Block­buster clash in the West: SC Hohenems host cham­pions Wattens – Group South gets under way

But that is far from all that the Ö Eishockey Liga has to offer next weekend: Group West sees the home opener for the VEU Feldkirch against HC Kufstein and EHC Crocodiles Kundl host HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II.

In Group North-East, league leaders Kapfenberg face UHT Dukes Graz. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden take on EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions in pursuit of their first points of the still young season. ATSE Graz play at home for the first time against Wiener Eislauf-Verein.

South Group: EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. EC iDM VSV 

Following the other two groups, the new Ö Eishockey Liga season also gets under way in Carinthia and East Tyrol with the EC LiWoDruck Spittal versus EC iDM VSV game. The battle for the two playoff places in the South will once again bring top-class ice hockey to the ice hockey-mad province.

EC iDM VSV failed to reach the interregional playoffs in their first ÖEL season, but then impressed in the Kärntner AHC Division I playoffs and only lost to Velden in the final. The Hornets, who also missed out on the playoffs last season, have signed three returning players in Lucas Wilblinger, Tim Thaler and Joshua Ogertschnig.

Philipp Pinter, Head of Youth Development at EC iDM VSV: "This is a great opportunity for us and we are looking forward to the league. We saw a great many good games last year. Some teams naturally have established players in their squads, former professionals who played in the top league for many years. At times, the intensity is a little lower because some players are a little older, but they make up for so much with their experience. That is something that helps our players in their development. We want to give younger players the opportunity to put themselves forward for the VSV senior team, as well as for our cooperation partner Kitzbühel, and introduce them to adult ice hockey."

West Group: VEU celebrate home opener vs. Kufstein

On Friday, VEU Feldkirch welcome HC Kufstein Dragons to the legendary Vorarlberghalle. The Tyroleans caused a major upset right at the start with their 6:2 win over champions Wattens Penguins.

The young Feldkirch side battled fiercely against EHC Kundl, but ultimately had to accept a narrow 1:3 defeat.

Heimo Lindner, General Manager of VEU Feldkirch: "We can be very satisfied with our first performance. For most of the players, it was their first game at senior level. Based on the number of clear-cut chances, we could, or even should, have won the game. Nevertheless, our main priority is the day-to-day development of our players, so that we can gradually introduce them to the professional game. Naturally, we hope to carry the momentum from the first game into this one, although it remains to be seen which cooperation players will be available. In any case, we will try to give everything in our first home game and hopefully secure our first points too. I personally know Kufstein inside out from my time in Hohenems. Our coaches will certainly be watching one or two videos of Kufstein as well. We will be very well prepared for the game. The win against Wattens was already a clear statement – Kufstein are back!"

Ivo Novotny, Head Coach of HC Kufstein Dragons: "The start was a success. After a mixed pre-season, that was not necessarily to be expected. I am proud that the boys were able to switch on in time. Nevertheless, it was only one game. Now we need to turn our attention to Feldkirch. We will certainly face a different team from the one we beat in pre-season. We will train well and approach the game with the same focus as we did against Wattens."

Crocodiles Kundl await HC Innsbruck II

EHC Crocodiles Kundl kept their bearings amid the fog rising due to the high outside temperatures in their opening home game and began the new season successfully against VEU Feldkirch. After the young Vorarlberg side, the Crocodiles now face another up-and-coming team in the Innsbruck Junior Sharks of HC TIWAG Innsbruck II.

The start in Vorarlberg against SC Hohenems did not go as planned for the Tyroleans. After a bold, high-tempo start and several good chances, they lost their way after 0:1. For the Junior Sharks, the away game in Kundl brings a reunion with Jakob Wetzelsberger, Maximilian Agerer and Jonas Steiner, who were still wearing the Junior Sharks jersey last season.

Gerhard Maier, Chairman of EHC Crocodiles Kundl: "Following the successful opening win against VEU, we naturally want to hold our own against HC Innsbruck II next Friday and collect the next three points. Innsbruck are a young and hungry side that we have found difficult to play against from time to time in the past. We certainly will not underestimate them despite their opening defeat, and we will go into the game fully focused."

Werner Strele, Head Coach of HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II: "After the game in Hohenems, we had a good discussion with the team and will try to rediscover our old strength against Kundl and give our best. Against the experienced players from Kundl, we want to put the last result in Hohenems behind us through plenty of fight, commitment and passion."

Game of the round: Hohenems against champions Wattens

In the first season, SC SAMINA Hohenems dominated the regular season at will, recording 19 wins in 19 games. A team from the West did go on to become champions, but it was not the favoured Steinböcke; it was the Penguins from Wattens.

The Tyroleans began the second ÖEL season as defending champions with a surprising 2:6 defeat at HC Kufstein. They now face a blockbuster away game against Hohenems, who dominated their first appearance at the Herrenriedstadion against HC Innsbruck II from the opening goal onwards and won convincingly 10:1.

