Kapfen­berg v Sharks Gmunden the head­line act in Eastern double-header weekend – Kundl take on Lustenau

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein face HDK Maribor in Division East on Saturday, having played two indoor games at the Steffl Arena 3 and now taking to the atmospheric outdoor arena at the Heumarkt, in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus, for the first time. HDK Maribor. It is time for the Viennese side to finally make their mark in the league. WEV had lost all of their games so far, although the opening match against the Slovenian Foxes was subsequently awarded to WEV after Maribor had fielded an ineligible suspended player. On the ice, Maribor had edged it 3:2.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich is demanding patience and consistency from his players over 60 minutes: "After a weekend off, two difficult games await us and we have to be ready from the very start. We should not try to force anything, but instead play our game consistently and remain patient. I am certain the results will come if we continue to work on our game and maintain consistency for 60 minutes."

The Štajerska side from the Drava had won one game so far, claiming a narrow 2:1 home victory in the derby against ATSE Graz. Most recently, HDK had to acknowledge the superiority of champions Sharks Gmunden in a 1:6 defeat. Maribor and WEV now have immensely important points at stake in their head-to-head meeting, also with a view to playoff qualification.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič knows how his team can hold their own in Vienna: "We want to deliver our best performance, just as we do at home. If we play with greater discipline and avoid unnecessary penalties, we will not expend as much energy and will have a better chance of being more effective in the offensive zone."

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The KSV Kängurus host defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden in the major Division East clash at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday. The Styrians are playing the third of four consecutive home games and, after two defeats at the start of the season, have recently celebrated three wins to move within two points of the Upper Austrian champions, who have been strong so far.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler wants his side to match the league leaders: "Gmunden are the team we now have to beat if we want to compete at the top. We still need to refine our game; that takes the whole season. We delivered a very good game in Gmunden, even though the result was clear, but the goals were missing. If we keep going like this and score our goals, then I am very confident against Gmunden as well!"

Sharks Gmunden will defend their league lead in the Mürz Valley – the Sharks have won all four of their games after 60 minutes so far. In the first meeting of the season at the beginning of October, the Traunsee players celebrated a 3:0 home win over the Kängurus.

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden, is expecting an exciting and hard-fought game: "It will be particularly difficult in Kapfenberg, as they have a smart and experienced team. We will once again have to deliver high tempo combined with focused play."

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sun, 09 November 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

In the second part of the double-header, the KSV Kängurus host the Wiener Eislauf-Verein at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Sunday. In mid-October, the Styrians began their run of three consecutive three-point wins with a 5:2 away victory at Vienna's Steffl Arena 3.

The Viennese side are still chasing their first on-ice win of the new season. WEV had a bye ahead of the weekend's double-header, having most recently suffered a narrow 1:2 home defeat to reigning champions Sharks Gmunden.

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz
Sun, 09 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena Gmunden

Defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden host ATSE Graz at muki Arena Gmunden in the second part of the double-header on Sunday. The Upper Austrians won 4:2 in the first meeting at the Liebenau Bunker in mid-October, with the match remaining a close affair until the final whistle.

Sharks Gmunden Head Coach Gregor Baumgartner knows that his team must manage its energy: "ATSE are an awkward opponent who never let up for 60 minutes. It is our second game of the weekend and we need to play efficient hockey so that we do not run out of steam!"

Graz most recently had to accept a 2:5 defeat in Kapfenberg and go into the weekend third in the table with five points.

ATSE Head Coach Markus Losch wants to challenge the champions and is embracing the underdog role for his team's benefit: "The game in Gmunden once again gives us the opportunity to further develop our game. Gmunden are clear favourites, so we can focus 100% on our own game and continue improving defensively. With a little luck, we can cause Gmunden a few problems and stay in the game for as long as possible!"

Division West:

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 08 November 2025, 17:30, Kundl Ice Arena

The EHC Kundl take on Division West leaders EHC Lustenau at the Kundl Ice Arena on Saturday. It is the second meeting between the two teams, with the Vorarlberg side claiming a 3:1 home win in the opening game at the start of October. Kundl sit third in the table after five rounds and most recently recorded a clear 9:1 win over the Wattens Penguins. After two hard-fought periods, the fans witnessed a spectacular final period in which Kundl scored seven times in 20 minutes to seal a resounding victory.

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is looking forward to the next ice hockey festival at home: "With Lustenau, the current league leaders are coming to town. A team that will certainly not give anything away. We will have to be fully focused from the first to the last minute and cannot afford any mistakes. But if we perform as we have in recent games, with energy, pace and team spirit, then I am convinced we will see a really strong, intense and high-quality hockey game!"

