Kapfen­berg and Sharks Gmunden battle for first place – Wattens and Kundl in a long-distance playoff duel

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Fri, 16 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

For the fourth time this season, league leaders KSV Kängurus face defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden, it is the third direct meeting within twelve days. In the first encounter, the Sharks won 3:0 at Lake Traun at the beginning of October; at the beginning of January, the two dominant teams from the East faced off in the Kapfenberg Stadthalle in front of almost 1.000 fans in a highly entertaining ice hockey game that offered a preview of the playoffs with plenty of pace, numerous scoring chances and excitement.

In the end, the Mürztal side won 2:1 in overtime. Most recently, the Styrians celebrated a clear 5:1 win away from home in the Shark Tank on Saturday. After five consecutive defeats, the Upper Austrians returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 7:1 victory over HDK Maribor. After two defeats at the start of the season, Kapfenberg have won every subsequent game and now defend top spot in the East Division's absolute headline clash.

For Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler the aim is to defend top spot with his team: "Next weekend, we definitely have to try to build on Saturday's performance. It was an outstanding team performance in which every single player did their job. I think we saw clearly from the game the day before against ATSE, when we were not very consistent and made some individual mistakes and showed some indiscipline, what it means when we put those things aside and perform as a team. Then we can achieve results like we did on Saturday, and I think we are a very strong team then. Of course, we have to bring that onto the ice again next weekend. I am confident that if we can somehow reproduce that performance, we will get our points again next weekend. Defending our current league lead is naturally our objective. Of course, it will not be easy: we still have most of our games against Gmunden to play, as well as three games against WEV, and it will be very important that we win those match-ups if we want to stay near the top!"

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden calls for total commitment from his players on Friday and is hoping for revenge: "The home defeat against Kapfenberg was very bitter. KSV are a very experienced, clever team that we can only beat through fight and commitment. That is exactly what we need on Friday to hold our own!"

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Halle A)

The ATSE Graz face defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden for the fifth and final time in the East Division regular season on Saturday. The Upper Austrians lead the head-to-head series 3:1. The Sharks from Lake Traun won 4:2 in Liebenau in mid-October, followed by a 2:1 thriller in November, featuring a last-minute equaliser and an overtime win at the muki Arena.

On the public holiday at the start of December, the Sharks followed that up with a 4:0 victory. In the final game of the year at the end of December, the Styrians won for the first time, with the 4:3 result only decided in the penalty shootout after an exciting game. Graz most recently lost 4:6 to Kapfenberg, but challenged the Kängurus until the final whistle. Following the 1:5 defeat against the Kängurus, the Sharks were finally able to pick up three points again with their 7:1 win over Maribor.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch is expecting an exciting contest against the Sharks: "After the last game at home against Gmunden, the Sharks will be hungry for revenge. Nevertheless, we will try to improve our game once again in order to perhaps secure a win in regulation time. With a solid defence and quick transition play, we will try to bring Gmunden to their knees. If my team follows the game plan, it will certainly be an exciting game!"

Sharks head coach Gregor Baumgartner and his team enjoy games at the Liebenauer Bunker: "We lost the last meeting in Graz in overtime and are expecting another close game. Generally, it is fun to play in Graz and against a solid opponent. We are looking forward to the final regular-season meeting against them!"

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat., 17 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

For the third time this season, the KSV Kängurus and Wiener Eislauf-Verein will cross sticks on Saturday in the Division East. Two home games in Kapfenberg had to be postponed due to a technical fault at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg, which means the Mürztal side have an extremely home-heavy January.

The first meeting, which the Styrians won 3 in the Steffl Arena by 5:2, took place in mid-October. Kapfenberg won the second encounter away from home in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus by 3:2 in a penalty shoot-out at the end of December. Since that narrow defeat, the Viennese side have won three games in a row.

The two wins against reigning champions Gmunden in particular made an impression, with WEV now firmly in third place in the table. The Kängurus go into the weekend in first place, having moved there with two wins over ATSE Graz (6:4) and in the headline clash against Gmunden (5:1). With twelve consecutive wins, Kapfenberg are currently the benchmark in eastern ice hockey.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler wants to finish the regular season in first place with his team: "Defending our current lead in the table is, of course, our goal. Of course, it will not be easy; we still have the most games to play against Gmunden, as well as three games against WEV, and it will be very important that we win those match-ups too if we want to stay at the top!"

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is expecting an evenly matched contest between two teams currently in strong form: "The final stretch of the regular season will be quite intense, and Kapfenberg present us with a difficult challenge on Saturday. Like us, they have been in very good form in recent weeks. We will prepare well for the game this week and then give everything to take points home from Styria!"

Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., 17 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

For the fourth and final time on Saturday in the Division West, league leaders EHC Lustenau and current second-placed side HC Kufstein will face off, for the second time at Lustenau's Rheinhalle. The Lions, who have suffered just one defeat to Kundl in 17 games so far, can no longer be knocked off top spot before the playoffs.

