KSV High­landers and Sabres St. Pölten begin the Euro­pean Women’s Hockey League quarter-finals

The European Women’s Hockey League has reached its decisive phase – the playoffs. Eight teams will battle for the coveted title in two-legged knockout ties. The entire quarter-final stage will be played next weekend. The teams with the better aggregate result after both games will progress to the semi-finals. The first game can therefore also end in a draw. If the aggregate score is level after the second tie, the decision will go to overtime.

HK PSRZ Bratislava finished the regular season in first place and therefore had first choice in the selection process. Bratislava chose Budapest Jegkorong Akademia, the team that finished seventh after the regular season. Bratislava recorded two convincing wins in the two regular-season meetings, with an aggregate score of 14:2. Budapest begin with a home game on Friday at 18:50. The decision will then be made in Bratislava on Sunday.

Aisulu Almaty finished the regular season in second place and chose Tauron Metropolia Silesia, who finished the regular season in eighth place, as their opponents. Aisulu recorded two shutouts in their two meetings to date and excelled with an aggregate score of 7:0. Both quarter-final games will be played at Aisulu on Saturday and Sunday.

The Eagles from Bozen finished the regular season in third place and selected the KSV Highlanders as their opponents from the two remaining teams. The two teams contested two highly exciting meetings in the regular season, with the away team winning each time by 4:3. Both games will be played in Bozen on Saturday and Sunday.

For MAC Budapest there was no choice left – they will face the Sabres St. Pölten in the quarter-finals. A team that does not particularly suit the Hungarians, as they had to concede defeat in both regular-season meetings – although only in a shootout in the most recent encounter. The series starts in St. Pölten on Friday, before the decision over a semi-final place is made in Budapest on Sunday.

European Women’s Hockey League, quarter-finals:

Friday, 07.03.2025

18:50: Budapest Jegkorong Akademia vs. HK PSRZ Bratislava
20:15: Sabres St. Pölten vs. MAC Budapest | >> to the livestream

Saturday, 08.03.2025

16:30: Tauron Metropolia Silesia vs. Aisulu Almaty  | >> to the livestream
19:40: KSV Highlanders vs. EVB Eagles South Tyrol (in Bolzano) | >> to the livestream

Sunday, 09.03.2025

10:45: Aisulu Almaty vs. Tauron Metropolia Silesia | >> to the livestream
11:30: EVB Eagles South Tyrol vs. KSV Highlanders | >> to the livestream
16:45: HK PSRZ Bratislava vs. Budapest Jegkorong Akademia
19:00: MAC Budapest vs. Sabres St. Pölten

The quarter-final ties will be decided in the Champions Hockey League (CHL) format, with a first and second leg. The aggregate score from the two matches played will be used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs will advance to the semi-finals.

Should the aggregate score be level at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there will be no overtime in the first leg. The respective first leg will end after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.