HC Kufstein face SC Hohenems – Kapfen­berg visit reigning cham­pions Sharks Gmunden

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 4 October 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

As in the previous season, Saturday's major opening blockbuster in the West Division is HC Kufstein against SC Samina Hohenems in the atmospheric Eisarena at Fischergries, directly beside the River Inn. Both teams enter the new season with high ambitions.

The hosts had to overcome a bitter disappointment in mid-February, when they exited in the play-off quarter-finals at home to eventual champions Gmunden despite a 4:0 first-leg win, but under Head Coach Andreas Luchner, they are once again looking to mount a serious challenge with a strong squad and several good new signings – above all former ÖEHV U20 goaltender Thomas Pfarrmaier.

Roland Luchner, Chairman of the Board at HC Kufstein, knows that his team still has a small score to settle from last season: "We want to make amends for the opening defeat (2:6, editor's note) last season. Preparation has gone well, so I am confident that we will start the new campaign with a win."

Having finished runners-up three times in a row, the team from Vorarlberg naturally enter the coming season as one of the leading title favourites. The new coaching duo of Martin Mallinger, who will be behind the bench as Head Coach this year, and his assistant coach Julian Grafschafter are expected to bring fresh momentum to the Steinböcke. With strong performances, Hohenems aim once again to be one of the ÖEL's crowd-pullers at Herrenriedstadion, with the Vorarlberg derbies in particular set to be absolute ice hockey highlights in the Ländle once more.

Hohenems' Head Coach Martin Mallinger rates the Dragons highly for the new season, but is also confident in his own team: "Kufstein are definitely considered one of the favourites this year, and we know that a very strong opponent awaits us. Having a difficult away game in Kufstein right at the start of the season is certainly no easy task. But we feel equal to the challenge and are looking forward to an exciting game this weekend!"

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Kundl
Sat, 4 October 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

The EHC Lustenau begin their second Ö Eishockey Liga season on Saturday at the Rheinhalle against EHC Kundl. Last season, the Lions dominated the regular season in the West, were the league's most prolific scorers with 123 goals and, over the course of 20 games, developed into outright championship favourites thanks in part to their simultaneously strong defence. However, their campaign came to a surprise end in the semi-finals against eventual champions Sharks Gmunden.

Lustenau Head Coach Dániel Fekete, who already coached the team last season, is looking forward to the opening: "All the players are eager for the first game, when there will finally be points at stake again. Of course, we want to have a major say in the league and the title race this year too!"

Everything is new at EHC Kundl, which aims to move towards a successful future with a new board under new chairman Stefan Rainer. The club unveiled a new logo in new colours and bid farewell to its nickname, "Crocodiles". On the sporting side, the Tyroleans want to build long-term around a team of young local players supplemented by a few experienced campaigners under head coach Jaroslav Betka.

The core of the team has been retained, with several new signings also set to provide even greater depth in the squad. Last season, Kundl finished fourth in the regular season before being eliminated by WEV in the playoff quarter-finals.

Kundl's new chairman Stefan Rainer wants to give the team time and sees Lustenau as the favourites: "We will certainly be capable of one or two surprises in the league. Our main priority is to continue developing our young talents; that does not happen overnight, it takes time. Our aim is to steadily develop ice hockey in Kundl, including from a regional perspective. For me, Lustenau are one of the top favourites for the title, but I know that our players will give everything. They are hungry, strong skaters, quick and will fight until the final second!"

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sun., 5 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion

To conclude the first full matchday in the Ö Eishockey Liga, Dornbirner EC Bulldogs will face the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. Both teams' seasons ended after the regular season last year, with both missing out on the playoffs, and they have made several adjustments to their rosters ahead of the new campaign.

The Bulldogs, with Carinthia-born Jörg Kopeinig taking over as their new head coach, produced a strong performance in the 5:7 friendly defeat to local rivals SC Hohenems and are hoping to pick up points in their first game. Youth development remains a major priority in Dornbirn, with the squad strengthened by young players as well as experienced campaigners.

Bulldogs chairman Christof Schwendinger is hoping for a good start and more points in the new season: "We worked hard on ourselves all summer to gain an edge in terms of fitness and strength. We are young and wild, and we want to make our mark with our new coach Jörg Kopeinig. The Bulldogs have been on the ice since mid-August, and we hope this will give us a slight advantage over Wattens. The deck has been reshuffled, and Wattens have also strengthened well and have plenty of experience in their ranks. After the first round, it will be easier to assess the opponents. It is clear that we are underdogs again, but we still want to earn more points this season and challenge our opponents until the final second!"

