Hohenems over­come Wattens Penguins in shoot-out thriller – Kapfen­berg and Sharks Gmunden victo­rious

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins welcomed SC Samina Hohenems on Saturday in the West Division for a heated clash between their fellow open-air sides. After exactly 63 seconds, the Steinböcke led 1:0, of all people former Wattens player Ricards Purins sweeping the puck over the line from close range for the lead (2nd minute). A little more than two minutes later, the Penguins hit back as Dominic Riedl converted a cross-ice pass to level the score at 1:1 (4th minute).

The opening minutes remained turbulent: Erik Ockert restored Hohenems’ lead at 2:1 with a superb long-range shot from the left (8th minute). Once again, it did not take Wattens long to respond: Daniel Frischmann drove into the slot and levelled for the home side at 2:2 (9th minute). Both teams then settled down, with both goaltenders – Isaac Schönthaler for the Penguins and Karlo Škec for Hohenems – keeping out any further goals until the first siren.

Neither side gave an inch for a long time in the second period, and the match remained tightly contested. With five and a half minutes left in the period, Patrick Spannring initiated a quick counter-attack, played a one-two with Benjamin Kyllönen and scored from the slot to put SC Hohenems 3:2 ahead (35th minute). Wattens battled their way back into the game in the final period, with David Schwarzer levelling at 3:3 from close range (45th minute).

Once again, the Tyroleans were unable to enjoy the equaliser for long, as Ricards Purins again pounced on a rebound to make it 4:3 (48th minute). The hosts refused to be shaken off and levelled for the fourth time that evening just moments later: Luca Muigg fired home to make it 4:4 (49th minute). Neither team could find a winner in regulation time, and the contest went to overtime before eventually being decided in a shoot-out.

Ricards Purins and Patrick Spannring scored for the Steinböcke in the shoot-out to secure the extra point for the Vorarlberg side with a 5:4 victory. The Penguins claimed an important point in their long-distance battle with Kundl for the final play-off spot.

EHC Lustenau celebrate fourth win in four meetings against HC Kufstein

For the fourth and final time in the West Division on Saturday, league leaders EHC Lustenau and current second-placed side HC Kufstein faced off, for the second time at Lustenau’s Rheinhalle. Both teams failed to make use of their first power play. Jonas Kutzer then took matters into his own hands at his own blue line, carried the puck down the right in front of the Kufstein net and converted his own rebound with a backhand to give the hosts a 1:0 lead (9th minute).

The Dragons quickly found the right response: following a fine combination, Florian Eder fired from the slot to make it 1:1 (12th minute). The Tyroleans added another, with Patrick Hager surprising Lustenau goaltender Lukas Reihs with a long-range shot from the left to make it 2:1 just a minute and a half later (13th minute). Tempers flared for the first time towards the end of the period, as Lustenau player Dominic Haberl and HCK forward Valentin Hammerle exchanged a few words.

Little changed in the second period, with both teams engaged in an intense battle and the approaching play-offs already somewhat palpable at the Rheinhalle. The Lions equalised early on: Lucas Haberl deflected a Felix Zipperle shot to make it 2:2 (22th minute).

Just 54 seconds later, the visitors were back in front, Tomáš Vildumetz scoring from the slot to make it 3:2 (23rd minute). Shortly afterwards, the hosts used a power play to equalise again, Riku Tiainen hammering a one-timer from the right face-off circle into the near corner to make it 3:3 (26th minute). This time, Lustenau followed up, with Manuel Metzler scoring from the slot to make it 4:3 and give them their first lead (29th minute). The match remained a fiercely contested thriller heading into the final period.

When Adem Kandemir deflected a Felix Zipperle shot to make it 5:3, the league leaders had a two-goal advantage for the first time (46th minute). Following a fine attack, Manuel Metzler produced a superb wrist shot to make it 6:3 and effectively settle the contest (51st minute). In a game featuring numerous penalties, Stefan Reiter pulled one back for Kufstein with a fine shot from the right face-off circle to make it 4:6 with a minute and a half remaining (59th minute), but Lustenau ultimately celebrated their fourth win in four meetings.