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach of SC SAMINA Hohenems: "The game against the Innsbrucker Haie was relatively even in the opening minutes, but after taking a 1:0 lead, our team was able to benefit from its experience and make the most of it. In the next game, however, last year's champions Wattens will bring a very strong team to Hohenems, and it will certainly be a very physical game in which we will definitely be tested. Our defence will certainly be put to the test. However, we can draw on the entire squad and all players are fit."

Jaro Betka, Head Coach WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins: "We will have to do without three important players, Fabian Nussbaumer, Valentin Hammerle and David Lupinski, until the end of October, but Martin Sturm and Mario Hager are now on board. As we will not have ice in Wattens until the end of October, we are currently training in Telfs twice a week. On Saturday, two title contenders will face each other. I am expecting a good, tough game. We have to play hard, but fairly. In the first game against Kufstein, we spent too much time in the penalty box; that is no way to win a game!"

Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden started the Group West regular season with two defeats against UHT Dukes Graz and ATSE Graz and are facing a major goaltending problem, as none of their goalies is fit.

Following their overtime defeat against WEV, EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions, featuring ÖEL stars Oliver Setzinger and Robin Weihager, made a statement against Dukes Graz and won 5:1.

Thomas Schatzl, Chairman of UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: "Unfortunately, we have had a major goaltending problem since last week, as none of our three goaltenders is fit. We hope to have one of the goalies fit by Saturday. It will not be easy for us, as Zeltweg are always a strong opponent. Nevertheless, the team is gradually coming together and, if we finally take our chances and score goals, a first win against the Murtal Lions is possible. But the biggest challenge is to resolve the goaltending problem by Saturday."

Christian Mayerl, Chairman of EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions: "After the win in Graz, we naturally hope to carry that momentum with us, although it is always difficult to get a result in Gmunden. Unfortunately, some players are carrying knocks, so we will have to wait and see who will be available. We have limited depth, but motivation is high – we are taking things week by week, seeing how the squad develops and adapting our line-up accordingly. That is why it would also be presumptuous to make any predictions. We want to do everything we can to take points away with us, and that is what we are preparing for this week! The Sharks will be hungry and will also throw everything into the balance to put their two opening defeats behind them – our aim will be to extend their winless run. Whether it will be enough will be shown by the scoreboard in the end!"

League leaders Kapfenberg face Dukes Graz

Kapfenberger Kängurus have started the new season with two wins and lead the table with the maximum number of points after two matchdays. Their return to the Stadthalle Kapfenberg has given player-coach Kris Reinthaler's team an additional boost.

UHT Dukes Graz surprised Sharks Gmunden with a 4:0 win in their opener, but suffered a 1:5 defeat against Zeltweg - Murtal Lions in their second game.

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach of Kapfenberger SV: "The Dukes, an unfamiliar team to us that have already shown they can surprise, are coming to Kapfenberg this weekend. For us, that definitely means we have to be ready from the very first minute to play focused, hard ice hockey – and to do so for 60 minutes."

Jurica Bednjanec, Head Coach UHT Dukes Graz: "Against Kapfenberg, we must try to keep the game open for as long as possible. It will be a challenge to make few mistakes defensively in order to compete against such an opponent."

ATSE Graz against WEV: A fiery battle in the Bunker

ATSE Graz against WEV: even in the second ÖEL season, the two club names evoke the feeling of a classic Austrian ice hockey matchup. Graz began with a defeat against fellow title contenders Kapfenberg and a win against Sharks Gmunden.

Wiener Eislauf-Verein battled to a 6:5 overtime win in Zeltweg, but were severely depleted by a flu outbreak in the team for their second game and suffered a 1:11 defeat against Kapfenberg's Kängurus.

Rupert Strohmeier, player-coach of ATSE Graz: "We are looking forward to our first home game and also hope for strong interest from the public. WEV are coming to Graz as an opponent that is still difficult to assess. The results so far offer little indication of what awaits us this weekend. However, the focus in this game is once again on our own team. We want to take the next step and deliver a solid performance at home. With the right attitude and preparation, it should certainly be possible to pick up points."

Mario Kubeczka, player-coach of WEV: "I hope that some players will be fit again. With a squad of 12 outfield players, it will be difficult to win games in this league. ATSE Graz have a good, experienced team that impresses with its creativity. We can only neutralise that if we can maintain our tempo for 60 minutes and stick to our game plan. Defensive work will be particularly important in keeping the opposition away from our goal. Our plan should also be to get good shots on the opposition goal and work hard on the backcheck. If our players are fit again and we can line up with our usual depth, it will be a fiery battle in the Bunker."

South Group matchday

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. EC iDM VSV     
Fri, 21 October 2022, 19:30, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal

West Group matchday

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II
Fri, 21 October 2022, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein    
Fri, 21 October 2022, 20:00, Vorarlberghalle

SC SAMINA Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens - Penguins
Sat, 22 October 2022, 19:00, Herrenriedstadion Hohenems

North-East Group matchday

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg - Murtal Lions
Sat, 22 October 2022, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Kapfenberger SV vs. UHT Dukes Graz
Sat, 22 October 2022, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 22 October 2022, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion Graz

ÖEL games will be shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at .

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