Dorn­birn Bull­dogs cele­brate last-gasp ÖEL win over Wattens Penguins

To round off the first full matchday in the Ö Eishockey Liga, the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs hosted the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins at their Messestadion on Sunday. Both teams began their first game of the season with plenty of energy, creating attacks and good chances at both ends.

The two goaltenders took centre stage in the opening minutes – Kevin Wanger for the Bulldogs and new Penguins signing Jakob Sprachmann. The Tyrolean side took a 1:0 lead through a rebound scored by defenceman Fabian Nußbaumer (14.). Dornbirn equalised just under four minutes later for 1:1, as Niklas Gesson fired the puck home from the right face-off circle after a scramble (18.).

The two teams continued to produce an entertaining, fast-paced battle in the second period. Just after the halfway mark, the team led by new head coach Jörg Kopeinig took the lead for the first time: Moritz Reichel slotted the puck home from close range for 2:1 (31.). Wattens responded on the power play, with Ricards Purins finishing off a combination for 2:2 (35.).

The home side made a lightning start to the final period: Simon Brunner made it 3:2 with a fine shot (41.). The team led by new head coach Fabian Hechenberger levelled the score once again, as Fabian Nußbaumer fired from the blue line and Patrick Huber deflected the puck in for 3:3 (46.). With everyone at the Messestadion already anticipating overtime, the Bulldogs broke quickly and Janic Heisig scored the 4:3 winner eight seconds from the end (60.). That sets up a mouth-watering Vorarlberg derby against SC Hohenems next Saturday.

SC Hohenems edge HC Kufstein away from home

As in the previous season, Saturday's big opening clash in the West Division was HC Kufstein against SC Samina Hohenems in the atmospheric Eisarena am Fischergries right beside the Inn.

In the opening minutes, new Hohenems signing Eric Ockert, who trained with Eisbären Berlin Juniors, made his mark on the game. He first had to serve a two-minute penalty, before the German made an impressive introduction to the Ö Eishockey Liga shortly afterwards with a powerful shot from just behind the blue line to put Hohenems 1:0 ahead (9.).

The Vorarlberg side added another, as Niklas Gehringer completed a wonderful solo run from the centre line for 2:0 (15.). Just under a minute before the end of the period, Stefan Reiter raced down the right wing while shorthanded and cut the deficit to 1:2 for the Dragons (19.).

The Steinböcke made an ideal start to the second period: Benjamin Kyllönen scored from a tight angle following a fine combination to make it 3:1 for the Emser side (22.). Kufstein then scored what appeared to be a goal back, but despite protests from the Dragons players, the referee signalled “No Goal”.

Kufstein then made it 2:3 on the power play: Clemens Paulweber converted a classic tic-tac-toe from close range (38.) to make the headline clash highly exciting again before the end of the second period. In the final period, the team led by head coach Andreas Luchner pressed for an equaliser, including on three power-play opportunities. With a minute and a half remaining, the Dragons pulled new goalkeeper Thomas Pfarrmaier, but the Hohenems defence, together with goaltender Karlo Škec, held on to their narrow lead.

EHC Lustenau celebrate opening win over EHC Kundl

The EHC Lustenau began on Saturday at the Rheinhalle against the EHC Kundl began its second Ö Eishockey Liga season. The Lions thought they had taken an early lead, but the Head Referee had already called a slash and a penalty against Lucas Haberl. Both teams played from a solid defensive base in the opening period. With five and a half minutes remaining in the period, Lustenau scored their first goal of the season: Adem Kandemir converted a cross-ice pass from Dominik Oberscheider from close range to make it 1:0 (15 min.).

The home side made a lightning start to the second period: after a rebound from Kundl goaltender Jakub Kostelny, Goagetter Chris D’Alvise was perfectly positioned to convert for 2:0 after 53 seconds (21 min.). With the 2:0 lead behind them, Lustenau remained the dominant side, but Kostelny made some good saves to keep the Tyrolean visitors in the game until the end of the period. After 44 seconds of the final period, the game briefly became exciting again: Kundl's new import Michal Kluka finished off a superb attack to make it 1:2 (41 min.).

