Derby thriller: EHC Kundl edge Kufstein in over­time - First win of the season for Kapfen­berg at WEV

As early as the second matchday, EHC Kundl in the Division West on Saturday at Eisarena Kundl in front of over 800 fans in the fiercely contested district derby against their eternal local rivals HC Kufstein in a heated district derby in the West Division at the Eisarena Kundl on Saturday in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_E_A__ fans. Both teams had an early power play apiece but were unable to capitalise with a goal. The match was a thrilling affair in the opening period, with both sides well organised defensively.

The hosts, who had twice as many shots on goal as the Dragons in the opening 20 minutes, went ahead exactly two seconds before the end of the period: Maximilian Mackner scored the celebrated 1:0 for Kundl on their second power play (20th minute).

The derby remained fiercely contested in the second period, with the two goaltenders - Jakub Kostelny for EHC Kundl and Thomas Pfarrmaier for HC Kufstein - keeping the score close. Just over two minutes after the halfway point, Dragons veteran Herbert Steiner equalised at 1:1 (33.). Around three minutes later, the Eisarena was boiling over: New Slovak signing Michal Kluka put Kundl 2:1 ahead with a shorthanded goal after exactly 35 minutes (36.).

The game was now truly on fire, and Kufstein's new Finnish signing Aleksi Airaksinen quickly equalised at 2:2 (37.). The score promised a thrilling final period, in which the hosts once again took the lead: Simon Brandner scored to make it 3:2 (49.). The derby had reached boiling point. Three minutes from the end, the Kufstein fans celebrated an equaliser as Stefan Reiter made it 3:3 (58.) and took the team coached by Andreas Luchner into overtime.

There, Matko Pavetić scored the winning goal for a 4:3 result and brought Oktoberfest atmosphere to Kundl (62.). EHC celebrated their first win of the season in the derby, while Kufstein suffered their second defeat but secured their first point.

EHC Lustenau beat Wattens Penguins

In their second consecutive home match, EHC Lustenau faced the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins at the Rheinhalle. The Lions from Vorarlberg pinned the Tyroleans in their own defensive zone from the outset and established clear control in the opening ten minutes: Goal scorer Martin Grabher Meier finished off a fine combination to make it 1:0 after just under two and a half minutes (3.), before Timo Demuth made it 2:0 just under two minutes later (5.).

The team coached by Dániel Fekete quickly added another: Jonas Kutzer scored to make it 3:0 on the first power play (9.). Wattens could only find some relief through isolated counter-attacks, before Martin Grabher Meier made it 4:0 from a rebound (16.).

Little initially changed in the nature of the game in the second period, as Lustenau remained dominant but were unable to convert another power play. The Wattens Penguins pulled one back through Patrick Huber on a counter-attack to make it 1:4 (27.). Both teams then came through a spell of penalty killing unscathed. After the Tyroleans survived another penalty kill, they had the small consolation of winning the period 1:0. At the start of the final period, Lustenau quickly made clear that they had no intention of letting anything slip that evening. Goal scorer Chris D’Alvise struck from the slot to make it 5:1 (42.). Lustenau then saw out the match comfortably and celebrated their second win in as many games.

SC Hohenems win derby at Dornbirner EC Bulldogs

The first Vorarlberg derby of the new season in the West Division took place on Saturday at the Messestadion Dornbirn between the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs and SC Samina HohenemsIn front of over 1.000 fans, the opening period was a close affair. The Steinböcke took an early 1:0 lead through new signing Eric Ockert following a fine move and finish (8 min.), but the hosts responded strongly and kept the game open for the remainder of the first period.

The Bulldogs failed to convert their only power play in the first 20 minutes, while Hohenems netminder Pascal Prugger kept his net clean until the first buzzer.

In the second period, the visitors managed their narrow lead and patiently waited for opportunities. Kai Fässler converted one of them from the slot to make it 2:0 for the Emser (27 min.). With the second goal, Head Coach Martin Mallinger's team controlled the game even better, and Benjamin Kyllönen scored with a precise shot just before the halfway point to make it 3:0 (30 min.). However, Head Coach Jörg Kopeinig's team did not let up, and Dornbirn regained hope when Danny Madlener scored on a 5:3 power play (35 min.).

Fabian Mandlburger extinguished that hope early in the final period, making it 4:1 from close range following a face-off (42 min.). Julian Payr added the 5:1 on the backhand for Hohenems, who celebrated their second straight win in their second match (47 min.).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

First win for KSV Kängurus at Wiener Eislauf-Verein

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein hosted the KSV Kängurus on Saturday for their Division East home opener at Steffl Arena Hall 3. Both teams engaged in a fast-paced battle from the outset, with chances at both ends. The Styrians had the first power play of the game and took an early lead: player-coach Kris Reinthaler fired home to make it 1:0 for the visitors (8 min.).

