Derby time: Kapfen­berg over­come ATSE Graz – Hohenems defeat Dorn­birn

SC Samina Hohenems faced Dornbirner EC Bulldogs in a local derby at the Eisstadion Hohenems on Saturday in the West Division. Both teams traded brisk attacks from the outset, with the contest becoming more intense with every shift.

After both sides had been unable to make the most of brief power-play spells, Benjamin Kyllönen surprised Bulldogs netminder David Bernhard with a shot into the far corner to give the Steinböcke a 1:0 lead (13 min). The visitors had another power-play opportunity late in the first period, but Dornbirn were unable to equalise.

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period, with swift attacks at both ends. Hohenems let another power play pass without scoring. Naturally, the derby became more emotional with every passing minute due to the narrow scoreline, and both penalty boxes were well occupied during this phase. Just after the midway point of the game, the hosts extended their lead to 2:0: Benjamin Kyllönen again scored from the slot following a fine combination (31 min).

Shortly before the end of the period, Christian Haidinger made it 3:0 with a well-placed shot (39nd minute). In the final period, the visitors cut the deficit to 1:3 as Danny Madlener beat HSC netminder Pascal Prugger on the power play with a long-range shot (44th minute). However, Dornbirn were unable to turn the game around after that, Hohenems failed to capitalise on a 5:3 power-play situation and ultimately celebrated their second derby win over the Bulldogs this season with a 3:1 victory. Like the Kufstein district derby, the Dornbirn district derby was also a back-to-back encounter, with the teams meeting again next Saturday at the atmospheric open-air stadium in Herrenried.

EHC Lustenau thrash WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins away from home

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins faced league leaders EHC Lustenau at the Alpenstadion Wattens on Saturday in the West Division. The visitors made a flying start: Jonas Kutzer fired a shot after a minute and a half, and Wattens goalie Jakob Sprachmann allowed the puck into the net (2 min).

Shortly afterwards, Stefan Hrdina made it 2:0 with a powerful shot from the left face-off circle (4 min). Just 23 seconds later, the Löwen led 3:0, as Timo Demuth bundled the puck over the line from close range (4 min). The game then settled down somewhat, and Wattens had a power play but were unable to get on the scoresheet after their early shock. Three minutes before the first siren, Manuel Metzler made it 4:0 for Lustenau following a scramble in front of goal (17 min).

In the second period, leading scorer Christopher D’Alvise deflected a Daniel Stefan shot to make it 5:0 for Lustenau (23 min). After conceding the fifth goal, netminder Sprachmann had seen enough and was replaced by Isaac Schönthaler. Nevertheless, the same pattern continued: the Vorarlberg side combined neatly in front of the Wattens goal, and Timo Demuth finished to make it 6:0 (25 min).

Shortly afterwards, Daniel Stefan caught the new netminder off guard with a shot to make it 7:0 (28 min). Dominic Haberl made it 8:0 on the power play (31 min), before his brother Lucas Haberl made it 9:0 after a combination involving numerous passes (38 min). In the final period, Chris D’Alvise added his second goal to make it 10:0 and bring the score into double figures (57 min). Next Saturday, the Wattens Penguins will face the Vorarlberg side in a back-to-back encounter, as will be the case in the Kufstein and Dornbirn local derbies.

HC Kufstein gain revenge in local derby against EHC Kundl

For the second time this season in the West Division, EHC Kundl and HC Kufstein met in a local derby in front of more than 500 fans at the Eisarena Kundl. The hosts took command from the outset, and Kufstein netminder Thomas Pfarrmaier could not complain about a lack of work. Kundl's dominance resulted in a 1:0 lead, with Sebastian Schild scoring from close range (8 min).

The Dragons then applied tremendous pressure during their first power play, but Kundl, together with goalie Jakub Kostelny, showed strong penalty killing. The visitors equalised shortly afterwards, as Valentin Hammerle scored into the empty net to make it 1:1 after goalie Kostelny had mishandled an outing from his net (13 min). Kundl then had their first power play, but failed to score with the man advantage. On the next power play, Michal Kluka scored from close range to make it 2:1 (19 min). Emotions then flared for the first time, and the derby was already a heated affair in the opening period.

The game lost none of its intensity in the second period, as both teams engaged in an entertaining battle with good chances at both ends. Kundl's third goal was in the air during another power play. Shortly afterwards, Aleksi Airaksinen equalised following a Kufstein counterattack, with the Finnish new signing putting the loose puck into the opposition net to make it 2:2 (34 min). As in their first meeting of the season, the derby developed into a thriller.

In the final period, Kufstein took the lead for the first time: captain Dominique Saringer scored from the power play with a fine shot to make it 3:2 (44 minutes). Just over two minutes later, the Fortress Town side struck again: Herbert Steiner was where a centre needs to be and scored from the slot for 4:2 (46 minutes). Kundl tried everything, but two penalty kills hampered their attacking efforts. Kufstein were solid defensively and, even at the end when Kundl pulled goalie Kostelny, did not allow anything more to happen, drawing level with their local rivals in the standings with the 4:2 victory. There will once again be a touch of playoff atmosphere in the Lower Inn Valley a week on Saturday, when the back-to-back game takes place at Kufstein Arena.

