Final! EHC Lustenau or KSV Kängurus – who will claim the championship?
Championship showdown in the Ö Eishockey Liga, part I: EHC Lustenau host KSV Kängurus at the Rheinhalle on Saturday in the first game of the best-of-three series. It is a clash between the two best teams from the regular season – Lustenau finished first in the West Division, while Kapfenberg won the East Division. The second game will take place on Saturday, 14 March, at the Kapfenberg Stadthalle. Should the series be level after two games, the decisive game will be held back in Lustenau on Saturday, 21 March. The winner of the final series will be crowned Austrian Ö Eishockey Liga champion for the 2025/2026 season.
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Final – Game 1: EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 07 March 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
And then there were just two: EHC Lustenau host the KSV Kängurus at the Rheinhalle Lustenau on Saturday in their first home final of the Ö Eishockey Liga. It is the eagerly anticipated opening game of the best-of-three series between the two best teams from the regular season.
Lustenau dominated the West Division, recording 18 wins in 20 games and suffering only two defeats – a 1:2 loss to EHC Kundl at the beginning of January and a 2:3 defeat against SC Hohenems in the final derby at the end of January. The Lions' attacking power was impressive, with 114 goals, while the Vorarlberg side were also strong defensively, conceding just 34 goals.
In the end, EHC had 53 points to their name and finished 14 points ahead of local rivals Hohenems in second place. In the playoff quarter-finals, Lustenau defeated ATSE Graz 2:0 thanks to a 7:2 home win and a 4:1 away victory. They also completed a "sweep" in the semi-finals against HC Kufstein – following a 4:1 win at home, they claimed an emphatic 8:0 victory away in Tyrol.
Kapfenberg had to work considerably harder in the East Division regular season to finish top of the table. After two defeats at the start of the season, the Styrians recorded twelve consecutive wins, but table-topping Sharks Gmunden could not be dislodged from first place for a long time.
It was only with a convincing 7:1 home win in the direct showdown with the Upper Austrians in the final round that the Kängurus finally secured first place, which they had claimed for the first time that season on 9 January. Overall, the Mürztal side recorded 15 wins in the regular season, suffered five defeats and finished the regular season on 45 points, three ahead of Gmunden.
Kapfenberg were the strongest attacking team in the East, scoring 84 goals, while conceding 49. Their 1:2 home defeat after a penalty shootout in the opening quarter-final game against EHC Kundl served as a wake-up call for Kapfenberg. A convincing 6:0 away win in Tyrol and a hard-fought 5:2 home victory in the decisive game saw the Mürztal side progress to the semi-finals.
There, Kapfenberger Sportvereinigung gained revenge for last season's quarter-final exit with a "sweep" against SC Hohenems. Their comeback in the home game was spectacular, having trailed 0:3 and 1:4 in the final minutes, before Kapfenberg prevailed 5:4 in the penalty shootout. Away from home, the Styrians gave their opponents little chance and celebrated a 7:3 victory.
Dániel Fekete, Head Coach of EHC Lustenau is relying on a thorough analysis of their final opponents: "In Kufstein, we played straightforward, purposeful ice hockey and deservedly progressed to this final series. Kapfenberg now come to the Rheinhalle, an opponent we have never faced in our previous two years in this league. We are looking forward to the task ahead and will do everything we can to bring the championship title to Lustenau. But before then, at least two games still await us, in which we have to show our best side. Kapfenberg have many experienced players who are also aiming for the title. We will study our opponents as closely as possible in order to be perfectly prepared on Saturday!"
Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler knows that a top defensive performance will be required against the attack-minded Vorarlberg side: "Lustenau, the regular-season leaders, are certainly the big favourites awaiting us. We were close behind them in second place. I think it will be a very attractive series. Naturally, we have to make sure that everyone is 100 per cent ready. Lustenau are a very dangerous team offensively. That means we really have to be solid and compact defensively, and ready as well. This weekend, we are heading back towards Vorarlberg, and we hope that we can get an early advantage there. That would of course be important and nice for our home game, where we would then like to see a really full arena. The important thing now is the first away game, and we will make sure that we get off to a top-prepared start!"
