Hohenems win over­time thriller against Kufstein – Kapfen­berg also unstop­pable for WEV

The absolute top clash in Division West took place at Eisstadion Hohenems, aka Herrenriedstadion. SC Samina Hohenems faced league leaders HC Kufstein. 

The Tyroleans made the better start in the wonderful open-air setting: Leevi Ahonen converted the very first power-play opportunity to give his side a 1:0 lead (7.). Both teams then engaged in an intense and exciting battle. 

Just under a minute before the end of the period, Thomas Auer equalised at 1:1 from close range (19.). Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period, and it was clear that the West's two top teams were facing each other. The play went back and forth, with Dragons netminder Thomas Hechenberger and Steinböcke goaltender Matthias Fritz taking centre stage. 

The visitors from Kufstein took the lead again. Martin Kosnar fired the puck into the net on the power play for 2:1 (35.). Head coach Thomas Sticha's team responded quickly, with Lukas Fritz equalising at 2:2 on the power play just two minutes later (37.). Shortly before the end of the period, the league leaders were back in front, as Martin Kosnar scored for 3:2 for HC Kufstein (39.).

In the final period, Lukas Fritz added his second goal and equalised early at 3:3 for the Vorarlberg side (42.). Three minutes later, Kufstein's Czech goal scorer Martin Kosnar fired away and beat goaltender Matthias Fritz (45.) for the third time. The game became more exciting by the minute, a real blockbuster contest. 

Hohenems had to raise the tempo and pressed for an equaliser. And the Schlittschuh-Club duly found it: veteran Martin Grabher Meier scored with a fine shot to make it 4:4 (54.). 

It was crunch time now, but no further goal was scored. The blockbuster went to overtime, where Martin Grabher Meier set up his teammate Niklas Gehringer perfectly, who sent Herrienried into raptures with the winning goal for 5:4 (62.).

Kundl win against VEU after trailing 0:4

VEU FeldkirchVEU Feldkirch hosted EHC Crocodiles Kundl, who, after their hard-fought 6:3 win against Dornbirn, had to take to the ice against a Vorarlberg club for the second time within 24 hours. 

The Montfort city side started strongly and took a 2:0 lead in the first period through quick-fire goals from Yannick Wiedner (10.) and Niclas Kostelac (11.) within 64 seconds. Lukas Göggel made it 3:0 for VEU (17.), who appeared to be on course for victory after the first period.

When Joonatan Kyllönen increased the Vorarlberg side's lead to 4:0 early in the second period (25.), nobody in the arena was thinking of an exciting remainder of the game. But the Crocodiles fought back – and how: just one minute later, Lukas Thaler sparked a remarkable comeback with the goal for 1:3 (26.). Maximilian Agerer (29.) made it 2:4, before André Flatscher (37.) pulled another goal back to make the game exciting again. 

In the final period, Daniel Frischmann did indeed equalise at 4:4 (47.), and the match was suddenly wide open again. Things got even worse for VEU: Erik Hefke made it 5:4 (54.), with the Crocodiles having now completed the turnaround. Maximilian Agerer sealed the win with 6:4 three minutes from the end, as Kundl celebrated their second victory within 24 hours.

Division East:

Kapfenberger SV sweep WEV off the ice

First versus second, Kapfenberger SV versus Wiener Eislauf-Verein was the marquee clash in the Division Ost. The Kangaroos are currently the benchmark in the Ö Eishockey Liga, both offensively and defensively.

The team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler went into the top clash with the Viennese with just 13 skaters, who took an early 1:0 lead through Marko Ilic (4 min.). The deficit spurred Kapfenberg on, with the Mürztal side raising the tempo. Top scorer Florian Hoppl levelled at 1:1 after exactly six minutes of play. 

Just under two minutes later, the Styrians used a two-man advantage to take the lead for the first time, with Patrick Huppmann making it 2:1 (8 min.). WEV responded in the ensuing minutes, with goalie Mathias Lichtenecker facing 25 shots in the first period.

Until shortly after the halfway point of the clash, the team coached by head coach Mario Kubecka held onto the narrow deficit, but Daniel Oberkofler's goal for 3:1 (31 min.) made the resistance increasingly difficult. The league leaders stepped up the pace despite their short line-up. Just one minute and 23 seconds later, Iacopo Granza made it 4:1 on the power play (32 min.). 

The players from the federal capital rallied once more, with Raphael Poisinger reducing the deficit to 2:4 (34 min.). After that, the Kapfenberg steam train rolled through the Stadthalle. Lukas Draschkowitz (36 min.) and Pierre Graf (38 min.) struck twice within 65 seconds to make it 6:2. Kapfenberg then also lost Kevin Moderer, who was sent for an early shower after an unnecessary check.

That did nothing to dampen Kapfenberg's joy of playing – quite the opposite. The Kangaroos did not let up and scored goal after goal. Florian Hoppl added the 7:2 while shorthanded (42 min.), followed by another quick double: Lukas Draschkowitz (46 min.) and Iacopo Granza (46 min.) made it 9:2 within just 17 seconds. 

Florian Hoppl completed his hat-trick to take Kapfenberg into double figures at 10:2 (49 min.). Pierre Graf added 11:2 to complete the scoring. The leaders celebrated their fourth win in four games and now boast an impressive goal difference of 33:4.

Murtal Lions celebrate win at Sharks Gmunden

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden hosted EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, who had to kill three penalties in the first period at the Shark Tank on Lake Traunsee. For a long time, both netminders, Nico Herzl for the Murtal Lions and Rudi Hummel for the Sharks, kept their respective nets clean. 