Lustenau had the perfect response ready: Martin Grabher Meier scored from close range following a fine attack to make it 3:1 (43 min.). Alexander Frandl of Kundl was then sent for an early shower after receiving a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for a check to the head, while Lucas Haberl of the Vorarlberg side was handed a two-minute penalty.

No goals were scored during this phase. EHC Kundl then had two further power plays in the closing minutes and pulled goaltender Jakub Kostelny at the end, but the Tyroleans could not beat Lustenau netminder Lukas Reihs again. The team coached by Head Coach Dániel Fekete celebrated a 3:1 victory to open its second ÖEL season.

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

Defending champions Sharks Gmunden win showdown against KSV Kängurus

The reigning Ö Eishockey Liga champions and title holders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced the KSV Kängurus in a major East Division showdown at the MUKI Eisarena on Saturday.

After just under three and a half minutes, the Styrians had their first power-play opportunity, but instead of taking the lead, the Mürztal side suddenly found themselves 0:1 behind: Gmunden newcomer Hubert Berger – who played for Zell am See in the Alps Hockey League last season – scored on the rebound after a quick counter-attack (4 min.).

A closely contested game then developed on the shores of Lake Traun, with neither team giving anything away defensively. Both goaltenders – Luka Gračnar for the Sharks and Oliver Zirngast for the Kängurus – kept clean sheets. Neither side was able to make further capital from their power-play units, leaving the title holders with the narrow one-goal lead after 40 minutes.

The game remained highly exciting in the final period and also became more intense and emotional: Sharks defenceman Jonas Kail and KSV blueliner Maximilian Ramsbacher engaged in an entertaining scrap. With just under five minutes remaining, the Upper Austrians doubled their advantage following a quick attack. Bastian Szieber deflected a cross-ice pass to make it 2:0 for Sharks Gmunden (55 min.).

In the end, the team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler threw everything at it, pulled goaltender Oliver Zirngast, and Bastian Szieber scored into the empty net 35 seconds from time to seal the 3:0 final score (60 min.). The champions opened the new season with a victory, while the Kapfenberg side had to accept their second defeat after the 1:2 loss to ATSE Graz in overtime.

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein declared a forfeit

The ÖEHV Disciplinary Commission has declared the match between HDK Maribor and Wiener Eislauf-Verein on 04 October 2025 a 5:0 forfeit win and awarded three points to Wiener Eislauf-Verein, as Maribor fielded the suspended player Nejc Voh without authorisation. An appeal may still be lodged until midnight on Tuesday.

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:3 (1:2,1:1,0:0)
Sat., 4 October 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Stefan Reiter (18:55 min./SH1), Clemens Paulweber (37:17 min./PP1)
SC Hohenems scorers: Eric Ockert (at 08:24), Niklas Gehringer (at 14:43), Benjamin Kyllönen (at 21:13)

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Kundl 3:1 (1:0,1:0,1:1)
Sat., 4 October 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Adem Kandemir (at 14:31), Christopher D’Alvise (at 20:53), Martin Grabher Meier (at 42:34)
EHC Kundl goalscorer: Michal Kluka (at 40:44)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 4:3 (1:1,1:1,2:1)
Sun., 5 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion
Dornbirner EC goalscorers: Niklas Gesson (at 17:34), Moritz Reichel (at 30:46), Simon Brunner (at 40:50), Janic Heisig (at 59:52)
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Fabian Nußbaumer (at 13:30), Ricards Purins (at 34:04/PP1), Patrick Huber (at 45:15/PP1)

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus 3:0 (1:0,0:0,2:0)
Sat., 4 October 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Hubert Berger (03:32/SH1), Bastian Szieber (at 54:45, at 59:25/EN)

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 0:5 awarded by forfeit
Sat., 4 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

ATSE Graz have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga gets the new season under way with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will see a 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 two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds, 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, starting with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will also provide additional excitement after the regular season next year. The highest-ranked 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 match-ups will be decided in Best-of-Three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Entry list 2025/2026

EAST DIVISION | 5 teams

ATSE Graz

HDK Maribor

Kapfenberger SV

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Wiener Eislauf-Verein

WEST DIVISION | 6 teams

Dornbirner Eishockeyclub Bulldogs

EHC Lustenau

EHC Crocodiles Kundl

HC Kufstein

SC Samina Hohenems

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

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

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