Ö Eishockey Liga 2025/2026 – Playoffs – Final
Game 1:
EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 07 March 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau – >> to the livestream
Game 2:
KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., 14 March 2026, 18:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> to the livestream
Game 3 (if necessary):
EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 21 March 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> to the livestream
Ö Eishockey Liga 2025/2026 - Play-offs - Semi-finals
Game 2:
HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 0:8 (0:2,0:6,0:0)
Sat., 28 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
EHC Lustenau scorers: Dominic Haberl (01:11), Christopher D’Alvise (08:30, 34:00, 36:14/PP1), Martin Grabher Meier (27:24, 29:19/PP1), Robin Wüstner (29:54), Lucas Haberl (37:37/PP1)
Final score in the best-of-three series: 0:2
SC Hohenems vs. KSV Kängurus 3:7 (0:4,2:2,1:1)
Sat., 28 February 2026, 18:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Eric Ockert (21:43), Patrick Spannring (35:43/PP1), Ricards Purins (49:13)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Neal Unterluggauer (03:18), Florian Hoppl (06:55), Kevin Moderer (07:43), Lukas Draschkowitz (19:28/PP2), Pierre Graf (32:00), Manuel Trost (32:25), Luca Fasching (58:58/EN)
Final score in the best-of-three series: 0:2
Game 1:
EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 4:1 (0:1,3:0,1:0)
Sat, 21 February 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Christopher D’Alvise (24:41, 33:10), Adem Kandemir (26:45), Riku Tiainen (49:57)
HC Kufstein scorer: Christian Pittl (15:16)
KSV Kängurus vs. SC Hohenems 5:4 after penalties (0:2,1:1,3:1,0:0,1:0)
Sat, 21 February 2026, 18:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Manuel Trost (34:01), Lukas Draschkowitz (54:01/PP2), Pierre Graf (57:34), Neal Unterluggauer (58:34), Florian Hoppl (65:00/decisive penalty)
SC Hohenems scorers: Patrick Spannring (02:22), Fabian Mandlburger (12:21), Eric Ockert (30:21, 50:29)
Ö Eishockey Liga 2025/2026 - Playoffs - Quarter-finals
Game 3:
KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl 5:2 (1:1,2:1,2:0)
Wed, 18 February 2026, 18:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Pierre Graf (11:16/PP2, 23:23/PP1), Luca Fasching (37:08), Lukas Telsnig (53:58)
EHC Kundl scorers: Maximilian Mackner (08:12), Lukas Thaler (31:16/PP1)
Final score in the best-of-three series: 2:1
SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 6:1 (2:0,2:1,2:0)
Wed, 18 February 2026, 19:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Ricards Purins (00:54, 10:29/PP1, 25:27/PP2, 36:40), Dominik Hron (48:32), Sandro Schadl (55:50/SH1/EN)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Xaver Emslander (30:13)
Final score in the Best-of-Three series: 2:1
Game 2:
ATSE Graz vs. EHC Lustenau 1:4 (0:1,0:0,1:3)
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz goalscorer: Filip Matijević (43:49)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Lucas Haberl (02:14), Martin Grabher Meier (40:38), Robin Wüstner (47:51), Christopher D’Alvise (58:58/SH1/EN)
Final score in the Best-of-Three series: 0:2
EHC Kundl vs. KSV Kängurus 0:6 (0:3,0:3,0:0)
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Kevin Moderer (09:19), Pierre Graf (10:24/PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (13:26, 28:30), Stefan Trost (33:10), Phileas Lyssy (38:18/PP1)
HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 4:3 n.P. (2:2,0:0,1:1,0:0,1:0)
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Stefan Reiter (12:30, 41:22), Aleksi Airaksinen (19:31), Clemens Paulweber (65:00/decisive penalty)
Goalscorers Sharks Gmunden: Moritz Neurauter (at 02:24), 09:53 Hubert Berger (at 09:53), Jonas Kail (at 52:57/PP1)
Final score in the best-of-three series: 2:0
Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:2 (1:1,1:0,1:1)
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt
Goalscorers Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Patrick Bolterle (at 17:05), Rupert Fichtinger (at 29:11/PP1), Richard Gruber (at 45:21)
Goalscorers SC Hohenems: Christian Haidinger (at 02:55), Marcel Wolf (at 57:51/PP1)
Game 1:
EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz 7:2 (2:0,2:0,3:2)
Sat, 07 February 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goalscorers EHC Lustenau: Christopher D‘Alvise (at 12:22, 32:25, 50:14), David Slivnik (at 12:53), Daniel Stefan (at 33:42), Manuel Metzler (at 52:50/PP1), Ricardo Bell (at 59:14)
Goalscorers ATSE Graz: Cody Wickstrom (at 43:42), Mathias Werkl (at 47:46)
KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl 1:2 n.P. (1:0,0:0,0:1,0:0,0:1)
Sat, 07 February 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Goalscorer KSV Kängurus: Lukas Telsnig (at 17:58/PP1)
Goalscorers EHC Kundl: Sebastian Schild (at 51:48), Michal Kluka (at 65:00/decisive penalty)
UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein 3:4 n.V. (2:1,0:1,1:1,0:1)
Sat., 07 February 2026, 18:30 pm, muki Arena
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Lukas Stöttner (03:40), Fabian Richter (19:36), Paul Pirklbauer (50:51/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Markus Prock (06:24/PP1, 44:00/PP1), Clemens Paulweber (35:01/SH1, 60:50)
SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 5:1 (1:0,2:1,2:0)
Sat., 07 February 2026, 17:30 pm, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Marcel Wolf (03:52), Patrick Spannring (20:23, 57:36/EN), Christian Haidinger (34:57), Benjamin Kyllönen (52:15)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer: Lukas Kaider (23:02)
Play-off format
The play-off match-ups, from the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, are each decided in a Best-of-Three series (H/A/H). The teams that are first to record two wins advance to the semi-finals. If the score is tied after regulation time, as in the regular season, a five-minute three-on-three overtime is played. Should overtime also fail to produce a winner, a penalty shootout follows. In the semi-finals, the highest-ranked quarter-final winner after Phase 1 plays the lowest-ranked quarter-final winner after Phase 1. The semi-final winners play each other in the final.
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