Kapfen­berg top the East with win over Gmunden – Hohenems secure second place in derby

The fifth meeting of the current season between East Division leaders KSV Kängurus and defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden on Saturday was the major showdown for first place and the right to pick an opponent for the playoff quarter-finals. The Kängurus, who had suffered a narrow 3:4 home defeat to WEV on Friday, made a strong start to the opening period. Lukas Draschkowitz gave the Mürztal side a 1:0 lead (9.).

Iacopo Granza made it 2:0 five and a half minutes later (14.). Shortly afterwards, it was 3:0 as Lukas Winkler beat Sharks goaltender Tobias Windhofer (16.). Just under two and a half minutes later, Stefan Trost extended the Styrians' lead to 4:0 (18.), as they set the course for the division title with a blistering opening period.

When Florian Hoppl made it 5:0 soon after the restart in the second period, the game was all but decided (22.). The Sharks from Lake Traun tried to get into the game and onto the scoreboard, and the Upper Austrians succeeded: Bastian Szieber quickly reduced the deficit to 1:5 (24.).

Kapfenberg wrapped things up early in the final period: Phileas Lyssy made it 6:1 for the Kängurus (43.), before Stefan Trost added a seventh (7:1)(47.). That settled matters, with Kapfenberg securing first place in the East Division. They have the right to pick on Sunday and can choose between HC Kufstein and EHC Kundl from the West Division.

HDK Maribor win at Wiener Eislauf-Verein

For the final time this season, Wiener Eislauf-Verein faced HDK Maribor on Saturday at WEV Arena am Heumarkt. Against the beautiful backdrop of Vienna's Konzerthaus, the Slovenians put on a show in the first period and raced into a 3:0 lead with three unanswered goals.

Danilo Tomašević gave the Foxes an early 1:0 lead (4.), before Niko Nemeček made it 2:0 for the Drava city side six minutes later (10.). Jan Čerič added a third (3:0) (16.). Vienna battled their way into the game, with Patrick Bolterle cutting the deficit to 1:3 two and a half minutes before the end of the period (18.).

Anyone expecting a comeback from the capital side in the second period was initially proved wrong by the Slovenians: Domen Vekjet made it 4:1 for Maribor in a 5:3 power-play situation (23.). Vienna were undisciplined in the middle period and took several penalties, but the visitors failed to capitalise on them, allowing WEV to grow back into the game: Theodor Fichtinger breathed new life into his team with the 2:4 (38.).

In the final period, Niko Nemeček restored Hokejsko Drsalni Klub's three-goal lead two and a half minutes in, shortly after a power play had expired, making it 5:2 (43.). WEV did not give up and closed to 3:5 through Rupert Fichtinger (48.).

It got even better for the hosts: Lukas Kaider scored the goal to make it 4:5 on the power play with six minutes remaining (54.). Vienna had a power play at the end and also pulled goaltender Mika Andrić, who was in the WEV net this time, but Maribor saw out the 5:4 and celebrated their second win of the season in the finale.

West Division:

SC Hohenems secure second place in the standings with derby win over EHC Lustenau

For the fourth time this season, SC Samina Hohenems and group winners EHC Lustenau met in the prestigious major Vorarlberg derby in the West Division on Saturday, in front of more than 1.000 fans at Herrenried Stadion. The hosts had to defend second place in the standings in their battle with HC Kufstein from afar, but conceded the 0:1 to Martin Grabher Meier in the first period (17.).

The second period developed into an open end-to-end contest, with Christian Haidinger equalising for Hohenems on the power play after 68 seconds (22.). Lustenau responded, as leading scorer Christopher D’Alvise restored the Lions' lead at 2:1 (27.). Just under two minutes later, Leon Schmeiser equalised at 2:2 on the power play, with exactly 29:00 on the clock (30.).

Just under two minutes after the halfway mark, the home side took the lead in the derby for the first time: Felix Vonbun made it 3:2 for Hohenems (32). In the final period, the home side saw out their slender one-goal lead and, with the 3:2, not only secured their first derby win against the Lions this season but also sealed second place in the standings after the regular season.

HC Kufstein remain in third place despite emphatic win against Dornbirner EC Bulldogs

For the fourth and final time in the current Division West season, HC Kufstein and Dornbirner EC Bulldogs battled for points on Saturday. Kufstein wanted to do their part to preserve their chance of finishing second in the standings with a home win in their long-distance battle with SC Hohenems.

