl. Dornbirn are currently bottom of the table with just one win from seven games, already four points behind fourth-placed HC Kufstein.

Martin Mallinger, head coach of SC Hohenems, wants to see 60 minutes of consistent ice hockey in the derby rematch: "We want to win this derby and be much more clinical in front of goal. That is precisely what our response to the third period in the last meeting has to be. If we stay focused for sixty minutes, everything is in our own hands!"

Dornbirn head coach Jörg Kopeinig knows that his team is on the right track, with fewer mistakes and greater consistency set to bring points: "In the 1:3 defeat last Saturday, we once again saw that we can compete well with Hohenems for long stretches. We played very fast, direct ice hockey, especially in the first 15 minutes, before one or two mistakes began to creep in again. Unfortunately, our injury list is growing ever longer; this weekend we will be without another forward, who suffered a broken finger from a stick slash in the last game. Nevertheless, we go into the next derby full of energy and will try to raise our tempo even further and minimise the mistakes. If we manage to implement our game plan for 60 minutes, then gaining points is certainly possible, even though Hohenems remain clear favourites thanks to their very high quality of play!"

East Division:

HDK Maribor vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 22 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

The HDK Maribor face the KSV Kängurus for the second time this season in the East Division on Saturday at Ledna dvorana Maribor. In their first meeting, the Foxes pushed the Kängurus all the way in Kapfenberg in mid-October and kept the game open for a long time, ultimately losing narrowly 2:3.

The current table situation suggests that the Slovenians will battle ATSE Graz and WEV for the final two playoff places. With defending champions Gmunden and Kapfenberg already having pulled clear at the top, one team from the trio will have to watch the quarter-finals from the sidelines.

Most recently, the Drava city side suffered a narrow 3:4 defeat against the Sharks from the Traunsee. Despite difficult training conditions – a technical fault currently means Stadthalle Kapfenberg cannot be used for play – the Kapfenberg side won 2:0 away at ATSE Graz.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič is convinced that it is only a matter of time before his side picks up points: "We have played well in the last two games but were unable to pick up any points. We have to stick to our game plan and stay focused for 60 minutes. If we show the same energy as in the last two games, we will pick up points sooner or later!"

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler praises his team’s morale given the current difficult training situation: "We will have ice time in Liebenau on Wednesday, although it is scheduled a little later, which is not ideal for our away-based players from Carinthia and Vienna. But we have to deal with the situation. I am actually very happy with how the morale of the entire team has nevertheless remained high, and with the fact that, last week, we were able to get the majority of the team to a training session in Hart bei Graz on a Friday, even though it was arranged at short notice. As you could see, that worked superbly at the weekend too. The players are highly motivated, which says a lot about the character within our team. I hope that we will not have any absences against Maribor this weekend, that we can get through the one training session well and that we can get back on the scoresheet!"

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 22 November 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt

For the second time this season, the Wiener Eislauf-Verein and ATSE Graz will face off for points in the Eastern Division on Saturday. Since returning to the atmospheric open-air arena at Heumarkt, the Viennese side have rediscovered the winning habit. Most recently, they secured a narrow 2:1 win over HDK Maribor, their first full haul of points on the ice this season; WEV had won the first game against the Slovenians 5:0 by administrative decision.

Graz won the first meeting of the season in mid-October at the Liebenau Bunker only after a hard-fought contest, with an empty-net goal making it 3:1 with 18 seconds remaining. Both teams are competing for important points in the race for play-off places in this head-to-head clash, with the battle for third place in the standings adding a little extra spice.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is slightly frustrated by the lack of match rhythm, but will have his team optimally prepared for ATSE: "Unfortunately, we had another weekend without a game after the hard-fought win against Maribor. My team will go into the game against Graz superbly prepared and will continue to try to build confidence through honest hockey. We are looking forward to the game!"

Markus Losch, head coach of ATSE Graz, believes it will be another close match-up with the Viennese side: "The game against WEV at Heumarkt will certainly be another close match. After the recent defeats, we need to rediscover our game and position ourselves better in front of goal. The WEV team will certainly be seeking revenge for the defeat in Graz. We have to stand up to that. If we can work well in front of goal and score goals, it will certainly be a good, close game!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - Western Division:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Kundl
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> to the livestream

EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> to the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 22 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> Watch live stream

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

HDK Maribor vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 22 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor - >> Watch live stream

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 22 November 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt - >> Watch live stream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga got the new season under way with its first matchday 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.

Following Phase 1, an interregional play-off will again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will once again add extra excitement after the regular season in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose 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 ties will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming campaign.

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

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