Intense start to the year with two high­lights: Lustenau derby against Hohenems – Kapfen­berg vs. Gmunden

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau
Fri, 02 January 2026, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

The EHC Kundl and EHC Lustenau will usher in the new year in the West Division as early as Friday. The Tyroleans and the Vorarlberg league leaders face each other for the fourth and final time in the regular season. Lustenau won 3:1 in the season opener at the beginning of October, before the Lions followed that up with a 5:1 win in Kundl at the beginning of November.

In mid-December, Kundl, with a line-up of just ten skaters, pushed Lustenau all the way on the road before ultimately having to accept a narrow 4:5 defeat. While the Vorarlberg side have long since qualified for the quarter-finals, an important double-header awaits the Tyroleans: on the public holiday, they face Wattens directly in the race for the final playoff spot.

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer knows how to challenge Lustenau at the start of the year: "New year, new luck. Playing well alone is not enough in this league. In Lustenau, we also face an opponent who is still unbeaten. We need to give more than 100 per cent, finally convert our chances into something tangible, and be ice-cold, consistent and error-free at the back!"

Dániel Fekete, Head Coach of EHC Lustenau, knows how to break down Kundl away from home: "We expect a defensively minded team again for the fourth game, one that will once more rely on Jakub Kostelny, a goalkeeper in excellent form. We need to try to break down the Tyrolean fortress as quickly as possible and take an early lead. Then they, too, will have to play offensively. That should create one or two opportunities for us to score further goals and leave the ice as winners in Kundl as well!"

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 03 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

On Saturday, SC Samina Hohenems face HC Kufstein for the fourth and final time in the West Division regular season. The Vorarlberg side hold a 2:1 edge in the head-to-head record. The Steinböcke celebrated a narrow 3:2 away win in Kufstein in the season opener at the beginning of October, before the Schlittschuhclub prevailed 4:2 at home at the beginning of November. In mid-December, the Dragons won a real home thriller 7:4.

For both teams, the coming weeks are primarily about fine-tuning for the playoffs. Hohenems have already secured their place in the Ö Eishockey Liga knockout stage since last weekend, while Kufstein’s final qualification for the playoffs, with a current twelve-point lead over Wattens, is only a matter of time.

Hohenems sporting director Matthias Fritz explains that his team must enter the game focused in order to compete with the in-form Dragons: "Kufstein come to us with plenty of confidence after their derby win against Kundl and are currently in good form. That makes it all the more important for us to step up a gear compared to our recent performances. Important points are at stake in the battle for second place, and we cannot afford to drop any points on home ice. The focus is therefore clear: start intensely, play our game and show our strength at home!"

Kufstein sporting director Willi Lanz is optimistic ahead of the away game in the Ländle: "The team has delivered very good performances recently, and we will try to build on that away in Hohenems on Saturday. For us, it is about consolidating the stability and structure of our game. If we manage that at the weekend, I am confident that we can also take points from the team in second place!"

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

Also for the fourth and final time this season, the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs and the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins will cross sticks on Sunday in the West Division. The Tyroleans lead the head-to-head series 2:1. Dornbirn, who currently have only a theoretical chance of a play-off place with three points in the race, won the opening game at the start of October 4:3.

In mid-November, the Lower Inn Valley side won 6:3 against the Bulldogs in their open-air home debut. The game in mid-December was fiercely contested, with the Penguins prevailing 6:4 at home. After a poor start to the season, Wattens had put themselves back in the hunt for a play-off place with three consecutive wins – including away victories in Kundl and Hohenems. The upcoming double-header will be crucial in that respect, as the direct clash with EHC Kundl follows on the public holiday.

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger sees the clash with Dornbirn as having a play-off feel: "We have made up the ice deficit, and the recent results clearly show that we are now performing. We found it very difficult against Dornbirn at home last time, we know that – and we should have put the game to bed early. That makes us even more focused going into this game. We absolutely want to win because we need the points in the play-off race. This game clearly has a play-off feel, we are fired up and superbly prepared!"

