Derby show­down: Kundl face Kufstein – Hohenems host Dorn­birn – ATSE take on Kapfen­berg

EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein
Fri., 14 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

For the second time this season, EHC Kundl and HC Kufstein meet in the heated local derby at the Eisarena Kundl. A hint of play-off feeling will be in the air in the Lower Inn Valley not only because of the rivalry between the two clubs, with the back-to-back fixture at the Kufstein Arena taking place just one week later.

For Kundl, the derby is the last of six consecutive home games, most recently suffering a 1:5 defeat to league leaders Lustenau. The first meeting between the local rivals in mid-October was a derby with plenty of drama. Kundl took the lead three times, and Kufstein equalised three times. In overtime, Matko Pavetić sent the arena into raptures with the winning goal for 4:3.

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is eagerly anticipating the ever-explosive derby against the Dragons: "Friday sees our last game of the home-game marathon for now. And straight into the derby against Kufstein, one of our absolute home-game highlights! We're talking about a packed house, a loud crowd and an atmosphere that burns through your jersey. We've already shown this year that we can beat them. Kufstein remain title contenders, a well-drilled side that are very difficult to break down. But we're right in the mix, and the past few weeks have shown that our young team is fully involved in the play-off race. Points at home against Kufstein would be worth their weight in gold to us. We're ready!"

Kufstein, who celebrated their first win in early November against Dornbirn, gave SC Hohenems a real test away from home last weekend, but ultimately had to accept a narrow 2:4 defeat. The Dragons are currently in fourth place, four points behind Kundl, and the two consecutive games against their local rivals offer them the opportunity to make up ground in the standings.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner believes his team can win: "The away game in Kundl will certainly be pivotal after our modest start to the season. We have often come close, but left points on the table. Nevertheless, we believe in a turnaround – and that on Friday we can not only compete, but also win!"

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat., 15 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The second exciting local derby in the West Division takes place on Saturday between SC Samina Hohenems and the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs at the Eisstadion Hohenems. Like the Kufstein local derby, the Dornbirn local derby is also a back-to-back fixture, with the match taking place again a week later at the atmospheric open-air stadium in Herrenried.

The Ibex are the closest challengers to West Division leaders EHC Lustenau, against whom Hohenems lost their only game of the season so far in a shoot-out. Most recently, they secured a hard-fought 4:2 home win against Kufstein.

Hohenems head coach Martin Mallinger is wary of the Bulldogs with his team: "We are looking forward to the first home derby and the back-to-back games against Dornbirn. Our aim is to win every home game. Dornbirn have clearly improved compared to last season and can cause problems for any opponent. The previous encounters have demanded everything from us, so we need total concentration and commitment from the very first minute!"

For Dornbirn, a run of five consecutive defeats began in mid-October with the 1:5 loss in the first home derby against Hohenems. Their only win so far came in the season opener against the Wattens Penguins, against whom the Bulldogs fought their way impressively back into the game from a 0:4 deficit away from home last Saturday, eventually closing the gap to 3:5 before ultimately having to leave the ice with a 3:6 defeat.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger hopes his team can challenge the favourites: "Hohenems are a strong side, and we need to have our game in our own zone under control against them. We know how dangerous the Steinböcke are and that they punish mistakes. The new import (Ricards Purins, editor's note) has also given Hohenems a boost. We want to compete with the favourites and will give our best. We kept the first game open for a long time and also showed that we can keep up with the team in second place!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., 15 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins take on league leaders EHC Lustenau in the Division West at Alpenstadion Wattens on Saturday. Following four consecutive away defeats, the Tyroleans celebrated their first win of the season in last weekend's long-awaited open-air home debut against Dornbirn, securing their first full three points and handing the bottom spot in the table to the Bulldogs.

Wattens lost the first encounter against the Lions 1:5 at Lustenau's Rheinhalle, and now, as in the Kufstein and Dornbirn district derby, a back-to-back clash with the Vorarlberg side follows.

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger is relieved after the first win and promises the league leaders a passionate battle: "The 6:3 home win in the season opener in front of our own fans was enormously important – for the team and for our confidence. Now Lustenau, a really tough opponent, await us. They deliver game after game and are unbeaten so far, playing great ice hockey. Simply competing well definitely will not be enough. It is about investing everything; we are the underdogs and have to perform with total passion, take on every battle and give away no centimetre. Defensively, we need to stay compact and take our chances in attack ruthlessly. We will be ready and throw everything into it!"