EHC Lustenau recently had to accept their first dropped points of the new season in the major Vorarlberg derby against SC Hohenems in front of almost 1.500 fans. The Steinböcke levelled the score at 2:2 late in the game after Lustenau had led 2:0, before the Lions secured the extra point in the penalty shoot-out.

Dániel Fekete, head coach of EHC Lustenau, rates Kundl very highly but is also confident in his own team: "Even before the start of the championship, we knew that EHC Kundl would enter the season with an improved team. This has been reflected in the results so far. Naturally, we are travelling to Tyrol to come back with points. But Kundl is a tough place to go. Our aim is to play as a compact and united team and impose our game on our opponents. We certainly have the quality in the squad to take the points back to the Ländle!"

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 08 November 2025, 17:30, Hohenems Ice Stadium

The SC Samina Hohenems face HC Kufstein at the Herrenried Stadium in Division West on Saturday. The Vorarlberg side laid the foundations for what has been a strong season so far with a narrow 3:2 away win over the Dragons at the start of October. After three further victories, Martin Mallinger's team most recently suffered a 2:3 penalty shoot-out defeat in the derby against EHC Lustenau. The Steinböcke had come back from a 2:0 Lustenau lead in the final period, becoming the first team to take at least a point from the Rheinhalle.

Matthias Fritz, sporting director at SC Hohenems, is expecting an intense game against the Dragons: "Kufstein bring a team that skates well and is dangerous offensively. We are aware of that. But we are in good form, want to keep picking up points and will have nothing to give away on home ice. We are expecting an intense, fiery game – and we are ready for it."

After three defeats – one of them in overtime in the derby against Kundl – HC Kufstein celebrated their long-awaited first win last Sunday. The Tyroleans claimed their first full three points of the current campaign with a confident 5:0 away win over the Dornbirn Bulldogs and also moved above the Vorarlberg side in the table.

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner wants his team to make up for the points lost in the home game: "We left the points on the table in the opening game against Hohenems, and we want to make up for that away from home this weekend. We have seen that we can compete, and the win in Dornbirn has given us momentum. It will be a challenging game, but we are going into it fully motivated!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins are eagerly awaiting their home opener against the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs in the Division West on Saturday. In their only meeting to date, the Tyroleans suffered a narrow 3:4 defeat to the Vorarlberg side on the opening matchday in early October. Wattens remain the only team in the league yet to pick up a point. They have suffered four consecutive away defeats – the match at HC Kufstein had to be postponed. Now, the Penguins, known for their home strength, are eager for revenge in the first open-air clash at Alpenstadion.

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger is hoping to turn things around in the home opener: "After four defeats at the start of the season, the situation is naturally not satisfactory. In recent games, we have seen that our game works well in many phases, but we lack the necessary consistency. Dornbirn are a compact opponent who skate hard. We came extremely close in Dornbirn and delivered a very good performance. The key will be to play with focus and discipline from the outset, minimise our own mistakes and perform consistently for 60 minutes. The team is aware of the situation, is working with focus to turn things around and is fired up for the home opener in front of its own fans!"

After their win against Wattens, Dornbirner EC Bulldogs lost four games in a row and slipped behind the Dragons into fifth place in the standings following the 0:5 defeat to Kufstein last Sunday. From the Bulldogs' perspective, the direct clash with their neighbours in the table from the Crystal City is a six-point game; a win after 60 minutes would allow Dornbirn to pull clear of the Penguins.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger sees his team as underdogs despite their opening win against the Penguins: "We were able to beat Wattens in the first game. It was a close match and remains our only win of the still young season. The first game was evenly matched and we came out on top. Wattens are strong at home and, despite winning in the first round, we travel to Wattens as underdogs. We are aware that we had an advantage in the first round because we had been on the ice for longer!"

Ö Ice Hockey League - Division EAST:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt - >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden    
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> to the livestream

ATSE Graz have a bye.

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sun., 09 November 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> to the livestream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz
Sun., 09 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena Gmunden - >> Watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., 08 November 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl - >> Watch the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., 08 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> Watch the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat., 08 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> Watch the livestream

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 across the two divisions: West, with six teams, and 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 inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will also provide additional excitement after the regular season in the coming campaign. The highest-ranked team in each of Division West and Division East 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 best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga standings, statistics and schedules in the Gamecenter

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!