East Division:

Sharks Gmunden celebrate convincing win at ATSE Graz

The ATSE Graz battled defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden for the fifth and final time in the Division East regular season on Saturday. Both teams played with attacking intent from the outset, with attacks and scoring chances at both ends as well as intense battles. The game provided a small preview of the ÖEL playoffs, which are due to begin soon.

The Sharks from the Traunsee used their first power-play opportunity in unconventional fashion: following a quick attack, Bastian Szieber gave Gmunden a 1:0 lead with a precise shot (10.). Just 43 seconds later, the defending champions extended their lead to 2:0 as Paul Pirklbauer beat ATSE netminder Artur Striedinger with a fine deke and sent the puck over the line (11.). Shortly before the first intermission, the Sharks struck again on the power play: Hubert Berger made it 3:0 from close range 45 seconds before the first buzzer (20.).

Graz got on the scoresheet early in the second period: Tobias Fellner pulled one back to make it 1:3 for ATSE from close range (23.). The game continued to be characterised by intense battles for every inch of ice. Following a quick attack, Bastian Szieber fired from the right face-off circle and found the far corner to make it 4:1 for the reigning champions (35.).

In the final period, the Styrians were unable to turn the game around; on the contrary, the Sharks controlled the game and extended their lead to 5:1 through Elias Koller, who scored from his knees following a quick attack (51.). The visitors had not yet satisfied their appetite for goals, with Nicolai Obojes making it 6:1 on the power play from the right face-off circle (58.), which also proved to be the final score. Gmunden remain level on points with league leaders Kapfenberg but have played two more games than the Kängurus.

KSV Kängurus give WEV no chance

For the third time this season, KSV Kängurus and Wiener Eislauf-Verein met in Division East on Saturday. Both teams were evenly matched in the opening minutes, engaging in a balanced battle and producing energetic challenges. WEV took the lead when Rupert Fichtinger collected the puck on the volley after it rebounded off the boards from a shot and scored to make it 1:0 (13.).

The Kängurus equalised shortly afterwards: following a face-off win by his brother Manuel on the right, Stefan Trost hammered a one-timer into the net to make it 1:1 (16.).

There was a hint of playoff atmosphere in the Stadthalle Kapfenberg during the second period, as there was at all other ÖEL venues on Saturday evening. Neither side gave an inch, allowing their opponents little space or time, while two strong goaltenders faced each other in Kapfenberg's Oliver Zirngast and WEV's Moritz Merkader. Shortly after the halfway mark, Lukas Winkler shot from the slot and Phileas Lyssy, positioned in front of the net, deflected it to make it 2:1 for Kapfenberg (32.).

The Mürztal side pressed on and extended their lead to two goals before the end of the second period: following a power-play face-off win on the left, Stefan Trost scored on his second attempt from the slot with a superb shot to make it 3:1 (38.).

In the final period, the league leaders picked up where they had left off in the middle frame: after 42 seconds, Michael Malle scored with a beautiful wraparound to make it 4:1 (41.). WEV could not respond, and Kapfenberg extended their lead. Kevin Moderer made it 5:1 on a 5:3 power play (53.) as they went on to celebrate a comfortable victory after all.

Sharks Gmunden win in overtime after KSV comeback bid

League leaders KSV Kängurus faced defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden for the fourth time this season in Division East on Friday, in their third head-to-head meeting within twelve days.

Both teams made a fast start to the showdown, with the visitors taking the lead: after Gmunden had failed to score on their first power play, Moritz Neurauter scored from the slot on his second attempt to make it 1:0 for the Sharks, having initiated the sequence himself with a shot (8.). Kapfenberg continued to maintain the tempo but were also unable to score on their first power play, while the Sharks from the Traunsee remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Moritz Neurauter capitalised on one such counter-attack, winning possession in the neutral zone before skating into the offensive zone and scoring from the right face-off circle to make it 2:0 (18.)

