Block­buster derby: Lustenau against Hohenems – WEV and Kapfen­berg in a long-distance battle for the divi­sion title

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein

Fri, 31 January 2025, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens

Returning league side and inaugural ÖEL champions of the 2021/2022 season – WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins – face HC Kufstein in a rematch on Friday in their final game of the season. Sunday's clash was a spectacular goal fest, which the Dragons ultimately won 9:6.

Kufstein are still battling SC Hohenems from afar for second place in the West Division. The Vorarlberg side are three points ahead going into the final matchday, but would be behind the Tyroleans on head-to-head results if level on points.

An important factor for the quarter-finals: by finishing second, the teams avoid a potential pick by the top-placed team – WEV or defending champions Kapfenberg – from the East Division.

Wattens coach Manfred Burgstaller wants his team to sign off from the season with a good performance: "Unfortunately, this is already the final game. We have fought until the end and will definitely give everything once more to perhaps bid farewell to our home fans with a win. But of course, we also know that Kufstein have a top team and that this game will be very difficult as well. Perhaps some injured players will return and we can deliver a performance like Sunday’s right to the end!"

Kufstein sporting director Willi Lanz wants to see better defensive play from his team after the goal fest, with the playoffs in mind: "We have learned our lessons from the last – unsatisfactory – game and want to be consistently solid defensively. Through hard and focused work, we want to prepare ourselves optimally for the playoffs. We will show that we are a force to be reckoned with this year and that we are ready. The team is in excellent shape and highly motivated to win this game convincingly!"

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC

Fri, 31 January 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl host Dornbirner EC on Friday in the final head-to-head clash of the season. The Tyroleans secured the final playoff spot in the West with a shootout win against Wattens last Friday and, having finished fourth in the table, are a potential pick for the top-placed team – WEV or defending champions Kapfenberg – from the East Division. The Tyroleans have had the upper hand against the Bulldogs in the previous games, winning all three meetings.

For Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier, preparations for the playoffs begin against the Vorarlberg side: "Our objective of reaching the playoffs has been achieved. We will now prepare as well as possible so that we are ready for the quarter-finals. A corresponding performance against Dornbirn is part of that!"

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger promises that his team will leave everything on the ice once again in their final game of the season: "We want to end the season on a positive note. So far, we have always managed to keep the games against Kundl close for a long time. Kundl are also favourites in the final meeting. We want to give everything once more in the final game and really test Kundl. It will be a fair, hard-fought game, which we hope to keep close for a long time."

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 01 February 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Division winners EHC Lustenau host the big Vorarlberg derby against SC Samina Hohenems at the Rheinhalle on Saturday. While the Lions can use this prestige clash to fine-tune for the playoffs, the Steinböcke are defending second place in the standings in a long-distance battle with Kufstein. The Schlittschuhclub are three points ahead going into the final matchday, but would be behind the Dragons if level on points due to the head-to-head record. 

Second place has the advantage that the respective team cannot be selected by the top side in the Division Ost for the quarter-finals. Along with HC Kufstein, SC Hohenems were the team that were able to inflict a defeat on the dominant division winners in the 3:2 at the end of November. Lustenau won once at home 6:2 and once away at Herrenried by a narrow 2:1.

"We are already looking forward to the derby against Hohenems. The three games so far have delivered what they promised: fast, direct ice hockey from both sides. Over the course of this season, we have won all our home games. That should not change in the final regular-season game against Hohenems either. We are hoping for a great crowd at the Rheinhalle," said Dániel Fekete, coach of EHC Lustenau.

Also Thomas Sticha, Head Coach of SC Hohenems, is also looking forward to the Ländle derby: "Of course, we want to finish the regular season with a win in the final game, and we want to carry over the momentum from last weekend. The missing players will return over the course of the week, so that, if possible, we can play at full strength. The famous little things will be decisive in this game, but we are ready and eager for the game."

Division Ost:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor

Sat, 01 February 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein face HDK Maribor on Saturday in their final regular-season game. Vienna, who have been in very strong form this season, winning twelve matches and losing only three games – all against Kapfenberg – are battling the Kangaroos in an exciting long-distance duel for first place in the Division Ost and with it the right to select their quarter-final opponent.

The team from the federal capital has so far recorded three wins against the Slovenians – two after overtime, one after 60 minutes. Despite losing in Gmunden on Sunday, the league newcomers from the Slovenian city on the Drava became the final team to qualify for the Ö Eishockey Liga playoffs.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich was not satisfied with his team's performance in Graz: "Our last game against ATSE was not satisfactory. Graz were clearly superior to us in terms of fighting spirit and passion. The positive is that the boys found a way to take the three points. Against Maribor, we have to bring our strengths to the ice at 100% in order to have a chance of winning the game. That is our clear objective and what we will be working towards!"

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič wants to see a good performance from his team against WEV: "We have a difficult away game ahead of us in Vienna. It is different playing on the outdoor rink. We are missing a few players, but it will be important for us to finish the regular season with a good result and good energy. With better defensive play than in recent games, we can put ourselves in a better position to achieve a positive result!"

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz

Sat., 01 February 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Defending champions Kapfenberger SV welcome ATSE Graz for the final Styrian derby of the season on Saturday. The Kängurus are still battling WEV in an exciting remote contest for top spot in the Division East standings, and with it the right to pick for the quarter-finals. The team from the Mürz Valley currently sit in third place, just one point behind the Viennese side. If the teams finish level on points, Kapfenberg would have the edge due to their head-to-head record. 

For last season's semi-finalists ATSE Graz, the game in Kapfenberg is their final match of the season. The Eggenberg side definitively missed out on the playoffs last weekend following the 0:1 loss to WEV. In the head-to-head record, the reigning champions have so far claimed three wins against Graz – 7:4, 7:1 and 5:3. 

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler sets out the approach and has two main objectives: "We want to try to take the full points again, then we will see what position we ultimately finish in. Another objective is to prepare as well as possible for the playoffs. We will continue working on the small details until then. Above all, though, it is a mental matter to play consistently for 60 minutes. We still have lapses at times, but the team has proven in recent years that it is fully there in the playoffs, and I am sure that will be the case again this year."

ATSE head coach Markus Losch wants to end the season with a win: "We are looking forward to the final game against Kapfenberg. Although we unfortunately missed the playoffs this season, we will try to deliver a fair and good game in Kapfenberg. Our play has become increasingly stable in recent weeks and perhaps ATSE can still secure a win to finish."

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein
Fri., 31 January 2025, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC

Fri., 31 January 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat., 01 February 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Ö Ice Hockey League – Eastern Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor

Sat, 01 February 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz

Sat, 01 February 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Ice Hockey League in the Game Center

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