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue, 06 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

For the third time this season, division leaders EHC Lustenau and SC Samina Hohenems will meet in the prestigious major Vorarlberg derby on Tuesday in the West Division. It is completely open who will have reason to celebrate in the top-of-the-table clash on Epiphany: both previous local derbies have been exciting and fiercely contested. At the end of October, the Steinböcke recovered from a 0:2 deficit in front of almost 1.500 fans at the Rheinhalle, but the Löwen ultimately won 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out.

At the start of December, Lustenau were defensively strong away at Herrenried in front of another 1.500 fans and celebrated a 2:0 victory. While the hosts want to extend their strong run of 14 wins, Hohenems are looking to find their play-off form. The skating club had gone slightly off track with three consecutive defeats in December, only returning to winning ways in the derby against Dornbirn.

For the third meeting, too, Lustenau head coach Dániel Fekete expects a fiercely contested game: "We expect Hohenems to do everything they can to inflict our first defeat of the season and make the battle for top spot exciting again. However, we are well prepared and looking forward to this derby. Our aim is to impose ourselves on the game. The spectators can look forward to a high-quality ice hockey game full of tension and emotion. We will give everything to celebrate another home win!"

Hohenems sporting director Matthias Fritz wants his team to leave everything on the ice in the derby in order to take points off the Lions: "The Epiphany derby in Lustenau will be a huge challenge. The opposition remain unbeaten and are among the strongest teams in the league for good reason. Nevertheless, we are not going there just to make up the numbers. We will give everything, stand united as a team and do all we can to cause an upset!"

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Tue, 06 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Also for the third time this season, the HC Kufstein and the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs will battle for points in the Division West on Tuesday. At the beginning of November, the Dragons left no doubt in a 5:0 away win at the Messestadion. Kufstein were also commanding in their second away game in the Ländle, winning 5:1.

While qualification for the playoffs is now merely a formality for the Tyroleans, who are third in the standings, the quarter-finals will probably take place without the Bulldogs. Although the team from Vorarlberg still have a slim mathematical chance, they are bottom of the table with just three points.

Kufstein sporting director Willi Lanz warns his team not to take the game against the Bulldogs lightly: "On paper, the starting position for the home game in Kufstein on Epiphany looks promising for us. Our focus will therefore certainly be on our own performance and implementing our system and tactics on the ice. It will be important not to be tempted by a look at the table to take the game lightly. The playoffs are approaching rapidly and, with that in mind, we are focusing on improving our game from one match to the next. Nevertheless, we naturally want to take the full points at home against Dornbirn!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl
Tue, 06 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

Tuesday's Lower Inn Valley derby in the Division West between the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and EHC Kundl promises to be highly exciting. The third head-to-head meeting could provide an early indication in the battle for the final playoff place, or make the contest even tighter.

The two sides are level after their first two meetings: on World Savings Day, Kundl were free-scoring and, after two fiercely contested periods, EHC swept aside the Penguins 7:0 in the final period to win 9:1. At the beginning of December, Wattens celebrated an impressive 7:4 away win, launching their fightback in the battle for a playoff place.

Most recently, the Penguins put up a strong fight at home against table-toppers Lustenau and lost only 1:3. Kundl battled HC Kufstein in the district derby and had to accept a narrow 2.3 defeat.

Fabian Hechenberger, head coach of the Penguins, knows that an enormously important game awaits his team on the holiday: "The match against Kundl is also about enormously important points for us. Kundl are a direct playoff rival, so this game is correspondingly significant. Our development is heading in the right direction, our confidence is there and we know what is at stake. We will prepare specifically for our opponents and play with the necessary intensity. Games like this are fun and determine the further course of the season – that is exactly what we are prepared for. Our objective is clear: we want to win this game too!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer and his team know how important this game on Epiphany is: "It is always difficult away in Wattens, and the Wattens side know how to make the most of that home advantage. Pure Winter Classic feeling. Wattens have found their feet in the league better and better from game to game and have clearly shown in recent matches that they are absolutely playoff-ready, most recently with their away win in Hohenems. We are prepared for Wattens and know exactly what is at stake. A game like the one at home against Wattens will not happen to us a second time!"

