EHC Lustenau back on top of the Western Divi­sion after emphatic derby win over Dorn­birn Bull­dogs

The Dornbirner EC Bulldogs experienced another district derby thriller in the Western Division on National Day. League leaders EHC Lustenau were the visitors at the Messestadion and applied pressure from the outset. The Bulldogs responded well and were dangerous themselves on the counter-attack.

The favourites took a 2:0 lead in the first period with a quick double. First, Martin Grabher Meier scored from the slot following a fine combination to make it 1:0 (14.). Just 49 seconds later, Luca Künz swept the puck over the line from close range for 2:0 (15.), his first goal in a Lustenau jersey. Before the end of the first period, the home side cut the deficit to 1:2 as Sven Vugrinec lifted the puck from the left-hand side over the catching glove of Lustenau netminder Felix Beck on the first power play (19.).

Little changed in the nature of the game in the middle period, with the Lions dominant and repeatedly able to establish themselves in the offensive zone. Dornbirn defended well and relied on quick counter-attacks. DEC netminder Cosmo Reichhalter also provided solid support in the opening minutes. The goalie was powerless when Thomas Auer deflected a shot to make it 3:1 (27.). Shortly afterwards, Mattias Adam extended Lustenau's lead to 4:1 (28.).

Adem Kandemir's 5:1, finishing off a fine attack from close range, effectively decided the district derby shortly after the halfway mark (31.). In the final period, Head Coach Jörg Kopeinig's team cut the deficit to 2:5 on a 5:3 power play, with Mathias Hofer deflecting the puck into the net (47.). Barely a minute later, Christopher D’Alvise scored shorthanded after a quick counter-attack to make it 6:2 for Lustenau (48.).

Following a Dornbirn turnover, Robin Wüstner made it 7:2 (52.). Lustenau were now unstoppable: Thomas Auer skated around in front of goal and made it 8:2 (57.). Just 36 seconds later, Adem Kandemir completed the 9:2 final score from the slot (57.). Lustenau will therefore go into next Friday's major Vorarlberg derby against level-on-points SC Samina Hohenems at the Rheinhalle as league leaders.

SC Hohenems celebrate fourth win in four games against EHC Kundl

The EHC Kundl faced SC Samina Hohenems in the Western Division at the Eisarena Kundl on Friday. Both teams looked from the outset to move quickly through the neutral zone and get in front of the opposing goal. The top clash developed into a lively end-to-end first period with few stoppages and chances at both ends. The best opportunity fell to Sebastian Schild, who struck the post from the slot.

The visitors also tested Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny several times. 28 seconds before the end of the period, the home side took the lead with a stunning goal: Alexander Frandl played a wonderful long pass to new signing Michal Kluka, who sent the puck from the left face-off circle into the top right corner to make it 1:0 (20.).

The Vorarlberg side had their best spell in the second period. After killing off their first penalty, the Steinböcke pinned Kundl back in their defensive zone at five-on-five. Ems then had two consecutive power plays, while Kundl missed a total of three great chances for a shorthanded goal. Patrick Spannring made it 1:1 on the power play following a rebound (33.).

Then the goals came thick and fast: just 36 seconds after the equaliser, Kundl were back in front as Maximilian Agerer converted a cross-ice pass from close range to make it 2:1 (33.). Again, only 37 seconds later, Marcel Wolf fired home from the slot to level at 2:2 for Hohenems (34.). When Kundl were on the power play again, Patrick Spannring scored shorthanded with a superb wrist shot to make it 3:2 and give Hohenems their first lead (38.).

In the final period, the Vorarlberg side allowed Kundl to press forward and patiently waited for their opportunities. Michael Novak converted one of them to make it 4:2 (48.), having initiated the move himself with a trick pass between his own legs. It became tense in the closing stages: Kundl took a risk, pulled netminder Kostelny, and Maximilian Agerer scored from the blue line to cut the deficit to 3:4 (59.).

21 seconds from the end, Benjamin Kyllönen sealed the result with his empty-net goal to make it 5:3 (60.). SC Hohenems head into next Friday's major derby against Lustenau at the Reinhalle with four wins from four games.

Eastern Division:

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein took on the reigning champions in the Division East on Saturday, UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden at Steffl Arena Hall 3 in Vienna's Kagran district. WEV had the first power play early on, moved the puck well but were unable to convert. Both teams engaged in an intense battle in the first period, creating good opportunities in front of goal, but WEV netminder Moritz Merkader and Sharks goalie Luka Gračnar were both immediately up to speed.

Shortly after the midway point of the first period, the Traunsee side had their first numerical advantage but could not get the puck into the opposition net. The Viennese then repeatedly created good offensive opportunities, aided by intense forechecking.

The Sharks Gmunden took the lead early in the second period. Following a counter-attack initiated by a simple pass from Ian Motil, Bastian Szieber broke in alone on Merkader and scored to make it 1:0 for the defending champions (23rd minute).

