Kapfen­berg remain top despite over­time defeat against Sharks Gmunden!

For the fourth time this season, league leaders KSV Kängurus faced reigning champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks GmundeNo, it was the third head-to-head meeting within twelve days.

Both teams made a fast start to the blockbuster clash, with the visitors taking the lead: after Gmunden failed to score on their first power play, Moritz Neurauter converted from the slot on their second attempt to make it 1:0 for the Sharks, having initiated the sequence himself with a shot (at 8 minutes). Kapfenberg continued to play at a high tempo but also failed to score on their first power play, while the Sharks from Lake Traun remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Moritz Neurauter capitalised on one such counter, winning the puck in the neutral zone before skating into the offensive zone and scoring from the right face-off circle to make it 2:0 (at 18 minutes).

The game continued to be played at pace by both sides in the second period. KSV netminder Felix Nußbacher made two outstanding saves on an Upper Austrian double chance to preserve the 3:0 scoreline. Shortly afterwards, the Styrians reduced the deficit to 1:2 as Manuel Trost scored from the slot after a superb save by Sharks goaltender Tobias Windhofer and the ensuing rebound (at 26 minutes). The home side could not enjoy the goal for long: just 61 seconds later, Bastian Szieber fired home to make it 3:1 following a counter-attack and a pass from Paul Pirklbauer (at 27 minutes).

The visitors remained extremely dangerous on the counter-attack and extended their lead to three goals just two seconds after the halfway mark: Dominik Stöttner set up Fabian Richter with a perfect cross-ice pass, and he scored from close range to make it 4:1 (at 31 minutes). The Sharks were highly tenacious in the middle period and struck again on the next counter-attack: Moritz Neurauter caught goaltender Nußbacher off guard with a shot shortly after entering the offensive zone to make it 5:1 (at 34 minutes). Two minutes later, the Kangaroos found renewed hope: Lukas Telsnig unleashed a rocket from the blue line to make it 2:5 (at 36 minutes).

At the start of the final period, the Sharks survived the tricky phase of two consecutive penalty kills. The tempo remained high: the Mürz Valley side were now forced to play even more offensively. Gmunden kept the defensive zone under control. Kapfenberg closed the gap on a power play as Lukas Draschkowitz tucked home a backhander to make it 3:5, setting up an exciting finish (at 54 minutes).

Shortly before the end, the Kangaroos pulled their goaltender, and Manuel Trost swept the puck over the line with his backhand to make it 4:5, ensuring a thrilling finale (at 59 minutes). Kapfenberg continued to press and did indeed find the equaliser: Kevin Moderer forced the puck over the line to make it 5:5 with 54 seconds remaining (at 60 minutes). The top-of-the-table clash went to overtime, where Moritz Neurauter switched on the turbo from his own zone, scored the 6:5 winner after a superb solo effort and capped his outstanding performance with his fourth goal (at 62 minutes). With one more goal in the head-to-head meetings, Kapfenberg remain top of the table!

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

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

On the public holiday at the beginning of December, the Sharks followed that up with a 4:0 victory. The Styrians claimed their first win in the final game of the year at the end of December, with the 4:3 result only decided in a penalty shootout after an exciting contest. Graz most recently lost 4:6 to Kapfenberg, but pushed the Kangaroos all the way. After their 1:5 defeat against the Kangaroos, the Sharks finally picked up three points again with a 7:1 win over Maribor.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch is expecting an exciting affair against the Sharks: "After the last home game against Gmunden, the Sharks will be eager for revenge. Nevertheless, we will try to raise our game again in order to possibly secure a win in regulation time. Starting from a solid defence and with quick transitions, 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 playing at the Liebenau bunker: "We lost the last meeting in overtime in Graz and expect another close game. In general, 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 East Division. Two home fixtures in Kapfenberg had to be postponed due to a technical fault at Stadthalle Kapfenberg, which is why the Mürztal side have an exceptionally home-heavy January.

The first meeting, which the Styrians won 5:2 at Steffl Arena 3 in mid-October, was followed by the second duel at the end of December, when Kapfenberg prevailed 3:2 on penalties in front of Vienna Konzerthaus. Since that narrow defeat, Vienna have won three games in a row.

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

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

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich expects an evenly matched game between two teams currently in strong form: "The finish to the regular season will be pretty intense, and Kapfenberg present us with a difficult task straight away 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!"

West Division:

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

For the fourth and final time, league leaders EHC Lustenau and current second-placed side HC Kufstein will face off in the West Division on Saturday, 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 play-offs.

Kufstein have worked their way into second place with four consecutive wins, making this game the match of the round in the West. The Vorarlberg side won the first two meetings at Kufstein Arena, 5:3 in mid-October and 6:3 at the end of November, with both games tight and fiercely contested. In the first match-up at Rheinhalle, Lustenau also celebrated a narrow 4:2 win 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 need to stay alert if we are to win this game as well. The Tyroleans have played very good ice hockey in recent rounds and will do everything they can to inflict our first home defeat. But 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 have the chance to challenge the league leaders as their closest pursuers. We are determined to pick up points for two reasons: firstly, Lustenau are the only opponents we have not 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, at 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins welcome SC Samina Hohenems to a heated clash between the fellow open-air teams in the Division West on Saturday. It is the fourth time the two clubs have faced each other this season. Their first meeting in mid-October was a close contest for a long time, with the Steinböcke eventually edging it 5:4.

The Vorarlberg side controlled the away game at Alpenstadion at the end of November from the outset and won 6:2. In their most recent meeting just before Christmas, the Penguins responded with a 5:3 away win, with Sandro Wille securing the three points for the Tyroleans with an 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 place still up for grabs in the Ö Eishockey Liga this season.

Things have not been running as smoothly for Hohenems since the public holiday at the beginning of December, following their strong start to the season. 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: "Following the weather-related cancellation and an intense, productive week of training, we now need 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, want to do better and show that on the ice from the very first minute!"

Wattens Head Coach Fabian Hechenberger is banking on avoiding mistakes and playing disciplined hockey over 60 minutes: "We have to be ready from the first second and cannot sleep through the start again. Hohenems are an incredibly compact and dangerous team, so we can afford virtually no mistakes. We played really very good 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 once again play with maximum concentration and as a united unit over 60 minutes!"

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

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

Just before Christmas, Kundl narrowly beat the Vorarlberg side 3:1 at home. The Bulldogs have known for some time that their season will end on 31 January with the game against HC Kufstein, with their chance of reaching the playoffs long gone. Kundl, by contrast, remain firmly in the race for the final Ö Eishockey Liga playoff spot.

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

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger hopes for a strong final home game from his team: "We are still being hampered by injuries and the flu wave. We hope that by Saturday we will once again be able to field more than three lines and, against Kundl, try to ensure that the points stay in Dornbirn. We know that we no longer have any chance of reaching the play-offs, 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 their case 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 finish on a high at home!"

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

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 5:6 after overtime (0:2,2:3,3:0,0:1)
Fri, 16 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Manuel Trost (at 25:51, 58:14), Lukas Telsnig (at 35:17), Lukas Draschkowitz (at 53:45/PP1), Kevin Moderer (at 59:06)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Moritz Neurauter (at 07:10, 17:35, 33:16, 61:56), Bastian Szieber (at 26:52), Fabian Richter (at 30:02)

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

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

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

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

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 17 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> to 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 began the new season with the opening round on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will feature a change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. 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 Gamecenter

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