Kapfen­berg new league leaders after victory over ATSE Graz – Kufstein win in Wattens

For the fifth and final time, the KSV Kängurus faced ATSE Graz in the Styrian derby of the East Division regular season on Friday. The Graz side, who had travelled to the Mürz Valley with a short line-up of just 13 skaters, took an early lead through a brotherly combination: Kilian Schwarz scored to make it 1:0 after a wonderful cross-ice pass from Maximilian Schwarz (4.).

The Kängurus quickly found the right response: Michael Malle won the puck in the offensive zone, drove into the slot and equalised at 1:1 (7.). Eggenberg took the lead again: following a quick attack, Filip Matijević put a rebound over the line from close range to make it 2:1 (10.). The home side once again equalised quickly: Kapfenberg swiftly crossed the neutral zone on the rush, Kevin Moderer danced through the ATSE defence and gave goaltender Florian Zeugswetter no chance for 2:2 (12.).

Kapfenberg then took the lead for the first time: Stefan Trost fired from the left face-off circle to make it 3:2 (14.). The hosts were now playing as one: after a superb attack, Pierre Graf fed Kevin Moderer with a backhand pass, and he increased the lead to 4:2 from close range (16.).  

The Kängurus, who had let their first power play pass without scoring, remained dominant in the middle period. ATSE could only create occasional counter-attacks and were increasingly occupied with defensive work; their first power-play opportunity also failed to produce a goal.

Kapfenberg then immediately took control again and at times pinned Graz in their defensive zone. ATSE Graz were unable to capitalise on another power play, and the game also became more emotional towards the end of the second period. In the final period, the hosts sought to keep the game under control and ATSE at bay. Ten minutes from the end, Florian Hoppl appeared to seal the result on the power play, pouncing on a Stefan Trost shot to make it 5:2 (51.).

ASTE battled their way back into the game with a stunning goal: following a quick counter-attack, Maximilian Schwarz again passed to his brother Kilian Schwarz, who superbly reduced the deficit to 3:5 (55.). The closing stages were turbulent: with an extra skater on the ice, Graz pulled one back through Maximilian Schwarz to make it 4:5 (60.).

With four seconds remaining, Pierre Graf sealed everything with an empty-net goal to make it 6:4 (60.). Kapfenberg therefore go into Saturday's blockbuster clash with defending champions Sharks Gmunden as the new league leaders.

West Division:

HC Kufstein celebrate convincing away win over the Wattens Penguins

Friday saw the third Lower Inn Valley derby of the current West Division season between the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and HC Kufstein. The visitors enjoyed a dream start with two quick goals: with the first attack, Aleksi Airaksinen appeared in front of the Wattens net and beat netminder Jakob Sprachmann from the slot to make it 1:0 after exactly eleven seconds (1.).

Just 61 seconds later, it was 2:0 to the Dragons, with Tomáš Vildumetz converting a fine pass from Herbert Steiner (2.). The game then settled down somewhat. After a brief respite, Kufstein struck again: Valentin Hammerle kept his bearings in the Wattens fog and surprised goaltender Sprachmann to make it 3:0 (14.).

Shortly afterwards, it was Valentin Hammerle again, who powered through after winning the puck and left netminder Sprachmann stranded with a fine deke to make it 1:1 (16.).

The Penguins started the second period better: following an attack, Fabian Nußbaumer appeared in the slot and cut the deficit to 1:4 (23.). Anyone expecting a comeback at the Alpenstadion was quickly brought back to reality by Kufstein. First, Stefan Reiter missed a penalty shot after Simon Gratzer had committed a professional foul. A few moments later, Reiter lifted the puck into the net following a perfect pass from Florian Eder (25.).

Just under a minute before the end of the period, the Penguins found fresh hope: Patrick Huber forced the puck over the line on the power play to make it 2:5 (40.). Wattens were unable to turn the game around in the final period, and Valentin Hammerle eventually scored short-handed into the empty net to make it 6:2, his third goal of the evening (58.). Kufstein won and are now the new second-placed side ahead of Hohenems, at least until Saturday.

SC Hohenems vs. EHC Kundl

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

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division EAST:

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)

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 10 January 2026, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor – >> to the livestream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 10 January 2026, 18:30, muki Arena – >> to the livestream

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

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

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)

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

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 10 January 2026, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season on 4 October 2025 with the first matchday. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. In the East Division, there will be a two-and-a-half round-robin format next season, 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, there will once again be an interregional playoff, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The playoff 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 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 be decided in 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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