The team coached by head coach Philipp Ullrich then had to kill off two successive penalties and, together with netminder Merkader, held on to the narrow deficit. The game became more emotional, with Sharks player Jonas Kail and WEV's Nils Granitz exchanging pleasantries. Shortly afterwards, Marc-André Dorion and Lukas Pohl had a brief altercation. The Upper Austrians scored on the buzzer, but the second period had already ended.

WEV had a power play just seconds into the final period but again could not find the net. The team coached by head coach Gregor Baumgartner were more efficient at the other end: Elias Koller scored from close range to make it 2:0 (47th minute).

The Viennese then had two further power plays, but the Upper Austrians again stood firm defensively. WEV tried everything, pulling netminder Merkader during four-on-four play. Denis Simek fired home to reduce the deficit to 1:2 with just under two minutes remaining (59th minute). The game suddenly became highly dramatic, with Gmunden ultimately winning 2:1 to take top spot ahead of Kapfenberg.

HDK Maribor edge ATSE Graz in derby thriller

The HDK Maribor faced ATSE Graz in the Styrian derby at Ledna dvorana Maribor in the Division East on Saturday. The match between the partner cities – the capital of Štajerska and the Styrian provincial capital are only around 70 kilometres apart – began with brisk attacks at both ends. However, both teams lacked passing accuracy in the opening minutes. There were several unnecessary turnovers, but an intense battle developed.

Five minutes before the end of the period, the Foxes had their first power play but were unable to score while holding the numerical advantage. There were no clear-cut chances in the opening 20 minutes, while Maribor netminder Omar Ždralović and ATSE goalie Gernot Fally also allowed nothing significant.

The hosts suddenly took the lead in the second period: shortly after a power play had expired, Ian Fingušt scored with a precise shot from the left face-off circle to make it 1:0 for Maribor (26th minute). Graz now had to play more offensively, but the Slovenians were solid defensively and repeatedly dangerous on the attack. The game became increasingly fast-paced as it went on and remained a thrilling affair. ATSE successfully killed off another penalty shortly after the halfway point of the game.

After winning a face-off on the left in the offensive zone, Cornelius Kaschnig fired home to equalise at 1:1 for Graz with two and a half minutes remaining in the period (38th minute). Shortly afterwards, ATSE player Moritz Ausperger's game was over after a cross-check, receiving a five-minute major plus game misconduct penalty, and the team coached by head coach Jure Verlič carried most of the power-play time into the final period.

The team coached by head coach Markus Losch came through this difficult phase without conceding and then came close to taking the lead. After a power play, Maribor had a great chance to go ahead through Adi Drnda, who had just come directly from the penalty box, but he was denied by netminder Gernot Fally. The game increasingly became a thriller as crunch time began. Nejc Bizjak brought Ledna dvorana Maribor to its feet, surprising ATSE netminder Fally with an exquisite shot to make it 2:1 following an attack down the right (54th minute).

Maribor killed off a penalty late on and saw out their narrow lead. Tempers flared at the end of the derby, with punches thrown and a host of penalties handed out.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau 2:9 (1:2,0:3,1:4)
Sun, 26 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion
Goalscorers, Dornbirner EC: Sven Vugrinec (18:46 min./PP1), Mathias Hofer (46:13 min./PP2)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Martin Grabher Meier (13:34 min.), Luca Künz (14:23 min.), Thomas Auer (26:28 min., 56:11 min.), Mattias Adam (27:49 min.), Adem Kandemir (30:16 min., 56:47 min.), Christopher D’Alvise (47:07 min./SH1), Robin Wüstner (51:13 min.)

EHC Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:5 (1:0,1:3,1:2)
Fri, 24 October 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Michal Kluka (19:32 min.), Maximilian Agerer (32:52 min., 58:06 min.)
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Patrick Spannring (32:16 min./PP1, 37:16 min./SH1), Marcel Wolf (33:29 min.), Michael Novak (47:55 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (59:39 min./EN)

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins - cancelled - new date to follow

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz 2:1 (0:0,1:1,1:0)
Sat, 25 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor
HDK Maribor goalscorers: Ian Fingušt (25:26 min., 53:48 min.)
ATSE Graz goalscorer: Cornelius Kaschnig (37:25 min.)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 1:2 (0:0,0:1,1:1)
Sat, 25 October 2025, 19:30, Steffl Arena Halle 3
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Denis Simek (58:10 min.)
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Bastian Szieber (22:13 min.), Elias Koller (46:19 min.)

KSV Kängurus have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga will begin the new season with its first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format in the two divisions – West with six teams and East with five teams – will undergo a change in phase 1. 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, there will once again be inter-regional playoffs, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The playoff pick will once again provide additional excitement after the regular season. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose its quarter-final opponent from the team finishing third or fourth in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the playoff match-ups will be decided in Best-of-Three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga standings, statistics and fixtures in the Game Centre

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