The Penguins, who will play their first five games away from home and celebrate their home opener at Alpenstadion against opening opponents Dornbirn on 8 November, begin the new season with new head coach Fabian Hechenberger. Wattens sports club has extensively reshaped its squad, with around half of the players set to pull on the yellow-and-black jersey for the first time. After missing out on the playoffs in their comeback season, the clear target is the quarter-finals. According to the Penguins, anything else would be a bonus.

Penguins head coach Fabian Hechenberger defines the objective for the first game in the Ländle: "Dornbirn bring a young, well-drilled team, while we are fully focused on our own game. Our preparation was short but intense – we are on the right track and are pursuing our game plan with complete conviction. A new phase is beginning in Wattens with many new faces; there is no time, but we have the necessary patience and mentality. Our objective is clear: we want to start the season with a win this weekend."

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 4 October 2025, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden

The reigning champions and title holders of the Ö Eishockey Liga, UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden will face KSV Kängurus.

For the Upper Austrians, winning the ÖEL title in mid-March following their sensational playoff run was the biggest success to date in the club's long and proud history. Ice hockey has officially been played in Gmunden since 1929. With the title behind them, the club officials around chairman Günter Kail want to continue developing ice hockey in the Salzkammergut over the long term, including through strong youth development work.

Gmunden's championship-winning coach Gregor Baumgartner explains that the season as title holders will not be easy: "We had good preparation, but we know that this year will be considerably more difficult for us. No opponent will underestimate us any more, which means we have to be fully focused in every game and find our Sharks mentality again. Our strengths are rolling four lines and our willingness to always put in a great effort as a team!"

The Styrians suffered a surprising 1:2 overtime defeat at home to ATSE Graz in last Friday's rescheduled opening derby and are eager to make amends against the Sharks. Dominant in the first period, the Mürztal side ran somewhat out of steam as the game progressed, and ATSE ruthlessly took advantage to create an exciting situation in the East from the very first game.

Kris Reinthaler, head coach and player-coach of the Kängurus, knows where improvements need to be made after the narrow opening defeat against ATSE: "The game against ATSE showed us that we need to become more efficient. We have to become smarter, and our discipline also needs to improve. We have already made a difficult path and a difficult start to the season for ourselves. Reigning champions Gmunden are a very tough opponent for us. We have to see what sort of line-up we can take to Gmunden. But of course, we have to get going immediately and change a few things in training, or even train a little harder and with a little more intensity, so that we can grow as a team over the course of the season and ultimately win such close games."

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 4 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

Like Lustenau in the West, HDK Maribor begin their second ÖEL season on Saturday at Ledna dvorana Maribor against Wiener Eislauf-Verein. The Slovenians reached the playoffs in their first season last year, but were eliminated by the Vorarlberg side in the quarter-finals. Now, after a year of learning, they want to take the next step in terms of their play and collect more points. With a slightly younger squad and a more attacking, modern style of play, the Foxes want to excite the fans in the stands.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič approaches the opening home game against the Viennese with confidence: "We expect a hard and fast game. From last year, we know that WEV are a good team with four lines and can play at a high tempo for 60 minutes. Our aim will be to remain tactically disciplined in defence and avoid individual mistakes. If we play smartly in defence and take our chances, we have a chance of winning!"

Last season, WEV finished first after the regular season for the first time, then reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual runners-up Hohenems. The capital side want to build on that good season this year, with the main focus again on a solid defence, while head coach Philipp Ullrich wants to see even more creativity in attack. The squad has been strengthened with several quality new signings, laying the foundations for the aim of progressing as far as possible.

Philipp Ullrich, head coach of WEV, sees a compact defence as the key to success when opening the season in the Slovenian city on the Drava: "We are pleased that it is finally getting under way again. An away game in Maribor is immediately a very difficult fixture. If we play solidly in defence as a team, we certainly have a good chance of taking points home with us."

ATSE GrazATSE Graz have a bye this weekend and will face reigning champions Sharks Gmunden at home in the big game on 11 October.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., 4 October 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> to the RED+ livestream

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Kundl
Sat., 4 October 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> to the RED+ livestream

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sun., 5 October 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the RED+ livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga – East Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 4 October 2025, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden - >> to the RED+ livestream

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat., 4 October 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor - >> to the RED+ livestream

ATSE Graz have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga gets the new season under way 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 two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds, 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.

Following phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, a play-off pick after the regular season will once again provide additional excitement. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions 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 each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

Ö Eishockey Liga – entry list 2025/2026

EAST DIVISION | 5 teams

ATSE Graz

HDK Maribor

Kapfenberger SV

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Wiener Eislauf-Verein

DIVISION WEST | 6 teams

Dornbirner Eishockeyclub Bulldogs

EHC Lustenau

EHC Crocodiles Kundl

HC Kufstein

SC Samina Hohenems

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

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

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