Four derby high­lights to round off the regular season in the West and East Divi­sions

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. VEU Feldkirch
Fri., 02 February 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 03 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl are, ahead of Friday’s clash with VEU Feldkirch, the team of the moment – or rather, the team of the past few weeks – in the West Division. Since Jaroslav Betka took over as coach of the Unterinntal side, they have won seven of nine games – including two away victories at SC Hohenems and a derby win against HC Kufstein – with just two defeats.

Then, on the final weekend of the regular season, comes the Kufstein district derby – there could hardly be a better way to build up to the approaching playoffs.

HC KufsteinHC Kufstein host EHC Crocodiles Kundl on Saturday for the fifth derby of the season overall. The Dragons won three of the previous four local encounters, while the most recent meeting at the end of 2023 went to the Crocodiles by 7:4. Kufstein have declared “Mission 1.000” for this highlight, with the aim of reaching this magic attendance figure at Eisarena Kufstein for the first time this season.

Roland Luchner – Chairman of the Board at HC Kufstein – has planned a great supporting programme with his team and done everything possible to reach the 1.000-fan mark at the district derby: “We are really looking forward to the final derby of this season’s regular campaign. We want to go all out once again to round things off. With ‘Mission 1.000’, we want to thank the fans for their tremendous support throughout the regular season. We have come close to breaking the 1.000 mark a few times this year, and Saturday is when it should happen. Together with our matchday partner ‘Monitorwerbung’, we have come up with a cool supporting programme. It starts at 16:30 with a small pre-game party outside the stadium, featuring a live DJ and drinks. We have another DJ performance on the ice planned during the first intermission, while in the second intermission, the puck toss offers the chance to win a voucher for a day with a sports car from Peakmotors. So a visit is definitely worthwhile.”

Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier wants his team to extend their winning run: “The final and fifth derby brings another highlight, which we naturally want to win. That would reduce the derby record to 2:3 and restore the pecking order to some extent. That requires top preparation – and we will get that the day before against Feldkirch – three points are factored in!”

SC Samina Hohenems vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat., 03 February 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

On Saturday, it is derby time at Herrenriedstadion between SC Samina Hohenems and VEU Feldkirch are set to face off. The game is a rescheduled fixture from the first round of the Ö-Eishockey-Liga. I

n last season, then league newcomers VEU Feldkirch proved to be a major derby bogey team for Hohenems in the first two meetings of the season; in the current campaign, the Steinböcke have come through unscathed in all four games and won every derby in regulation time.

The skating club has long since secured top spot in the group, meaning the Vorarlberg side will have the right to pick their quarter-final opponent at the weekend and can choose between the team in third or fourth place in Division East.

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha is expecting a derby with a play-off feel: "In the final game of the regular season, we naturally want to get into play-off mode and will try to give the game against VEU that character. We may also try out one or two variations to be prepared for every eventuality!"

Dornbirner EC vs. HC Kufstein
Sun, 04 February 2024, 17:30, Messestadion

On Sunday, Dornbirner EC face HC Kufstein in the very last regular-season game of the Ö Eishockey Liga. For the young Bulldogs, it is also their final chance to finally get on the board in the third tier.

Most recently, the Vorarlberg side again delivered a good first period against EHC Crocodiles Kundl and even led 1:0 after 20 minutes. The Tyroleans then turned the game around. It became exciting again towards the end, but experience prevailed in a 4:2 win. The Dragons have won the previous meetings three times quite convincingly; only in the last encounter on Epiphany did Kufstein struggle before eventually winning 5:3.

Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 03 February 2024, 18:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein face UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden, who were eliminated from the play-off race following last weekend's defeat at ATSE Graz.

Vienna suffered a 3:7 home defeat to EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus, but secured a play-off berth thanks to ATSE's help.

Head Coach Mario Kubeczka's team still have a chance of finishing third in their long-distance battle with Graz, but if they win the Open Air classic, they will also need the Styrians to slip up in the derby against the Dukes. The head-to-head record is even, with both teams winning their respective home game in the "back-to-back" at the beginning of December.

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden, is already looking ahead after missing out on the play-offs: "Unfortunately, we did not make the play-offs this year, but we want to end the season on a positive note in Vienna on Saturday. Our objective has always been, and remains, to improve step by step, and this game serves that purpose too."

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 03 February 2024, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

What more could an ice hockey heart want? Before the play-offs – also known among ice hockey fans as the fifth season – begin in the Ö Eishockey Liga, it is derby time. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions host Division East group winners Kapfenberger SV for the third Upper Styrian dance of the season.

The Kangaroos won the first meeting convincingly, 10:1, in a show of strength from the players from the Böhler town. In the second derby, the Murtal Lions pushed Kapfenberg all the way until half-time and even led 3:2, but in the end, Kristof Reinthaler's player-coach team prevailed 8:4.

Christian Mayerl – chairman of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions – sees the clash with Kapfenberg as the ideal test ahead of the upcoming play-offs: "It was difficult to travel to Vienna with our short bench. Live commentator Michi Berger said it was a ‘makeshift team’, but we showed what is possible with confidence, determination and good organisation. Now there is one more game against Kapfenberg on the horizon. The best test before the play-offs. We will have to go absolutely to our limits to be able to compete. That is what we are now preparing for. We simply want to build on our recent performances and prepare for the fifth season that way!"

For Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler the high-stakes local derby is also a great test before the first play-off round: "The derby is the final test for both teams ahead of the play-offs; there is nothing left at stake in the table for either team. With Hohenems' defeat (note: 1:3 against Kundl), we have also secured home advantage in the play-offs all the way to the final. Accordingly, the match should be a good test for both teams. Of course, we are making sure all players are fit and healthy so that we can get going and attack as soon as the first play-off round starts, so it will be a very good, fast game. I think both teams will also try out a few things and fine-tune or improve things. At the same time, I think both teams already have their eyes on the play-offs!"

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 03 February 2024, 20:45, Graz Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

For UHT Dukes Graz the Ö Eishockey Liga season is over after the regular season. Before that, however, Saturday brings the high-stakes city derby against ATSE Graz, who finally clinched a play-off berth with a win over Sharks Gmunden last weekend.

At least within Graz, the Dukes are number one when it comes to the head-to-head local derby. Both previous games – one ending 5:2, the other 5:1 – went to the team coached by player-coach Jurica Bednjanec.

For ATSE head coach Markus Losch that is reason enough to go full throttle once again in Saturday's final game of the regular season before the playoffs begin: "Following the last derby defeat against the Dukes, the team is eager to make amends. As the first game against the Dukes was also lost, the team is highly motivated to take the three points against the Dukes. Since we can secure third place under our own steam, Saturday's game will certainly be a great test ahead of the playoffs. We will train hard once more over the coming days to prepare well for the final regular-season game and the playoffs."

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. VEU Feldkirch
Fri, 02 February 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

SC Samina Hohenems vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat, 03 February 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat, 03 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Dornbirner EC vs. HC Kufstein
Sun, 04 February 2024, 17:30, Messestadion

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 03 February 2024, 18:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 03 February 2024, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 03 February 2024, 20:45, Graz Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

Ö Eishockey Liga 2023/2024 playoff participants:

East Division: Kapfenberger SV, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, ATSE Graz, Wiener Eislauf-Verein

West Division:SC Samina Hohenems, HC Kufstein, EHC Crocodiles Kundl, VEU Feldkirch

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