Kufstein have worked their way up to second place with four consecutive wins, making this the marquee matchup of the round in the West. Vorarlberg won the first two meetings at the Kufstein Arena, 5:3 in mid-October and 6:3 at the end of November, with both games close and hard-fought. In the first matchup at the Rheinhalle, Lustenau also celebrated a narrow 4:2 victory before Christmas.

Lustenau head coach Dániel Fekete warns of the strong visitors from Kufstein: "HC Kufstein are difficult to play against because they favour a very physical style of ice hockey. We must be alert if we are to win this game as well. The Tyroleans have shown very good ice hockey in recent rounds and will do everything they can to inflict our first home defeat. However, our team is ready for this game and hopes for a large crowd to support the team!"

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner wants his Dragons to go all out against the league leaders: "We are looking forward to Saturday's top-of-the-table clash – for the first time this season, we can challenge the league leaders as their closest pursuers. We are determined to pick up points for two reasons: firstly, Lustenau are the only opponent we have not yet beaten this year. Secondly, we want to secure second place with the playoffs in mind!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., 17 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins welcome SC Samina Hohenems on Saturday in the Division West for a hotly anticipated clash between the open-air rivals. It is the fourth time the two clubs have met this season. In mid-October, the first game was a close affair for a long time, with the Steinböcke eventually prevailing narrowly, 5:4.

The away game at the Alpenstadion at the end of November was under the control of the Vorarlberg side from the outset, as they won 6:2. In the most recent meeting shortly before Christmas, the Penguins responded with a 5:3 away win, with Sandro Wille securing the three points for the Tyroleans with his empty-net goal just five seconds from the end. Wattens lost at home to Kufstein on Friday, but are locked in a battle with Kundl for the final playoff spot still up for grabs in the Ö Eishockey Liga this season.

Following their strong start to the season, things have not gone as smoothly for Hohenems since the public holiday at the start of December. They have managed just one win in six games, against Dornbirn. They suffered a heavy 2:10 defeat in the derby against Lustenau on Epiphany, while last weekend's scheduled home game against Kundl had to be postponed due to the weather.

Hohenems sporting director Matthias Fritz promises a response from his team following the derby defeat against Lustenau: "After the weather-related cancellation and an intense, productive week of training, it is now time to show a clear response to the derby defeat. The team has used the past few days to work with focus and draw the right conclusions. We are ready, we want to do better and show that on the ice from the very first minute!"

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger is focusing on avoiding mistakes and playing disciplined ice hockey for the full 60 minutes: "We must be ready from the first second and not sleep through the start again. Hohenems are an incredibly compact and dangerous team, and we can afford virtually no mistakes. We played really very good ice hockey in both games in Hohenems and now want to win at home for the first time on Saturday as well. The key will be to perform with great concentration again for the full 60 minutes and as a united team!"

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun., 18 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

Also for the fourth time this season, on Sunday in the Division West, Dornbirner EC Bulldogs and EHC Kundl and the sticks. In the first meeting in mid-October, the Tyroleans won 4:2; at the end of November, after two fiercely contested periods with Dornbirn in the lead, they followed up with a clear 10:5 away win at the Messestadion.

Shortly before Christmas, Kundl edged the Vorarlberg side 3:1 at home. The Bulldogs have long known that their season will end on 31 January with the match against HC Kufstein, with their chances of reaching the playoffs having long since gone. Kundl, meanwhile, remain firmly in contention for the final playoff spot in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

After their sensational home win over leaders Lustenau at the beginning of January, the Lower Inn Valley side lost the derby against direct rivals Wattens 4:5 and are now level on points with the Penguins in fifth place. Last Saturday's match against Hohenems had to be postponed due to the weather. 

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger is hoping for a strong final home game from his team: "We are still being affected by injuries and the flu wave. We hope that we will be able to ice more than three lines again by Saturday and will then try to leave Dornbirn with points against Kundl. We know we no longer have a chance of reaching the playoffs, but we will not give our opponents any points until the very end. Kundl have improved well over the course of the season. For us, it is already about next season. The players have the opportunity to make a case for themselves for next season, and we expect them to fight until the final second. It will be our last game in front of our home crowd and we want to give everything once more to secure a good finish at home!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer warns of the Bulldogs and explains that every match currently feels like a playoff game for his team: "We cannot afford any mistakes in the away game in Dornbirn if we want to make the playoffs. We can expect a fast and very intense game in which full concentration will be required from the first minute. Dornbirn started strongly against Lustenau, particularly in the opening phase, and we have to be prepared for that. The start to the game will be crucial; we need to be focused from the outset. In the current situation, every game feels like a playoff game for us, so the pressure is correspondingly high!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Fri, 16 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> Watch the livestream

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> Watch the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> Watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 17 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> Watch the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> Watch the livestream

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

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga got the new season under way with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 in the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In Division East, there will be a two-and-a-half-round home-and-away schedule next season, resulting in 20 games per team. In Division West, 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 see a play-off pick after the regular season, adding further excitement. The highest-placed team in each of Division West and Division East may choose 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 be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

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

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