HC Kufstein chal­lenge league leaders EHC Lustenau – Sharks Gmunden face WEV

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Thu, 27 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kufstein

The HC Kufstein play their rescheduled Division West game against the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins as early as Thursday. The clash, originally scheduled for 25 October, had to be cancelled at the time due to an ammonia leak at Eisarena Kufstein.

The two clubs now meet for the first time this season in the Lower Inn Valley derby. With a win, the Dragons could open up an early gap over the Penguins in the race for the play-off places. Wattens are fighting for important points to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner knows how important the rescheduled game against the Penguins is: "Our run of home games got off to a good start last Saturday with the shoot-out win against Kundl, but now the games are coming thick and fast. The rescheduled game against Wattens on Thursday is a great opportunity for us to establish ourselves in the top four with a win and open up a bit of a gap. After that, we have to take it one game at a time!"

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger wants his team to be rewarded for their hard work over the past two weeks: "The team showed a completely different side in the last game; character, commitment and team spirit were clearly visible – we can build on that. We have worked and trained extremely hard over the past two weeks. Despite the tight squad situation and several absences, we will be ready and want to claim our first away win in Kufstein. Every single player must and will take on even more responsibility!"

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 29 November 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein

Immediately after the rescheduled game against Wattens, Eisarena Kufstein hosts its next Division West blockbuster on Saturday: HC Kufstein – now third in the table after the shoot-out win in the derby against Kundl – challenge the hitherto dominant league leaders EHC Lustenau.

The Vorarlberg side won the only previous meeting this season 5:3 away from home in the fortress town in mid-October. The match was a real thriller: the Dragons turned a 0:2 deficit into a 3:2 lead. However, the Lions secured a narrow win with a stunning late surge of three goals in the final three and a half minutes.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner hopes for plenty of fans at both games and for points against the leaders as well: "Saturday's home game against league leaders Lustenau will certainly be a completely different challenge. Everything really has to come together for us if we are to take points from it. However, the team has taken a huge step forward over the last few rounds. We are therefore looking very positively at the two games this week and hope that as many fans as against Kundl will come to the Kufstein Arena."

Dániel Fekete, head coach of EHC Lustenau, is hoping for another points haul in Tyrol: "Games in Kufstein are usually fiercely contested. This makes it all the more important that we impose our game on our opponents. In attack, we need to turn the opportunities that come our way into goals and deliver a solid defensive performance. The team is well prepared for the task ahead and I hope to return to the Ländle with more points!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 29 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins welcome SC Samina Hohenems to the Alpenstadion on Saturday for a clash between the open-air clubs, following their rescheduled Division West game against Kufstein. In their first meeting in mid-October, the Penguins led twice at the Herrenried-Stadion but ultimately had to accept a narrow 4:5 defeat against the Steinböcke. Now the Tyroleans, who have celebrated only one win against Dornbirn this season, are looking to gain revenge on home ice.

Penguins head coach Fabian Hechenberger is confident ahead of the home game against the Vorarlberg side: "For the home game against Hohenems, we want to show our fans what we are really capable of. We know that Hohenems are a top opponent, but at home we have the energy and support to deliver a strong performance on the ice. We are ready to give everything!"

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun, 30 November 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

On Sunday, the Dornbirner Bulldogs conclude the Division West round at the Messestadion against EHC Kundl. In their only meeting of the season so far in mid-October, the Bulldogs pushed the Tyroleans all the way on the road, taking an early 1:0 lead and pulling one back when trailing 1:3, before Kundl secured a narrow 4:2 win with a late power-play goal.

The Unterinntal side could take a major step towards the play-offs with an away win in Dornbirn; they currently hold a six-point lead in the standings. Conversely, three points after 60 minutes would reopen the race for a quarter-final place for the Bulldogs.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger is demanding the familiar Bulldogs virtues following the clear derby defeat against Hohenems: "After the disappointing double-header against Hohenems, we now need to get back on track. Our strengths will once again be clearly called for in the upcoming game against Kundl. We need to bring our pace back into the game and fight for every puck. But we are absolutely ready to do everything to finally pick up points against Kundl again!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is not expecting an easy task against Dornbirn: "In our last two games, we played very fast and good ice hockey and were largely able to impose our game on our opponents. Nevertheless, we left important points on the table because we were too careless on the counter-attack and not clinical enough with our chances. In those two games, we essentially beat ourselves. An away game in the Ländle against the Bulldogs certainly will not be an easier evening. It will be a high-speed game in which we have to be fully switched on from the very first second, focused, uncompromising and ruthless in converting our chances!"

Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat., 29 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena, Gmunden

League leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden face Wiener Eislauf-Verein in the Division East at the muki Arena on Saturday. Following their narrow 1:2 home defeat to the defending champions at Steffl Arena Hall 3 at the end of October, the Viennese side will be looking for revenge.

The Sharks from Lake Traun have been in very strong form so far, winning all six games – one of them against ATSE Graz in overtime after a late equaliser half a minute before the end of regulation. WEV have yet to truly find their rhythm, most recently suffering a 2:3 home defeat against ATSE after a penalty shoot-out.

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden, and his team are expecting an extremely intense game against the capital city side: "We are delighted to be able to get back into action after the break in play. WEV are always a major challenge for us because we have very similar playing styles. We expect a highly intense game in which I expect my team to show great commitment in the battles!"

WEV Head Coach Philipp Ullrich is demanding an energetic performance from his team, with a focus on discipline: "The game in Gmunden will be another tough test for us. My team needs to gradually realise that we have to change gear and play much more energetically and with greater discipline. Otherwise, it will be a short season for us."

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., 29 November 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

On Saturday, ATSE Graz welcome HDK Maribor in the Division East for the Styrian derby between partner cities. Their first meeting nearly a month ago was an emotionally charged thriller, with the Foxes claiming a narrow 2:1 home win. At the final siren, punches were thrown following the exciting and nerve-racking contest at Ledna dvorana Maribor. There were 191 penalty minutes in total at the end of the game.

After eight games, Graz have eight points – already more than they managed throughout the entire 2024/2025 season (7) – and could pull clearly away from the Slovenians with a full victory after 60 minutes. The third-placed side currently hold a five-point lead over the bottom team.

Markus Losch, Head Coach of ATSE Graz, is looking for his team to avenge the narrow away defeat: "Following the win in Vienna, we are approaching Saturday's game in Graz against Maribor positively. The Foxes' results have all been very close, but we are highly motivated to gain revenge for the defeat in Maribor. If we follow our game plan and score the goals, we will leave the ice as winners on Saturday. We are again expecting a very physically intense game and will of course rise to the fight against Maribor!"

Maribor Head Coach Jure Verlič knows where his team need to improve: "We have often come close in recent games, but have lost them all by just one goal. I think we have shown that we can compete with every team. Normally, we come unstuck because of our own mistakes. We have to work hard to score goals, but we constantly give the opposition the chance to score easily. We need to play more responsibly if we want to win!"

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Thu, 27 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kufstein

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 29 November 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein – >> to the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 29 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens – >> to the livestream

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun, 30 November 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn – >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 29 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena, Gmunden – >> to the livestream

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 29 November 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) – >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began its new season on 4 October 2025 with the opening matchday. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 in the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In Division East, the coming season will feature two and a half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. In Division West, 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 a cross-regional play-off, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, too, a play-off pick after the regular season will provide additional excitement. The highest-placed team in each of Division West and Division East 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 the coming season onwards.

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

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