For Dornbirn, the clash at Eisarena Kufstein marked the end of the season, with the Bulldogs having long since been out of contention for a playoff place. Christian Pittl gave his side a two-goal lead in the opening period with two power-play goals to make it 1:0 (4) and 2:0 (16).

Markus Prock made it 3:0 in the second period (24), and after Philipp Sappl made it 4:0, the game was effectively decided (27). The Vorarlberg side reduced the deficit to 1:4 through Alessandro Togni just under three minutes after the halfway mark (33), but the Dragons did not let up in the middle period and steadily extended their lead. Valentin Hammerle made it 5:1 immediately afterwards (34), before Florian Eder scored on the power play to make it 6:1 less than two minutes later (36).

The scoring continued, with Aleksi Airaksinen making it 7:1 for the Tyroleans (39). Tomáš Vildumetz added 8:1 on the power play exactly one second before the end of the period (40). Kufstein eased off in the final period after a strong middle stanza, but still scored three more goals: Valentin Hammerle made it 9:1 (48), Tomáš Vildumetz took Kufstein into double figures with the 10:1 (59), and Philipp Sappl completed the 11:1 final score 22 seconds later. As Hohenems beat Lustenau 3:2 in the Vorarlberg derby in the parallel match, the Dragons remain third in the standings after the regular season.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor 4:5 (1:3,1:1,2:1)
Sat., 31 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Patrick Bolterle (17:36), Theodor Fichtinger (37:31), Rupert Fichtinger (47:12), Lukas Kaider (53:59/PP1)
HDK Maribor scorers: Danilo Tomašević (03:09), Niko Nemeček (09:18, 42:29), Jan Čerič (15:42), Domen Vekjet (22:05/PP2)

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 7:1 (4:0,1:1,2:0)
Sat., 31 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Lukas Draschkowitz (08:20), Iacopo Granza (13:51), Lukas Winkler (15:04), Stefan Trost (17:27, 46:43), Florian Hoppl (21:20), Phileas Lyssy (42:39)
Sharks Gmunden scorer: Bastian Szieber (23:08)

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:4 (1:2,1:2,1:0)
Fri., 30 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Luca Fasching (10:00 min.), Lukas Winkler (37:07 min.), Lukas Draschkowitz (56:50 min.)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Lukas Pohl (12:00 min.), Stephan Rossmann (15:13 min./PP1), Patrick Bolterle (33:13 min.), Lukas Kaider (33:19 min.)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau 3:2 (0:1,3:1,1:0)
Sat., 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Christian Haidinger (21:08 /PP1), Leon Schmeiser (29:00 min./PP1), Felix Vonbun (31:52 min.)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (16:38 min.), Christopher D’Alvise (26:56 min.)

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 11:1 (2:0,6:1,3:0)
Sat., 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Christian Pittl (03:50 min./PP1, 15:42 min./PP1), Markus Prock (23:04 min.), Philipp Sappl (26:18 min., 58:30 min.), Valentin Hammerle (33:36 min., 47:16 min.), Florian Eder (35:26 min./PP1), Aleksi Airaksinen (38:24 min.), Tomáš Vildumetz (39:59 min./PP1, 58:08 min.)
Dornbirner EC Bulldogs scorer: Alessandro Togni (32:48 min.)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl 6:5 after penalties (1:0,3:2,1:3,0:0,1:0)
Fri., 30 January 2026, 18:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins scorers: Luca Muigg (12:03 min., 38:40 min./SH1), David Schwarzer (23:38 min.), Fabian Nußbaumer (33:01 min.), Philipp Niederhauser (59:41 min./PP1), Mikus Mintautiskis (65:00 min./decisive penalty shot)
EHC Kundl scorers: Michal Kluka (25:04 min./PP1), Maximilian Agerer (25:28 min./PP1), Daniel Jakubitzka (49:26 min.), Sebastian Schild (53:13 min./PP1), Maximilian Mackner (58:06 min./PP1)

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 features a change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: the West, with six teams, and the East, with five teams. In Division East, the coming season will feature two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. In Division West, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

Following Phase 1, an interregional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the current season, too, a play-off pick after the regular season will provide additional excitement. The highest-ranked team in each of the West and East Divisions may select 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 tables, statistics and schedules for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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