Kapfen­berg edge league-leading Sharks Gmunden in over­time thriller – Wattens beat Dorn­birn

The big showdown of the long ice hockey weekend in the East Division took place at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Sunday, with challengers KSV Kängurus faced the league leaders in front of nearly 1.000 fansUEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. The Upper Austrians made the better start: Marc-André Dorion sent Elias Koller through with a dream pass, and the forward gave KSV netminder Felix Nußbacher no chance to make it 1:0 (6nd minute).

The defending champions then failed to extend their lead on their first power play. Styria pressed for the equaliser in an intensely contested game, and it came shortly afterwards: Florian Hoppl fired the puck from the left face-off circle into the top-right corner to make it 1:1 (14 minutes). Both teams played with an open approach, with attacks and scoring chances at both ends.

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period. Both teams tried to move quickly through the neutral zone. The fans watched an entertaining showdown, with emotions gradually starting to rise as well. Sharks goaltender Tobias Windhofer increasingly became the centre of attention as the middle period went on, as the Kängurus really tested him, and he kept his net clean even during a penalty kill shortly after the midway point of the game.

The hosts had another power play. Neither team found the net again before the end of the second period, also because KSV netminder Felix Nußbacher was every bit the equal of his opposite number. The final period soon became crunch time, with the game long since having turned into a thriller with a playoff feel.

Both teams had the game-winning goal on their sticks, and Kapfenberg even had a power play four and a half minutes before the end. With no further goals scored, the game went to three-on-three overtime. There, KSV player-coach Kris Reinthaler sealed the overtime win with a well-placed shot to make it 2:1 (63). Kapfenberg are now just two points behind the defending champions in the standings.

Wattens Penguins beat Dornbirn and keep playoff hopes alive

For the fourth and final time this season, Dornbirner EC Bulldogs and WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguinstheir sticks. Both teams engaged in a fast-paced exchange from the outset. The Tyroleans took an early 2:0 lead with a quick double. Mikus Mintautiskis scored 1:0 with a well-placed shot from the slot (4.). Just 17 seconds later, Christian Csics beautifully lifted the puck into the net with a backhander to make it 2:0 (4.).

After the brief shock, the Bulldogs tried to find their way into the game, while the Penguins initially controlled the match with their two-goal lead. They then added a third goal in the first period: Mikus Mintautiskis surged down the right-hand side and made it 3:0 for Wattens 40 seconds before the first buzzer (20nd minute).

Dornbirn were quick to get on the scoreboard in the second period: Alessandro Togni was completely unmarked in the slot and clinically pulled one back to 1:3 (22nd minute). The hope of a swift comeback did not last long, however. On the power play, the Bulldogs were too careless in their own zone, and Mikus Mintautiskis completed his hat-trick from the slot to make it 4:1 for the Penguins (23rd minute).

The Vorarlberg side showed character and battled their way back into the game: Mathias Hofer won the puck in the neutral zone, entered the offensive zone and fired home to make it 2:4 (33rd minute). Wattens had an answer once again and restored their three-goal lead: Noah Polig deflected a shot from Lukas Jaunegg to make it 5:2 (38th minute).

In the final period, Sandro Wille extended the visitors’ lead to 6:2 with a fine wrist shot on the power play (48 minutes). The hosts were able to pull one back, with Simon Brunner scoring a clinical power-play goal to make it 3:6 (59 minutes). Wattens had the final say, as Daniel Frischmann scored shorthanded into the empty net to seal the 7:3 final score (60 minutes). With the win, Wattens remain close behind EHC Kundl in the standings, with the big direct clash in the race for the fourth and final play-off spot to follow on Epiphany.

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 2:1 after overtime (1:1,0:0,0:0,1:0)
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Florian Hoppl (13:23), Kristof Reinthaler (62:28)
Sharks Gmunden goalscorer: Elias Koller (05:39)

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:6 (0:5,3:1,0:0)
Sat, 03 January 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Kevin Pesendorfer (29:44), Maximilian Schwarz (34:14/PP1, 39:17/PP1)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Patrick Bolterle (02:28/PP1), Rupert Fichtinger (08:47), Nils Granitz (09:00), Theodor Fichtinger (12:42), Denis Simek (19:39), Stefan Nador (36:23)

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor 8:3 (1:2,5:0,2:1)
Sat, 03 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Stefan Trost (13:08), Mark Kompain (26:58), Luca Fasching (32:49), Lukas Winkler (36:23), Nick Strumberger (36:40), Daniel Oberkofler (37:36), Pierre Graf (41:29/PP1), Florian Hoppl (50:13)
HDK Maribor goalscorers: Rok Frešer (05:07), Luka Vinčec (08:09), Jure Robek (53:18)

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

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

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 3:7 (0:3,2:2,1:2)
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorers: Alessandro Togni (21:10), Mathias Hofer (32:35), Simon Brunner (58:50/PP1)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Mikus Mintautiskis (03:32, 19:20, 22:21/SH1), Christian Csics (03:49), Noah Polig (37:35), Sandro Wille (47:43/PP1), Daniel Frischmann (59:13/SH1/EN)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein 2:5 (1:2,1:1,0:2)
Sat, 03 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Leon Schmeiser (11:12/PP1), Marcel Wolf (30:36/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Stefan Reiter (00:15, 06:40), Herbert Steiner (29:35), Florian Eder (45:32), Luca Reiter (59:10/EN)

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau 2:1 (0:0,2:0,0:1)
Fri, 02 January 2026, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Valentin Ploner (20:38), Maximilian Mackner (35:55)
EHC Lustenau scorer: Lucas Haberl (42:10)

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

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

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

Further article:

WEV start the new year with a win at ATSE Graz - HC Kufstein win at SC Hohenems

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 undergo a change in Phase 1 in 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, also resulting in 20 games per team.

Following Phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick after the regular season will also provide additional excitement in the coming campaign. The highest-ranked 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 a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

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

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