Eastern Division:

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 03 January 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

The ATSE Graz will begin the new year in the Eastern Division on Saturday at the Liebenauer Bunker against Wiener Eislauf-Verein. The two traditional clubs will meet for the fourth time this season, with all previous games having been close affairs: in mid-October, the Styrians celebrated a 3:1 home win. At the end of November, Graz prevailed 3:2 in a shootout at Vienna's Heumarkt. Shortly before Christmas, Vienna won 3:2 in front of the Konzerthaus.

The match is a battle for third place in the table. WEV are currently one point ahead of Graz, but have also played three fewer games. Ice hockey star Rafael Rotter made his comeback and Ö Eishockey Liga debut for Vienna in last Saturday's narrow 2:3 shootout defeat to Kapfenberg. ATSE go into the clash with the team from the federal capital buoyed by their 4:3 shootout win over leaders Gmunden.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch is expecting an exciting game: "After the good results from the last two games, we want to take maximum points from the next two as well. On Saturday against WEV, I am again expecting an exciting, fast game. WEV are also highly motivated, as the game is about third place in the table. We will try to play on the attack again in order to score the goals at the right moments!"

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is hoping for a good start to the year: "We have another two difficult games ahead of us. We want to start the new year well. I hope that my ill players return and that we can go all out again away in Graz and then at home against Gmunden on the public holiday!"

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 03 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The KSV Kängurus will start the new year with two home games this weekend. On Saturday, the Mürztal side face HDK Maribor, followed on Sunday by the big clash against league leaders Sharks Gmunden. Kapfenberg have won all three previous meetings against the Slovenian Foxes.

In mid-October, the Kängurus won 3:2 on home ice, before Kapfenberg prevailed 5:4 in the Drava city at the end of November. Shortly before Christmas, the Kängurus won 4:2 at Ledna dvorana Maribor thanks to a strong middle period. A win would allow the Kängurus to draw level with leaders Sharks Gmunden in the table ahead of Sunday's big clash.

Maribor recently had to cancel and postpone their game against the Sharks because too few players were available for the line-up due to injuries and illness. A new date will follow.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler and his team are already eager for the home-game series: "Naturally, we are really keen to be able to play in front of our own fans, in our own arena. The decisive phase has now begun for us, and we came through the difficult period we had with the ice rink quite well. We were also able to get on the scoresheet away in Vienna before the end of the year and still win the game. Maribor are dangerous opponents; they are very strong on the counter-attack. That means that, especially in the first game of the new year after a short break, we have to be ready. Under no circumstances must we think it will be easy now just because we are playing at home; we first have to earn that. The game against Maribor is a good one for that. On 2 January, we have another training session in which we can discuss the final details and get ourselves in the mood to play after the New Year celebrations. Everyone will celebrate the new year accordingly; it is a time to spend with family and friends, and that is fine. We must not sleep through the game against Maribor; we have to start the new year fully alert!"

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The headline clash of the long ice hockey weekend in the Division Ost takes place on Sunday at Stadthalle Kapfenberg, when the KSV Kängurus challenge league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden for top spot. So far, the two dominant teams in the East have met just once, with the Sharks from Lake Traun winning 3:0 at the muki Arena in the season opener at the beginning of October.

The defending champions then celebrated eight consecutive wins. Most recently, the Upper Austrians have lost their way slightly: three days before Christmas, the Sharks, who are otherwise very strong at home, suffered a 0:4 defeat to WEV, followed by a narrow 3:4 shootout loss away to ATSE Graz after Christmas.