With the narrow lead behind them, Kapfenberg grew in confidence and became more dangerous in attack. Their power play was particularly effective, with Christoph Draschkowitz converting a rebound to make it 2:0 for the Kängurus (17 min.).

Vienna carried a man advantage into the second period, but Head Coach Philipp Ullrich's team were unable to score a goal back during that spell.

WEV raised the tempo and pulled one back to 1:2 through Lukas Necesany following a wonderful move (26 min.). The hosts pushed for the equaliser as the match became increasingly intense. The Mürztal side struck back, with Stefan Trost making it 3:1 from the slot (33 min.). WEV then went on the power play, but Kapfenberg broke quickly and Kevin Moderer made it 4:1 (38 min.). Vienna swiftly found the right response while still on the power play, as Lukas Kaider reduced the deficit to 2:4 from close range just 35 seconds later (39 min.).

In the final period, WEV pushed hard to score another goal but were unable to make the most of three power plays. Kapfenberg sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Adrian Stühlinger a minute and a half from the end, making it 5:2 (59 min.) and celebrating their first win of the season.

Champions Sharks Gmunden edge ATSE Graz

The ATSE Graz faced defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden on Saturday in the Division East headline game at their home opener in Merkur Eisstadion Hall A. Both clubs adopted an attacking approach from the outset and traded blows at a brisk pace. The Upper Austrian champions converted a power play, with Patrick Gaffal firing a powerful shot from the left face-off circle to make it 1:0 for the Sharks from Lake Traunsee (15 min.).

The match remained fiercely contested in the middle period, with neither side giving an inch defensively. A power play for each team went unused, while both netminders – Gernot Fally for ATSE Graz and Tobias Windhofer for Sharks Gmunden – performed very well. The Styrians equalised early in the final period, as Filip Matijević scored from the slot on a power play to make it 1:1 (43 min.) and set up the crunch time, during which both teams initially failed to convert a power play.

Sharks captain Jonas Kail then skated in front of the Graz net and made it 2:1 for the reigning champions (55 min.). Shortly afterwards, Moritz Neurauter produced the goal of the round with a magical move through his own legs, making it 3:1 for the Upper Austrians (58 min.). The Styrians took risks, pulled goaltender Gernot Fally, and Cornelius Kaschnig made the game exciting again by reducing the deficit to 2:3 (59 min.). Alwin Schuster sealed the Sharks' second win of the season with an empty-net goal to make it 4:2 with twelve seconds remaining (60 min.).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 4:3 after overtime (1:0,1:2,1:1,1:0)
Sat, 11 October 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Maximilian Mackner (19:58 min./PP1), Michal Kluka (35:00 min./SH1), Simon Brandner (48:48 min.), Matko Pavetić (61:41 min.)
HC Kufstein scorers: Herbert Steiner (32:11 min.), Aleksi Airaksinen (36:44 min.), Stefan Reiter (57:02 min.)

EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 5:1 (4:0,0:1,1:0)
Sat, 11 October 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (02:36 min., 15:37 min.), Timo Demuth (04:43 min.), Jonas Kutzer (08:43 min./PP1), Christopher D’Alvise (41:09 min.)
Wattens Penguins scorer: Patrick Huber (26:51 min.)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1:5 (0:1,1:2,0:2)
Sat, 11 October 2025, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorer: Danny Madlener (34:28 min./PP2)
SC Hohenems scorers: Eric Ockert (07:19 min.), Kai Fässler (26:37 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (29:11 min.), Fabian Mandlburger (41:18 min.), Julian Payr (46:55 min.)

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. KSV Kängurus 2:5 (0:2,2:2,0:1)
Sat, 11 October 2025, 18:30, Steffl Arena Hall 3
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Lukas Necesany (25:42 min.), Lukas Kaider (38:08 min./PP1)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Kristof Reinthaler (07:13 min./PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (16:02 min./PP1), Stefan Trost (32:24 min.), Kevin Moderer (37:33 min./SH1), Adrian Stühlinger (58:30 min./EN)

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 2:4 (0:1,0:0,2:3)
Sat, 11 October 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Filip Matijević (42:42/PP1), Cornelius Kaschnig (58:16)
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Patrick Gaffal (14:23/PP1), Jonas Kail (54:03), Moritz Neurauter (57:37), Alwin Schuster (59:48/EN)

HDK Maribor have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

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

After Phase 1, an interregional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will also provide additional excitement after the regular season 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 be decided in best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and schedules in the Gamecenter

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