Kapfen­berg extend league lead with win in Gmunden – Lustenau win derby in Dorn­birn

For the third time this season, defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced the KSV Kängurus in Division East on Saturday. The Styrians arrived at Lake Traun for the top clash as the new league leaders after their 6:4 win against ATSE Graz.

The match began with a scare for the hosts, as goaltender Luka Gračnar had to leave the ice injured after just under two and a half minutes, with Tobias Windhofer taking his place between the pipes. Buoyed by their league-leading position, the Kängurus played with confidence and took a 1:0 lead through Kevin Moderer (13 min.). Less than three minutes later, the Mürztal side added another: Phileas Lyssy made it 2:0 for Kapfenberg (16 min.).

At the start of the second period, the visitors failed to capitalise on their first power-play opportunity, but extended their lead shortly afterwards: Manuel Trost made it 3:0 for KSV (27 min.). The Sharks finally got on the scoresheet on the power play, with Hubert Berger reducing the deficit to 1:3 (37 min.).

However, Kapfenberg gave the Upper Austrian fans no hope of a comeback: Manuel Trost restored the three-goal lead just 28 seconds later with his second goal to make it 4:1 (37 min.). The visitors saw out the final period without any trouble; on the contrary, Florian Hoppl scored on the power play to make it 5:1 and seal the decision (53 min.).

Kapfenberg celebrated a convincing win and extended their lead at the top of the table to four points. Sharks Gmunden are back in action on Sunday with a home game against HDK Maribor.

WEV leave nothing to chance at HDK Maribor

For the fourth time this season, HDK Maribor and Wiener Eislauf-Verein faced off on Saturday. Both teams engaged in an intense battle from the outset, with chances at both ends. As the first period progressed, the Viennese gained more and more of an attacking edge, and WEV took the lead during a spell of pressure. Patrick Bolterle beautifully lifted the puck into the net with his backhand to make it 1:0 (16 min.).

Right at the start of the middle period, the Foxes failed to convert their first power play into a goal. The Vienna side's defence, together with goaltender Moritz Merkader, stood firm and conceded no goals during this phase. In another power play shortly after the halfway point, the Slovenians applied enormous pressure and laid siege to the WEV goal, but the hosts were again unable to score. As Maribor also failed to capitalise on their third power play, the Viennese retained their narrow one-goal lead after 40 minutes.

In the final period, WEV were extremely efficient in attack. Just two passes opened up the Maribor defence, and Rupert Fichtinger made it 2:0 (43 min.). The hosts were unable to break down the Viennese defence even on their fourth power play, with the fans at Ledna dvorana Maribor repeatedly having a goal cry stuck in their throats.

WEV, however, looked completely different: following a wonderful combination, Lukas Kaider scored from the slot to make it 3:0 (51 min.). As Maribor were unable to turn the game around and WEV goaltender Moritz Merkader recorded a shutout, the announced Teddy Bear Toss took place at the final buzzer.

Division West:

EHC Lustenau give Dornbirn Bulldogs no chance

The Dornbirner EC Bulldogs hosted EHC Lustenauat the Messestadion on Saturday for the third district derby. The hosts entered the clash with their local rivals, who will finish top of the Western Group, with a short line-up of just 12 skaters. Following a quick attack down the right, Sven Vugrinec found the far corner to give the Bulldogs a 1:0 lead (5 min.).

Lustenau, who had gradually found their rhythm, soon equalised: Martin Grabher Meier fired home from the slot to make it 1:1 (8 min.). Lustenau were unable to capitalise on their first power play. The Lions then at times created a power-play-like situation at five-on-five, and Dornbirn goaltender Cosmo Reichhalter could not complain about a lack of work.

Late in the first period, the league leaders took the lead for the first time: Robin Wüstner was quickest to react in a crowded situation and fired home to make it 2:1 (19 min.).

Little changed in the character of the game in the second period, with Lustenau still clearly superior and Dornbirn resisting as best they could. Following an attack down the right, Timo Demuth converted a rebound to make it 3:1 (26 min.). Riku Tiainen made it 4:1 from the slot (34 min.), before goalscorer Chris D’Alvise appeared in front of the Dornbirn goal after a fine combination to extend the lead to 5:1 (37 min.).

In the final period, D’Alvise converted a cross-ice pass from Manuel Metzler while on his knees after just under five minutes to make it 6:1 (45 min.). The visitors continued to play superbly, with Luca Künz increasing the lead to 7:1 with a shot from mid-range (53 min.). Timo Demuth completed the scoring with the 8:1 from close range (59 min.).

SC Hohenems v EHC Kundl

The match between SC Hohenems and EHC Kundlon Saturday had to be postponed due to the weather – a new date will follow.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden v KSV Kängurus 1:5 (0:2,1:2,0:1)
Sat., 10 January 2026, 18:30 hrs, muki Arena
Sharks Gmunden goalscorer: Hubert Berger (36:13 Min./PP1)
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Kevin Moderer (12:42 Min.), Phileas Lyssy (15:21 Min.), Manuel Trost (26:36 Min., 36:41 Min.), Florian Hoppl (52:36 Min./PP1)

HDK Maribor v Wiener Eislauf-Verein 0:3 (0:1,0:0,0:2)
Sat., 10 January 2026, 18:30 hrs, Ledna dvorana Maribor
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Patrick Bolterle (15:17 Min.), Rupert Fichtinger (42:58 Min.), Lukas Kaider (50:22 Min.)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor
Sun, 11 January 2026, 18:30, muki Arena - >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz 6:4 (4:2,0:0,2:2)
Fri, 09 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Michael Malle (06:44), Kevin Moderer (11:45, 15:07), Stefan Trost (13:09), Florian Hoppl (50:08/PP1), Pierre Graf (59:56/EN)
ATSE Graz scorers: Kilian Schwarz (03:36, 54:38), Filip Matijević (09:16), Maximilian Schwarz (59:09)

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau 1:8 (1:2,0:3,0:3)
Sat, 10 January 2026, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC scorers: Sven Vugrinec (04:20)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (07:20), Robin Wüstner (18:09), Timo Demuth (25:07, 58:48), Riku Tiainen (33:16), Christopher D’Alvise (36:23, 44:55), Luca Künz (52:04)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Kundl cancelled - new date to follow!

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 2:6 (0:4,2:1,0:1)
Fri, 09 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins scorers: Fabian Nußbaumer (22:17), Patrick Huber (39:06/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Aleksi Airaksinen (00:11), Tomáš Vildumetz (01:12), Valentin Hammerle (13:13, 15:58, 57:53/SH1/EN), Stefan Reiter (24:09)

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 in the two divisions – West with six teams and East with five teams – will undergo a change in Phase 1. In the East Division, the upcoming 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 upcoming season will again feature a play-off pick after the regular season to provide additional excitement. The highest-ranked team in each of the West and East Divisions 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 Best-of-Three series (H/A/H) from the upcoming season onwards.

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

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook !