Flaw­less! SC Hohenems cele­brate their fourth win in four games against EHC Kundl

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

The visitors also tested Kundl goaltender Jakub Kostelny several times. With 28 seconds remaining in the period, the home side took the lead with a superb goal: Alexander Frandl sent a magnificent long pass to new signing Michal Kluka, who fired the puck from the left face-off circle into the top-right corner for 1:0 (at 20.).

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

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

In the final period, the Vorarlberg side allowed Kundl to come forward and patiently waited for their chances. Michael Novak pounced on one of them to make it 4:2 (at 48.), having set it up himself with a clever pass through his own legs. Things heated up in the closing stages: Kundl took a risk, pulled goaltender Kostelny, and Maximilian Agerer scored from the blue line to pull one back at 3:4 (at 59.).

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

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau
Sun., 26 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion

Dornbirner EC BulldogsDornbirner EC Bulldogs face their next major district derby showdown in the West Division on National Day, when league leaders EHC Lustenau visit the Messestadion. The Bulldogs had started the season with a 4:3 home win over Wattens before suffering a 1:5 defeat in the derby against Hohenems. Most recently, Dornbirn put up a strong fight away to EHC Kundl, took the lead and fought back after falling 1:3 behind, before the Tyroleans prevailed 4:2.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger wants his team to trouble the West Division leaders in the derby: "With Lustenau, the league leaders are coming to Dornbirn. Lustenau have made a flawless start to the season so far and have yet to drop a point. We want to play our game at home and try to trouble the Lions and put them under pressure. We are using this week to prepare as well as possible for favourites Lustenau!"

Lustenau sit top of the table with nine points after three rounds. Following two comfortable home wins over Kundl (3:1) and Wattens (5:1), the Lions won 5:3 in Kufstein on Saturday in an emotional game and after a rollercoaster of ice hockey emotions, having led 2:0 and trailed 2:3 before producing a late sprint in the final minutes. This time, the journey will be convenient for the Lustenau players, as the two ice rinks are only around five kilometres apart.

Dániel Fekete, Head Coach of EHC Lustenau, praises the Bulldogs' development and demands maximum focus from his team in the derby: "Unlike last year, the Bulldogs have strengthened in various positions. In addition, the young Dornbirn players now have another season's experience and have been able to adapt to the pace of the league. I am certain that Dornbirn will perform better this season than they did last season. In any case, we will not do Dornbirn the favour of underestimating them. I expect a focused performance from our team right from the start. We need to turn the opportunities that come our way into goals and must not allow the Bulldogs into the game!"

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins – postponed

Saturday's match between HC Kufstein and WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins had to be postponed due to an ammonia leak at the Eisarena Kufstein. A new date will follow.

Eastern Division:

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz
Sat., 25 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

The HDK Maribor face ATSE Graz in the Styrian derby at the Ledna dvorana Maribor on Saturday in the Eastern Division. It is also a match-up between partner cities, with the capital of Štajerska and the Styrian provincial capital just over 75 kilometres apart by road. The Foxes recently gave Kapfenberg a real test away from home, leading 1:0 and overturning a 1:2 deficit in the final period, but ultimately had to settle for a narrow 2:3 defeat.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič wants his team to be more effective offensively, building on their solid defence: "We are looking forward to another game in front of our fans, who gave us so much energy in our last home game. We need to stay out of the penalty box and play quick, simple hockey. Our goaltenders and our defensive structure have been good; now we simply want to become more dangerous and apply more pressure offensively!"

Graz made a strong start to the new season. After a surprise 2:1 overtime win in Kapfenberg in their opener, the Eggenberg side gave reigning champions Sharks Gmunden a real test in their first home game, but ultimately suffered a 2:4 defeat. Most recently, Graz turned a 0:1 deficit into a 3:1 win at home against WEV. With five points and a game in hand, ATSE are now just two points behind league leaders Kapfenberg. Last year, Graz collected only seven points throughout the entire regular season.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch wants to build on the win over Vienna, but knows the strength of the Slovenians: "After the victory against WEV, we hope that the positive mood can be carried forward and maintained. For me, Maribor have been a surprise so far this season. All their results have been very close, and the team also seems to have become more consistent. Nevertheless, we are pursuing our goal of continuing to develop week by week and delivering another attractive game in Maribor. Then ATSE could secure their next win!"

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 25 October 2025, 19:30, Steffl Arena Hall 3

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein take on reigning champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden on Saturday in the Eastern Division at Steffl Arena Hall 3 in Vienna's Kagran district. Following the officially forfeited match against Maribor, the Viennese side are fighting for their first win on the ice. They most recently lost 1:3 to ATSE in Graz, while their first home game on 11 October ended in a 2:5 defeat to KSV Kängurus from the Mürztal valley.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is demanding greater responsibility from his players on the ice: "We will be clear underdogs in the game against the reigning champions from Gmunden. My team must try to play with more responsibility and maturity. That will be the only way to challenge Gmunden and give ourselves a chance of picking up points."

Defending champions Sharks Gmunden had made an extremely successful start to the season, with the Upper Austrians beating Kapfenberg 3:0 in their home opener at the beginning of October before the Sharks from Lake Traun followed that up with a 4:2 win after a closely contested match against ATSE in Graz. With two games in hand and six points, Gmunden sit just one point behind the Kängurus from Kapfenberg in second place in the Division East standings.

Gmunden head coach Gregor Baumgartner is heading to the Danube city with his team full of confidence after their good start to the season: "We are looking forward to an indoor clash with the Viennese. It will be hard work and victory can only come through our commitment. I am confident that we will deliver a good game!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

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 (at 19:32), Maximilian Agerer (at 32:52, 58:06)
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Patrick Spannring (at 32:16/PP1, 37:16/SH1), Marcel Wolf (at 33:29), Michael Novak (at 47:55), Benjamin Kyllönen (at 59:39/EN)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau
Sun, 26 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion - >> Watch live

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

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 25 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor - >> Watch live

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 25 October 2025, 19:30, Steffl Arena Halle 3 - >> Watch live

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 coming season, Division East will feature a two-and-a-half round-robin format, resulting in 20 games per team. As in the previous season, Division West will play two home-and-away rounds, likewise resulting in 20 games per team.

Following Phase 1, there will once again be an inter-regional play-off, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will once again provide additional excitement after the regular season in the coming campaign. The highest-ranked team in each of Division West and East may select its quarter-final opponent from the team placed third or fourth in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off match-ups will be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

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

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