Hohenems face leaders Kufstein in western block­buster – Graz city derby between Dukes and ATSE

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Fri., 08 December 2023, 19:00, Eisstadion Hohenems     

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 09 December 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The SC Samina Hohenems have a home double-header over the long weekend. On Friday, the Steinböcke face group leaders HC Kufstein in the absolute top game of the West Division at the Herrenriedstadion.

The match against EHC Crocodiles Kundl follows on Saturday. The Vorarlberg side are close on the Dragons’ heels in the standings, having won all their games as the only team in the West, but having played two games fewer than the current leaders.

The team led by Head Coach Ivo Novotny had lost both clashes against Hohenems, the first 2:4 on home ice. The second encounter was even more thrilling, with Hohenems only prevailing 5:4 in overtime after Kufstein had held a one-goal lead until 4:4.

Thomas Sticha, Head Coach of SC Hohenems: "It will be an intense weekend. I hope that we stay healthy and injury-free, and that we have good weather for training so that we can prepare well for this weekend. Kufstein, the leaders of our group, are coming to our arena. We know how evenly balanced the games have been so far and that small details are decisive in such close games. Games like these are always particularly enjoyable, and we will use our strengths in this game. I expect a fast and intense game."

Willi Lanz, sporting director of HC Kufstein, sees his team as highly motivated ahead of the trip to Vorarlberg: "Games against Hohenems are always something special. Unfortunately, we have come off second best twice so far this year. The defeat in Hohenems hurt particularly badly because we had good chances to decide the game in regulation time. We know Hohenems’ strengths and are well prepared accordingly. We will do everything we can to take points home from Vorarlberg this time."

The Vorarlberg side have declared ‘Ladies Nights’ for both Friday and Saturday’s game against Crocodiles Kundl, with free admission for women at both fixtures. Hohenems had won both previous meetings against Kundl. However, the Crocodiles have a new Head Coach behind the bench in Jaroslav Betka, who has brought a fresh sporting impetus to the Lower Inn Valley side.

Gerhard Maier, chairman of EHC Crocodiles Kundl, is hoping for a good performance against the Steinböcke: "We want to carry the momentum that has been noticeable since our coaching change with us and cause an upset in Vorarlberg with a good performance."

Hohenems Head Coach Thomas Sticha warns his team about the Crocodiles: "Kundl are a team that must not be underestimated under any circumstances. With Kundl, it depends on the form of individual players on the day. They are strong offensively and always try to get through the neutral zone quickly. They play a very physical game. This is nothing new for us, as we have already played them twice and know how to stand up to them."

Dornbirner EC vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sun, 10 December 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

Sunday sees the fourth Vorarlberg derby between Dornbirner EC and VEU Feldkirch. The Montfort city side have won three games so far this season – and all three victories have come, of all things, in the regional clashes against the young Bulldogs.

VEU won the first meeting in mid-October comfortably, 10:3. In the second encounter at the end of October, the Bulldogs sensationally led 3:0 away from home before Head Coach Lars Foder's team turned the game around and eventually left the ice with a 7:3 win. Feldkirch also won the third game against DEC, 7:3, and therefore head to the Messestadion in Dornbirn full of confidence.

For Head Coach Pavel Takač's young team, the aim in the upcoming games is finally to secure their first win in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Eastern Division:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Fri, 08 December 2023, 19:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Behind runaway league leaders Kapfenberg, things are close in the Eastern Division. Fifth-placed Wiener Eislauf-Verein, who face UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden in a rematch at the wonderful WEV Arena in front of Vienna's Konzerthaus on the public holiday, are just two points behind second-placed Zeltweg Murtal Lions.

The Viennese side, who want to make amends for their 2:5 away defeat against the Sharks, have come up with something special for Friday: ahead of the ÖEL evening highlight, EAC Women Capitals and IceCats will open a Christmas Open Air classic at Heumarkt from 16:00 in the 1st Women's Bundesliga – DEBL. A genuine ice hockey celebration with an Advent atmosphere is guaranteed.

WEV Head Coach Mario Kubeczka is frustrated by his side's three narrow defeats in a row: "We need to get back on track. We train very well, but in games we are unable to get the little things right. That has been particularly evident in the last three games. There is no point dwelling on it; we have to keep working hard and must not let up just because things are not going so well at the moment. We still have enough games ahead of us to secure a play-off spot. Friday against Gmunden is all about revenge! We will throw everything into winning this game!" The Viennese side are still waiting for their first home win, although the first two Open Air games against Zeltweg and Dukes Graz were genuine ice hockey spectacles.

