Derby fever in Kundl and Lustenau – WEV visit cham­pions Kapfen­berg

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein

Fri, 25 October 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl will welcome eternal rivals HC Kufstein on Friday in Division West of the Ö Eishockey Liga for the first Kufstein district derby of the still-young season. Both teams have three points, with the Dragons celebrating an away win against the Bulldogs in Dornbirn on Sunday after losing their opening home game to Hohenems. 

It was the other way round for the Crocodiles: after winning at the Bulldogs in the first round, they suffered a home defeat following a real thriller against Lustenau, despite leading twice. Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier is hoping for a great crowd at the first derby against the Fortress Town side: "We are expecting a packed house and a home win. If we can build on our performance against Lustenau, that should be achievable too!"

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner is, like the entire Dragons team, eagerly anticipating the explosive district derby: "We gave the right response in Dornbirn after our defeat to Hohenems in the season opener. Now there is great anticipation for the first derby of the season. We will be well prepared. The team and coaches watch plenty of video and are putting together a good plan."

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 26 October 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

The storyline could not be any better: league newcomers EHC Lustenau will face table leaders SC Samina Hohenems in Division West on National Day in the first Vorarlberg derby. Both clubs – the Ibex against Kufstein and Wattens, and the Lions against Wattens and Kundl – won their first two Ö Eishockey Liga games and have warmed up for the first Ländle showdown. Only their better goal difference places Hohenems ahead of Lustenau in the current table. 

The first major ice hockey celebration of the new season will now take place at Lustenau's Rheinhalle. As an added bonus, the legendary Halloween party will follow in the VIP room with DJ Let’s Fetz – music, crazy costumes and a spooky atmosphere are guaranteed! Incidentally, the last direct official league derby between these two clubs dates back a long time: the teams, who were then playing in the Nationalliga, met in the 1996/1997 season. Hohenems reached the quarter-finals that season, while Lustenau were even crowned champions of what was then Austria's second-highest league.

Lustenau head coach Daniel Fekete, who most recently played for Hohenems and spent a year behind the bench as an assistant coach, sees the first meeting as wide open: "A derby – regardless of the league – is always something very special. You do not need to motivate the players specially for a game like this. Many of the players know each other from previous years and there are many friendships between them. But those friendships will be put aside for these 60 minutes, as the players on both teams will want to claim the first derby win of the still-young season. For me, there are no favourites in this derby, as both teams have recorded two wins so far."

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha and his team will make the roughly eight-kilometre trip to Lustenau full of confidence, although despite leading the table, the coach considers the Lions to be favourites: "After two wins, we are naturally heading into the away derby in Lustenau full of confidence. Following Lustenau's withdrawal from the AHL, the retention of most of their players and some additions, Lustenau are certainly favourites for this game and contenders for the title. However, as in the previous games, we will try to play our game and force Lustenau into mistakes."

Dornbirner EC vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sun, 27 October 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

The Dornbirner EC host the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins on Sunday to conclude the round in the Division West. Both teams are on zero points after two games. The Bulldogs showed character in the second period of their defeat to Kufstein when trailing 0:5, launching a comeback with three consecutive goals.

Dornbirn head coach Jaro Husar was pleased with the second half of the game against the Tyroleans, and now it is important to finally get off the mark in the standings: "We are building on the second half of the game against Kufstein – it went 3:1 in our favour. The power play was already a little better, but we still need to improve in our own zone and allow fewer shots. Wattens are our visitors on Sunday and neither team has any points on the board yet. It would be important for both teams to get their first points and get off the mark. Having points on the board would be particularly good for the confidence of our young team."

Wattens, who have returned to the league, led 1:0 away at Hohenems and kept the match open until after the halfway point, but ultimately had to accept a clear defeat against the offensively strong Steinböcke. The Tyroleans still have three road trips to Vorarlberg ahead of them before their first home game at the Alpenstadion takes place in mid-November.

Coach Andreas Sarg was pleased with the performance in Hohenems until five minutes after the halfway point and is hoping for the first win on Sunday: "Our first 35 minutes against Hohenems were very good, but unfortunately we suffered a collapse after pulling back to 2:3. We have been very unlucky, as a key player will be out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear. But we want to secure our first three points against Dornbirn this weekend!"

Division East:

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor

Sat, 26 October 2024, 18:00, Merkur Eisstadion

Following the weekend off, ATSE Graz welcome HDK Maribor in their second home game in the Division East on National Day, with the newcomers having made a strong start to the Ö Eishockey Liga, for the Styrian derby between the partner cities. After their narrow opening-round defeat to the Sharks Gmunden, Graz now want to put their first points on the board.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch is taking the Slovenian league newcomers very seriously and is hoping for the first full points haul: "Maribor have started the season very well. After their first-round win over Kapfenberg and the point against Vienna, the team certainly will no longer be underestimated. As the team is unknown to me, I am really looking forward to this game. After our opening defeat against Gmunden, it would be nice if we could also secure our first three points. We have used the time well to prepare for this game. I think we have the quality to beat Maribor."

The Styrian Foxes sensationally defeated champions Kapfenberg in their opener and also gave WEV a tough battle in Saturday's narrow overtime defeat. With four points from two games, the Maribor side currently sit in second place. 

Maribor Head Coach Jure Verlič has concluded after just two games that the Ö Eishockey Liga is a challenge and that matches are fiercely contested: "We expect a tough road game. After two games, we have seen that it will be difficult to play against every team, so we have to skate and work on the ice in every shift. We have to take our chances and remain disciplined in the defensive zone!"

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 26 October 2024, 19:30 pm, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

After two consecutive one-goal away defeats, the first home game of the season comes at just the right time for Kapfenberger SV against Wiener Eislauf-Verein. The reigning Ö Eishockey Liga champions are bottom of the table with no points after two games, an unfamiliar situation for the Kängurus, who were unbeaten in their title-winning season. 

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler considers the competition in the East Division to be significantly stronger after this year's opening games and is embracing the challenge with his players: "The ÖEL East Division has clearly improved this year. We had always wanted that, and now we have to learn how to deal with it. Small mistakes are now ruthlessly punished and result in goals against. We need to realise that we now have to be fully switched on during the regular season, not only in the playoffs. We have to learn to deal with the fact that many close games lie ahead of us. It is a good challenge for us, one that we will master, I am convinced of that. We now have to and will find a way to achieve this!"

With their hard-fought overtime win over Maribor in their season opener under their belts, the Viennese head straight out on another road trip, this time to the Mürz Valley. 

WEV Head Coach Philipp Ullrich sees his team as underdogs for the clash in Styria despite Kapfenberg's two defeats: "We are pleased that we were able to win our first game. We are certainly not travelling to Kapfenberg as favourites. Even though they have lost their first two games, they have a team of very high quality. We will once again try to play our game for 60 minutes, minimise the mistakes from the first game and are looking forward to this match."

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have the weekend off. The Upper Austrians are back in action against ATSE Graz on 02 November. 

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein

Fri, 25 October 2024, 19:30 pm, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 26 October 2024, 17:30 pm, Rheinhalle Lustenau

Dornbirner EC vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sun, 27 October 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

Ö Eishockey Liga – East Division:

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor

Sat, 26 October 2024, 18:00, Merkur Eisstadion

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 26 October 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have a bye

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

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