Division East:

Sharks Gmunden edge past HDK Maribor away from home

On Saturday, HDK Maribor welcomed defending champions and league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden to the Ledna dvorana Maribor in Division East. The strong home Fuchs matched the favoured Upper Austrians from the outset and were by no means overawed.

The Slovenians had their first power play early on, but Maribor were unable to score an early goal. At the other end, the Haie vom Traunsee suddenly took the lead as Marc-André Dorion finished off a fine attacking move and one-two to make it 1:0 (8th minute). The hosts fought back impressively: Danilo Tomašević pounced to level the score at 1:1 after Luka Vinčec had initially struck the crossbar with a backhand effort (14th minute).

Towards the end, Maribor had the chance to take the lead on the power play – at times even with a five-on-three advantage – but Gmunden netminder Tobias Windhofer did not concede.

In the second period, the Sharks waited patiently on another power play and veteran Marc-André Dorion scored his second goal of the game to make it 2:1 (27nd minute). Once again, the Foxes hit back on the power play: Jan Čerič levelled the score at 2:2 after a fine combination (29th minute).

A quick double strike in the second period suddenly gave the Eastern Conference leaders a two-goal advantage: Fabian Richter first made it 3:2 with a well-placed shot (37th minute). 44 seconds later, Alwin Schuster scored from close range to make it 4:2 (38th minute).

Just 39 seconds into the final period, the match was exciting again: Nejc Bizjak made it 3:4 from close range following a face-off (41st). The home side pushed hard for an equaliser. Gmunden defended strongly and, with Maribor’s net empty and a minor penalty to kill, held on to their narrow lead until the final whistle.

KSV Kängurus narrowly prevail at ATSE Graz

For the third time already, ATSE Graz and KSV Kängurus in the Styrian derby. Graz started strongly at home and were repeatedly able to establish themselves in the offensive zone, but Mürztal took the lead at the Bunker: Michael Malle fired home from the slot to make it 1:0 in the 8th minute.

As the first period progressed, Kapfenberg increasingly found their rhythm despite difficult preparations – training is currently not possible at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg due to a technical fault – but were unable to capitalise on their first power play. The Eggenberg side also failed to convert their first power-play opportunity.

ATSE had the next power play in the second period, but Kapfenberg scored shorthanded to make it 2:0: Florian Hoppl fired home superbly from the slot (26th minute). ATSE were unable to find a way to pull one back as the game progressed. KSV netminder Felix Nußbacher also kept a clean sheet.

In the final period, Graz tried to finally get on the scoreboard, but the Kängurus were composed defensively. ATSE also had to kill a penalty, spending some time with just three skaters against five. The hosts then had a power-play opportunity six minutes from the end.

The final minute and a half were tense, with KSV taking a penalty and ATSE head coach Markus Losch pulling goaltender Florian Zeugswetter. Kapfenberg held on to their two-goal advantage, with goaltender Felix Nußbbacher recording the shutout, and beat ATSE Graz for the second time in their third meeting.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 3:1 (1:0,2:0,0:1)
Sat., 15 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Benjamin Kyllönen (12:21, 30:47/PP1), Christian Haidinger (38:13)
Dornbirner Bulldogs scorer: Danny Madlener (43:09/PP1)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau 0:10 (0:4,0:5,0:1) 
Sat., 15 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
EHC Lustenau scorers: Jonas Kutz (01:32), Stefan Hrdina (03:20), Timo Demuth (03:43, 24:37), Manuel Metzler (16:53), Christopher D’Alvise (22:36, 56:16), Daniel Stefan (27:15), Dominic Haberl (30:30/PP1), Lucas Haberl (37:44)

EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 2:4 (2:1,0:1,0:2)
Fri., 14 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Sebastian Schild (07:07), Michal Kluka (18:14/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Valentin Hammerle (12:23), Aleksi Airaksinen (33:55), Dominique Saringer (43:21/PP1), Herbert Steiner (45:46)

Ö Eishockey Liga – EAST Division:

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 3:4 (1:1,1:3,1:0)
Sat., 15 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor
HDK Maribor scorers: Danilo Tomašević (13:25), Jan Čerič (28:33/PP1), Nejc Bizjak (40:39)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Marc-André Dorion (07:20, 26:08/PP1), Fabian Richter (36:55), Alwin Schuster (37:39)

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus 0:2 (0:1,0:1,0:0)
Sat, 15 November 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion Graz (Hall A)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Michael Malle (07:41), Florian Hoppl (25:59/SH1)

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half round-robin format, 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 inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will again provide additional excitement after the regular season in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose 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 match-ups will be decided in best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

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

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