Shortly after the halfway point, the home side took the lead, with Bastian Szieber scoring the much-celebrated 1:0 for the Upper Austrians (33 min.). But the Styrians responded and equalised shortly before the end of the second period: Andreas Forcher made it 1:1 on the power play (39 min.).

At the start of the final period, the visitors from the Murtal had turned the game around: once again, it was Andreas Forcher who scored on the power play to make it 2:1, giving the Lions the lead for the first time that evening (42 min.). Just under six minutes from time, Marco Herzl put the Murtal Lions on course for victory with 3:1 (54 min.). In the end, the Sharks threw everything forward once more, but Gmunden's power-play goal to reduce the deficit to 2:3, scored by Jonas Kail 37 seconds from time, came too late (60 min.). EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions celebrated a narrow away win and moved into third place in the Division Ost standings.

Dukes win city derby against ATSE Graz

A Graz city derby is not exclusive to the ÖFB-Cup; two Graz clubs also battle to be number one in the Styrian capital in the Ö Eishockey Liga. ATSE Graz faced UHT Dukes Graz. The Dukes had yet to pick up a point this season, making the derby against their city rivals come at just the right time. 

The first goal came late in the opening period, with the hosts taking a 1:0 lead through Luca Rodiga (19 min.). Just 30 seconds later, it was 1:1, as David Kessler scored for the University team (19 min.).

The team coached by player-coach Jurica Bednjanec made a dream start to the second period: Sebastian Höffernig gave the “visitors” – the Dukes also play their home games in Hall B – a 2:1 lead (22 min.). Just after the halfway point of the game, Paul Kögl made it 3:1 (31 min.), before Noel Eschenberger gave UHT Dukes Graz a 4:1 lead two minutes later (33 min.). 

In the final period, Fabian Möth made the derby exciting again with the goal for 2:4 four minutes before the siren (57 min.). ATSE threw everything forward and pulled goaltender Florian Zeugswetter. Noel Eschenberger sealed it with an empty-netter for 5:2 40 seconds from time, as the Dukes celebrated their first win of the season in the derby of all games. 

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein 5:4 after overtime (1:1,1:2,2:1,1:0)

Sat, 11 November 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

SC Samina Hohenems scorers: Thomas Auer (18:51 min.), Lukas Fritz (36:50 min./PP1, 41:50 min.), Martin Grabher Meier (53:25 min.), Niklas Gehringer (61:01 min.)

HC Kufstein scorers: Leevi Ahonen (06:30 min./PP1), Martin Kosnar (34:43 min./PP1, 38:16 min., 44:49 min.)

VEU Feldkirch vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 4:6 (3:0,1:3,0:3)

Sat, 11 November 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

VEU Feldkirch scorers: Yannick Wiedner (09:14 min.), Niclas Kostelac (10:18 min.), Lukas Göggel (16:53 min.), Joonatan Kyllönen (24:21 min.)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Lukas Thaler (25:30 min.), Maximilian Agerer (28:59 min., 57:10 min.), André Flatscher (36:56 min.), Daniel Frischmann (46:59 min.), Erik Hefke (53:21 min.)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC 6:3 (2:2,2:1,2:0)

Fri, 10 November 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Vladimir Dolnik (09:44 min.), Simon Brandner (17:31 min.), Maximilian Agerer (23:13 min.), Johannes Schernthaner (31:13 min., 54:28 min./PP1, 58:01 min./SH2/EN)

Dornbirner EC scorers: Marten Hedwig (09:02 min.), Tiziano Butteri (13:24 min.), Konstantin Zerlauth (22:26 min.)

Dornbirner EC vs. VEU Feldkirch 3:7 (1:2,1:2,1:3)

Wed, 08 November 2023, 19:30, Messestadion

Dornbirner EC scorers: Jonas Kutzer (08:34 min./PP1), Konstantin Zerlauth (34:12 min.), Ricardo Bell (47:02 min./PP1) 

VEU Feldkirch scorers: Sven Vugrinec (04:42 min.), Yannick Wiedner (09:30 min., 51:46 min.), Lucas Loibnegger (20:21 min./PP1, 30:25 min./PP1), Dominik Hron (44:23 min., 54:17 min.)

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 2:3 (0:0,1:1,1:2)

Sat, 11 November 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Sharks Gmunden scorers: Bastian Szieber (32:57 min.), Jonas Kail (59:23/PP1)

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions scorers: Andreas Forcher (38:45 min./PP1, 41:45 min./PP1), Marco Herzl (53:42 min.)

ATSE Graz vs. UHT Dukes Graz 2:5 (1:1,0:3,1:1)

Sat, 11 November 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Hall B

ATSE Graz scorers: Luca Rodiga (18:08 min.), Fabian Möth (56:10 min.)

UHT Dukes Graz scorers: David Kessler (18:38 min.), Sebastian Höffernig (21:32 min.), Paul Kögl (30:55 min.), Noel Eschenberger (32:37 min., 59:20 min./EN)

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 11:2 (2:1,4:1,5:0)

Sat, 11 November 2023, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Kapfenberger SV scorers: Florian Hoppl (06:00 min., 41:45 min./SH1, 48:10 min.), Patrick Huppmann (07:56 min./PP2), Daniel Oberkofler (30:23 min.), Iacopo Granza (31:46 min./PP1, 45:19 min.), Lukas Draschkowitz (36:00 min., 45:02 min.), Pierre Graf (37:05 min., 58:40 min.)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Marko Ilic (03:30 min.), Raphael Poisinger (33:13 min.)

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

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