Derby high­lights: Zeltweg Murtal Lions chal­lenge leaders Kapfen­berg – VEU Feld­kirch face SC Hohenems

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV

Sat., 25 November 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

The marquee match-up in the East Division could not be more compelling: second-placed EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions host leaders Kapfenberger SV in the Upper Styria derby on Saturday. 

After the first meeting of the season, the Murtal side have a score to settle with their Mürztal rivals. At the end of October, the Kangaroos put on an offensive fireworks display at home against the Lions in Kapfenberg, winning 10:1. 

The team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler has been the benchmark in the Ö Eishockey Liga so far. Four games, four wins, 33 goals scored and only four conceded – that is the impressive record to date. The question is who can stop this express train. Zeltweg recently produced two outstanding battling performances, claiming away wins against Gmunden and WEV. 

The Lions have therefore closed in on Kapfenberg in the standings and put themselves in an excellent position for the derby in front of their home fans.

Christian Mayerl, chairman of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, is looking forward to the major derby clash at the Aichfeldhalle following the win in Vienna and promises a fierce battle: "The win in Vienna was important for us, not only because of the three points but also for our confidence, because you need a great deal of that against Kapfenberg! We know what awaits us and will work hard throughout the week to deliver a great game. KSV are the favourites; they are a level above the rest of the league. The new signings have raised the level of an already strong team even further, but we are Lions and will fight for every inch of ice. An Upper Styria derby – the fans should not miss it!"

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler believes that, after the heavy defeat in the first game, Murtal Lions will give his team a tough fight this time: "An Upper Styria derby like this is always something very special. I think Zeltweg certainly have not quite put the last defeat out of their minds, will surely come up with something and do everything possible to disrupt our game. On the other hand, for us it means making sure that we play our game. We need to do the things that have brought us success so far, and then I am very confident that next weekend will also end with a KSV win!"

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden

Sat., 25 November 2023, 19:30, Merkur Ice Stadium – Hall B

The ATSE Graz face UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden in the Ö Eishockey Liga on Saturday. The Eggenberg side are something of an unknown quantity in the East Division. "Defeat, win, defeat, win, defeat" has been their record in the first five games of the season. If the team coached by head coach Rupert Strohmeier continues its own trend, a win should follow against the Sharks from Lake Traun. Graz won the first meeting in October away from home by 6:3.

Last Saturday, the Upper Austrians shot away their frustration with a 9:0 win against UHT Dukes Graz after three consecutive defeats. Slovenian star goaltender Luka Gračnar made 32 saves in the impressive performance and recorded his first shutout for the Sharks.

Thomas Schatzl, chairman of the Sharks Gmunden, is looking forward to the next clash with a Graz team after the clear victory over the Dukes: "As this weekend's results have shown, the battle for the play-off places will probably remain exciting until the final round. If our boys bring that same energy onto the ice again and are just as efficient on the power play, we can take points too!"

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sun, 26 November 2023, 15:00, WEV Arena - Lothringerstraße 22

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein host the UHT Dukes Graz on Sunday for the next open-air classic in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus. With the 15:00 start time, ice sports fans have the fantastic opportunity this weekend to combine skating with watching ice hockey. You can only get that at Vienna's Heumarkt. 

In their first home game against the Zeltweg Murtal Lions, WEV suffered a 4:6 defeat following a true ice hockey spectacle and are now eager for their second outdoor home fixture, as WEV head coach Mario Kubeczka reveals: "We are looking forward to welcoming the Dukes to Vienna's Heumarkt! For us, it is a case of rolling up our sleeves and giving everything to get the three points. The Graz side will not make it easy for us, but it is time to make amends. Thank goodness, we have also been able to train at the Heumarkt since this week. That will of course allow us to prepare optimally for the game."

UHT Dukes Graz suffered a heavy defeat to Sharks Gmunden last Saturday after previously beating ATSE Graz in the city derby. Nevertheless, the Dukes from the Styrian capital remain firmly in the race for a play-off place.

Division West:

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Fri, 24 November 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

The Division West of the Ö Eishockey Liga has the Vorarlberg derby between VEU Feldkirch and SC Samina Hohenems as early as Friday. The Steinböcke won the first meeting in the Montfortstadt 7:4. 

VEU Feldkirch's season so far has followed a similar pattern to that of ATSE Graz in Division East. Defeats and victories alternate, with head coach Lars Foder's team still searching for consistency. 

Speaking of consistency: opponents Hohenems have delivered consistently strong performances since the start of the new season. Head coach Thomas Sticha's players have won six games in regulation time; only in the top clash against HC Kufstein did the Schlittschuhclub have to go to overtime, where they claimed the win and the additional point.

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha knows the Feldkirch players very well from his coaching stint there last year: "I am looking forward to the upcoming derby in Feldkirch. We are facing a team where I personally coached many of the players last year. VEU have a healthy mix of experienced players and young talents looking to make the step up to the ALPS or Ice League. They will certainly play actively and tenaciously, as they have already shown in recent games. But we are also prepared to do the hard yards, and we want to take the three points away from Feldkirch."

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch

Sat, 25 November 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Just 22 hours after the derby against Hohenems, VEU Feldkirch must play away against HC Kufstein at Eisarena Kufstein. 

HC Kufstein last played at home almost a month ago, but they are the most popular team among fans in the Ö Eishockey Liga. An average of 700 fans have attended the four home games so far. 

The team coached by Head Coach Ivo Novotny is thrilling fans in the Fortress City, with the two Czech forwards David Hrazdira and Martin Kosnar having become crowd favourites. With a combined 19 goals, the two players account for more than a third of all Dragons goals (49) and also shine as assist providers. Local players such as Taylor Holst, Manuel Eder and Dominique Saringer are also putting their stamp on Kufstein's game.

The two league meetings so far have gone to the Dragons. At the start of the season in early October, Kufstein beat VEU 4:1, before the Tyroleans followed that up with a 7:2 away win at the Vorarlberghalle at the end of October.

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sun, 26 November 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

To round off an exciting weekend in the Ö Eishockey Liga, Dornbirner EC host EHC Crocodiles Kundl at the Messestadion. The Tyroleans travel to Vorarlberg with new Head Coach Jaroslav Betka, who won the title with the Wattens Penguins in March 2022 during the first Ö Eishockey Liga season, and who scored goals for Crocodiles Kundl as a player over a total of four seasons. 

Kundl have won both league meetings this season on home ice. The Crocodiles won the first game convincingly 16:3 in October, while in the second encounter the Bulldogs kept the game open until halfway through, leading 3:2 until the 24 minute, before Kundl ultimately prevailed 6:3. The Vorarlberg side have lost all nine games so far,

Gerhard Maier, chairman of EHC Crocodiles Kundl, is expecting a win to round off the weekend: "We travel to Dornbirn on Sunday with new coach Jaroslav Betka with the objective and expectation of returning home with three points in the bag!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV

Sat, 25 November 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden

Sat, 25 November 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sun, 26 November 2023, 15:00, WEV Arena - Lothringerstraße 22

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Fri, 24 November 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch

Sat, 25 November 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sun, 26 November 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

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