As last season, Lustenau are the benchmark in the West regular season. With six consecutive wins – one of them in a shootout in the derby against Hohenems – Lustenau lead the table with 17 points, with only the Steinböcke currently able to keep pace on 16 points. Most recently, the Green-Yellows secured a comfortable 5:1 away win in Kundl, and with 30 goals in six games, Lustenau are the league's strongest attacking team.

Dániel Fekete, head coach of EHC Lustenau, travels to Tyrol with his team full of confidence: "Our team have already produced some good performances over the course of the championship so far. We want to continue this in Wattens and return to Vorarlberg with three points. We will try to impose our game on the Tyroleans and put them under pressure in their own zone!"

Division East:

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 15 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

The HDK Maribor face defending champions and league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. The strong-at-home Foxes from the Slovenian city on the Drava are currently bottom of the table with three points and are eager for revenge after the 1:6 away defeat against the Upper Austrians on All Saints’ Day.

Maribor is proof that the East Division is more balanced and more closely packed this season. The Slovenians gave the Kapfenberg Kängurus everything they could handle away from home in the 2:3, before securing a hard-fought and ultimately emotional 2:1 win against ATSE Graz. Most recently, Hokejsko Drsalni Klub gave WEV a tough battle in front of the Konzerthaus, but ultimately suffered a narrow 1:2 defeat after conceding the decisive goal late in the final period.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič hopes his team can avoid mistakes and improve its scoring efficiency: "After two away games, we are now playing at home, where it is difficult for every opponent. We are facing the leaders of our division, so we have to make as few mistakes as possible and not allow them too many chances. We have had problems scoring goals, so we need to find ways to get the puck in front of their net and put their defence under pressure!"

The Traunsee Sharks had to work hard at home against ATSE Graz on Sunday, levelling 32 seconds from time after trailing 0:1 for a long spell before eventually claiming victory in overtime.

The Sharks, who were actually due to play a double-header at the weekend – the clash in Kapfenberg had to be postponed due to a technical defect at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg – currently lead the table with 14 points. However, they only had a relatively easy time in the 6:1 win against their upcoming opponents, with all their other matches being hard-fought.

Sharks head coach Gregor Baumgartner knows another tough match awaits away at Ledna dvorana Maribor: "We had a difficult game against ATSE Graz and will need to sharpen up our game during the training week so that we can compete in Maribor. Maribor play very intense, physical hockey, and we should be ready for that!"

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 15 November 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion Graz (Hall A)

For the third time already, the ATSE Graz and the KSV Kängurus will face off in the East Division on Saturday at Merkur Eisstadion. In the early-season derby at the end of September, Graz celebrated a surprise 2:1 overtime win in Kapfenberg. In the second meeting at the beginning of November, the Kängurus gained revenge with a 5:2 victory.

Now the first meeting takes place in the Liebenau bunker. The Styrian capital side gave champions and table leaders Sharks Gmunden a real challenge last Sunday, leading 1:0 until 32 seconds from time before having to accept a 1:2 defeat in overtime following the extremely late equaliser.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch knows how his team can compete against the Mürz Valley side: "After the defeat in the second game in Kapfenberg, the ATSE team is eager for revenge against KSV. If we manage to carry out our tasks as we did in the first game in Kapfenberg, we can certainly keep up with the Kängurus. We have to try not to let the opposition into the slot and stay compact in front of our own net. If we can also score in offence, it will certainly be another interesting, evenly matched encounter!"

After an inconsistent start to the season, Kapfenberg had found their stride in their last three games and recorded three consecutive wins. They had been looking forward to a home double-header at the weekend featuring the headline games against champions Gmunden and WEV, but were forced to do nothing.

Both games had to be cancelled and postponed due to a technical defect at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg. The new dates will be announced as soon as possible.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler wants to prepare his team as well as possible for the task in Graz despite the situation: "The two game cancellations are force majeure, so we now have to make the best of it. ATSE Graz have now also taken a point off Gmunden, and according to the live ticker the game was very close. ATSE are a strong team, and we have to make sure we go into the game as well prepared as possible, both through training and mentally, in order to take the full points haul away again!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein
Fri, 14 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl - >> to the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 15 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> to the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau       
Sat, 15 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 15 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor - >> to the livestream

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 15 November 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 in the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. In the East Division, there will be two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds next season, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, likewise resulting in 20 games per team.

After Phase 1, a cross-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick after the regular season will also provide additional excitement in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select its quarter-final opponent from the third- or fourth-placed team 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 next season onwards.

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

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