The game continued at a fast pace from both teams in the second period. KSV netminder Felix Nußbacher made two outstanding saves on a double chance for the Upper Austrians to preserve the 3:0 scoreline. Shortly afterwards, the Styrians reduced the deficit to 1:2, with Manuel Trost scoring from the slot after a brilliant save by Sharks goalie Tobias Windhofer and the rebound (26 min.). The hosts were unable to enjoy the goal for long: just 61 seconds later, Bastian Szieber fired home for 3:1 following a counter-attack and a pass from Paul Pirklbauer (27 min.).

The visitors remained extremely dangerous on the counter-attack and extended their lead to three goals two seconds after the halfway mark: Dominik Stöttner set up Fabian Richter with an ideal cross-ice pass, and he scored from close range for 4:1 (31 min.). The Sharks were very tenacious in the middle period and struck again from the next counter-attack: Moritz Neurauter surprised goalie Nußbacher with a shot shortly after entering the attacking zone to make it 5:1 (34 min.). Two minutes later, the Kangaroos regained hope: Lukas Telsnig unleashed a rocket from the blue line to score for 2:5 (36 min.).

At the start of the final period, the Sharks came through a difficult phase of two consecutive penalty kills. The pace remained relentless, with the Mürztal side now forced to play even more offensively. Gmunden kept their defensive zone under control. Kapfenberg closed the gap on the power play, as Lukas Draschkowitz converted the rebound with his backhand to make it 3:5 and set up an exciting finish (54 min.).

Shortly before the end, the Kangaroos pulled their goalie, and Manuel Trost steered the puck over the line with his backhand to make it 4:5, setting up a thrilling final phase (59 min.). Kapfenberg kept pressing and did indeed equalise: Kevin Moderer worked the puck over the line 54 seconds before the end for 5:5 (60 min.). The top-of-the-table clash went to overtime, where Moritz Neurauter put on the afterburners from his own zone, scored the 6:5 winner after a wonderful solo effort and capped his outstanding display with his fourth goal (62 min.).

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 6:4 (1:2,3:1,2:1)
Sat., 17 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Jonas Kutzer (08:56 min.), Lucas Haberl (21:41 min.), Riku Tiainen (25:58 min./PP1), Manuel Metzler (28:31 min., 50:47 min.), Adem Kandemir (45:43 min.)
HC Kufstein scorers: Florian Eder (11:08 min.), Patrick Hager (12:29 min.), Tomáš Vildumetz (22:35 min.), Stefan Reiter (58:32 min.)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems 4:5 after shoot-out (2:2,0:1,2:1,0:0,0:1)
Sat., 17 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins scorers: Dominic Riedl (03:18 min.), Daniel Frischmann (08:47 min.), David Schwarzer (44:39 min.), Luca Muigg (48:54 min.)
SC Hohenems scorers: Ricards Purins (01:03 min., 47:09 min., 65:00 min./decisive penalty), Eric Ockert (07:20 min.), Patrick Spannring (34:23 min.)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun., 18 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 1:6 (0:3,1:1,0:2)
Sat., 17 January 2026, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz scorer: Tobias Fellner (22:27 min.)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Bastian Szieber (09:29 min./PP1, 34:35 min.), Paul Pirklbauer (10:12 min.), Hubert Berger (19:15 min./PP1), Elias Koller (49:58 min.), Nicolai Obojes (57:04 min./PP1)

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 5:1 (1:1,2:0,2:0)
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Stefan Trost (15:22 min., 37:48 min./PP1), Phileas Lyssy (31:06 min.), Michael Malle (40:42 min.), Kevin Moderer (52:04 min./PP2)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer: Rupert Fichtinger (12:41 min.)

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 5:6 AET (0:2,2:3,3:0,0:1)
Fri, 16 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Manuel Trost (25:51 min., 58:14 min.), Lukas Telsnig (35:17 min.), Lukas Draschkowitz (53:45 min./PP1), Kevin Moderer (59:06 min.)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Moritz Neurauter (07:10 min., 17:35 min., 33:16 min., 61:56 min.), Bastian Szieber (26:52 min.), Fabian Richter (30:02 min.)

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. 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, likewise resulting in 20 games per team.

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

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

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