After two defeats at the start of the season, Kapfenberg embarked on a run of eight consecutive wins. Not even a three-week enforced break due to a technical fault at the Kapfenberg ice rink could stop the 2024 champions. Most recently, they claimed a narrow 3:2 penalty-shootout win at WEV.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler and his team want to avenge their defeat at Lake Traun: "And then, the very next day, comes the top game in our division. We want to overtake Gmunden and, quite clearly, that requires a win. We expect the Sharks to field a top-strength team against us again, but that is how it should be. We played quite well in the first game against the Sharks, which we played away from home; we just lacked finishing, which meant we ultimately lost a fairly clear 0:3. But I am confident that we are now ready to score the important goals and also be disciplined at the back so that we do not concede any silly goals. I hope we can field a full team as well, but around Christmas you never know who might pick up an illness, where or when. Of course, I hope that will not be the case for us and that we can get fully underway!"

Sharks Gmunden head coach Gregor Baumgartner is looking forward to the challenge and the series against the Kängurus: "Over the next few weeks, we have four games against Kapfenberg and should show our best game. Kapfenberg have a superbly experienced team that is particularly dangerous offensively!"

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz
Tue, 06 January 2026, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

After their game against Kapfenberg on the public holiday, HDK Maribor take on ATSE Graz in the Styrian derby between the twin cities. Ahead of the weekend, the Slovenians trail Graz by 13 points in the standings, and the playoff train has all but left the station for the Foxes in a difficult second year. Theoretically, the Drava city side still have a chance, but they would need a winning streak which is not realistic given the course of the season so far.

Graz lead 2:1 in the three league meetings so far this season. At the end of October, Hokejsko Drsalni Klub edged a narrow 2:1 win at home, after which tempers flared and penalties rained down. The second meeting went to ATSE by 3:1. Shortly before Christmas, Eggenberg celebrated a thumping 10:1 victory, with numerous penalty minutes once again handed out in a heated game despite the clear result.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch knows how difficult away games in Maribor are: "After the penalty-filled game against Maribor in Graz, the game in Maribor on Epiphany will certainly be a very intense one. It is always difficult to play in Slovenia because the Foxes can make clear use of their home advantage. However, we will remain true to our approach and try to play quickly going forward in order to put the Slovenian goalkeeper under pressure. If we can score again, there should be nothing standing in the way of a win!"

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Tue., 06 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein welcome the UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden to the atmospheric WEV Arena at Heumarkt, in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus, for their fourth meeting of the season on Epiphany.

At the end of October, the reigning champions from Upper Austria celebrated a narrow 2:1 win at the Steffl Arena 3. The match at Lake Traun at the end of November was also fiercely contested, with the Sharks only sealing the 3:1 victory eight seconds from time through an empty-net goal by Ian Motil. Three days before Christmas Eve, Vienna made a real statement with a clear 4:0 away win in Gmunden.

Last Saturday, Vienna suffered a 2:3 shootout defeat to Kapfenberg in ice hockey star Rafael Rotter's ÖEL debut. The defending champions, who had been so dominant with nine consecutive wins until their defeat against WEV, suffered a 3:4 shootout loss at ATSE Graz after Christmas.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is hoping for a good start to the year: "Two difficult games await us once again. We want to start the new year well, and I hope that my ill players return and that we can go all out again away in Graz and then at home against Gmunden on the public holiday!"

Gregor Baumgartner, head coach of the Sharks Gmunden, wants his team to make amends for the home defeat against Vienna in the outdoor spectacle: "We are looking forward to the game at Heumarkt, although WEV are a strong opponent and it will certainly be a very intense game. The defeat at home was bitter and we definitely want to prepare better for WEV!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau
Fri., 02 January 2026, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl - >> to the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., 03 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> to the livestream

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sun., 04 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the livestream

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue., 06 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> watch the livestream

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Tue, 06 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> watch the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl
Tue, 06 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga – EAST Division:

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 03 January 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> watch the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 03 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> watch the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> watch the livestream

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz
Tue, 06 January 2026, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor >> watch the livestream

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Tue, 06 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt - >> watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season on 4 October 2025 with the opening matchday. In its fifth year, the format will change in Phase 1 for 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. As in the previous season, the West Division will play two home-and-away rounds, also resulting in 20 games per team.

Following Phase 1, an inter-regional playoff will once again be held, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, a playoff pick after the regular season will also provide additional excitement. The highest-ranked team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose 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 playoff match-ups will each be decided in a 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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