Sharks Gmunden Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner still sees plenty of room for development in his team: "Fundamentally, we want to take further steps to improve. In recent weeks, we have repeatedly had good spells, but also spells in which we were unable to implement our game plan optimally. This coming weekend, against direct rivals for the play-off places, it is all the more important to play consistently and well throughout. At the WEV outdoor game, it will be important not to forget why we are there despite the cool setting!"

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion – Hall B

The UHT Dukes Graz and ATSE Graz will contest their second Graz city derby of the season in Liebenau on Saturday. Both teams are right in the thick of the exciting battle to reach the top four in the Division Ost – which would also mean qualifying for the playoff quarter-finals in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

The Dukes recently had to endure the enormous offensive firepower of league leaders Kapfenberg, with a 0:8 defeat on Friday followed by a 2:18 loss on Saturday.

However, the Dukes, who won the first derby "away" against ATSE by 5:2 in mid-November, have put the defeats against the Kangaroos behind them, as player-coach Jurica Bednjanec explains: "Matches against ATSE are always special for us, and we are also fighting for important points for the playoffs. After the tough double-header weekend against Kapfenberg, we are trying to prepare well this week for an intense game against ATSE. It will be crucial to be clinical in front of goal and to deliver a physical game. We have put the thrashings against KSV behind us and are ready for ATSE."

The Eggenberg side, who will play their postponed match against EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions on Thursday before the derby, are eager for revenge against their city rivals.

New Head Coach Markus Losch, who celebrated a 3:1 win against the Sharks Gmunden in his ATSE debut, expects an intense Graz derby: "After the last defeat against the Dukes, the team is highly motivated and eager for revenge. The Dukes will also be looking to make amends after their mediocre weekend in Kapfenberg. Therefore, I think it will be an intense game. If we can build pressure in the offensive zone again and move quickly from defence into attack, we will definitely be able to put our opponents under pressure. The work in front of goal will once again be crucial to scoring goals. If we manage that, we will leave the ice as winners."

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

One question remains open in the Division Ost: who can stop the leaders Kapfenberger SV? Ahead of Saturday's home game against Wiener Eislauf-Verein, the Kangaroos' impressive record to date reads: seven wins from seven games, 67 goals scored and ten conceded.

Equally impressive: all three home games so far have been won by double-digit margins, including the first meeting with the Viennese side on 11 November by 11:2.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler wants his team to play a more complete game: "We now only have home games until the end of the year, which is of course very pleasant for us. We would also be very happy if people came to support us in our own arena. It is a new game, a new opportunity for us to show very good ice hockey. We are working on making our game more complete, especially from front to back. Of course, it is sometimes a little difficult to improve defensively when you can do so much offensively. We are often too passive defensively; we need to get it into our heads that we have to be better in that respect. Otherwise, the motto is, of course, that we do not want to give up another point before the playoffs!"

That sounds like a "dangerous threat" to their opponents, with WEV the first team to visit Kapfenberg Stadthalle. Mario Kubeczka, Head Coach of WEV, wants to see a cohesive team performance from his side: "Against Kapfenberg, it is about delivering a solid performance over 60 minutes, and then we will see what is possible!"

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sun., 10 December 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

The EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions face the UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden in the final game of Sunday's matchday.

The Lions won the first meeting of the season 3:2 away from home in the Shark Tank on Lake Traun after a hard-fought, close battle. Most recently, the Murtal side pushed leaders Kapfenberg all the way until half-time, but ultimately had to accept a 4:8 defeat.

For Christian Mayerl, Chairman of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, the first of several crucial matches is now coming up. According to Mayerl, the Lions' objective is to defend second place in the table: "Following the weather-related cancellation of the trip to Graz, we naturally hope that we have maintained our rhythm and can play with real bite against the Sharks on Sunday. An unusual day, but the usual time, so it should work out. In these direct match-ups, it is now about being consistent and picking up solid points in every game in order to defend second place. Of course, a lot can happen this weekend – hopefully a lot of positive things for us!"

There are also plenty of points up for grabs for the Sharks Gmunden on their upcoming weekend road trip. Following the open-air highlight in Vienna on Friday, the Upper Austrians travel to Upper Styria on Sunday. Two pivotal games within 48 hours in the battle for a playoff spot.

Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner recalls the tight first meeting and wants to add to the points tally this time: "The last meeting against Zeltweg was very close, and this time we need to battle for the points."

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Fri., 08 December 2023, 19:00, Eisstadion Hohenems

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 09 December 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Dornbirner EC vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sun, 10 December 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

Ö Eishockey Liga - Eastern Division:

ATSE Graz vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Thu, 07 December 2023, 20:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Hall A - rescheduled game from 2 December 2023

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Fri, 08 December 2023, 19:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion – Hall B

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 09 December 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 10 December 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

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