Kufstein win derby against Kundl – Kapfen­berg beat WEV, ATSE Graz defeat Sharks Gmunden

The Ö Eishockey Liga rounded off 2025 in the West Division with a blockbuster. HC Kufstein met in the Eisarena Kufstein in front of more than 950 fans for the fourth and final time in the regular season in the always fiercely contested district derby.EHC Kundl for the fourth and final time in the regular season in the always explosive local derby at the Eisarena Kufstein in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_E_A__ fans. The Dragons had two power plays in the opening minutes, but failed to score and instead really warmed up Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny.

The hosts continued to hold the upper hand, while Kundl held firm until just under four minutes before the end of the period. Following a fine combination, Aleski Airaksinen scored from the slot to make it 1:0 for Kufstein (17 minutes). A minute and a half later, Kufstein struck again: Manuel Eder fired a shot and Philipp Sappl slightly deflected the puck for 2:0, with the goal credited to Manuel Eder (18 minutes).

In the second period, Tomáš Vildumetz made it 3:0 from a tight angle following a cross-ice pass (26nd minute). Just ten seconds later, Raphael Bruimann fired home straight from a face-off in the left face-off circle to reduce the deficit to 1:3 for Kundl (26th minute). The derby became more intense and more physical with every shift. Late in the middle period, the match suddenly turned into a thriller: Lion Ramoser caught HCK netminder Thomas Pfarrmaier off guard from a tight angle on the goal line to make it 2:3 (39th minute). Kundl were unable to turn the game around in the final period, while the Dragons held on to their narrow one-goal lead, celebrated their third win in the fourth district derby and consolidated third place in the table.

EHC Lustenau prevail against Wattens Penguins

For the fourth and final time, WSG Wattens Penguins faced league leaders EHC Lustenau. After exactly 24 seconds, the Vorarlberg side took the lead: Finnish new signing Riku Tiainen finished off a quick attack from close range to make it 1:0 (1st minute). Lustenau patiently waited for further chances, and following another quick attack, Martin Grabher Meier fired a precise shot to make it 2:0 for the Lions (9th minute).

Early in the second period, the Penguins reduced the deficit to 1:2. Mikus Mintautiskis turned a pass from Fabian Nußbaumer over the line for the goal that brought them back within one (22.). Wattens battled tenaciously and, with goalkeeper Jakob Sprachmann, stood firm defensively against the western leaders from the Ländle until the final whistle.

In the end, Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger took a full risk and pulled goaltender Sprachmann. Lustenau goalscorer Chris D’Alvise sent the puck into the empty net to seal the 3:1 result (59nd minute). The Vorarlberg side celebrated their 14th win in their 14th game.

SC Hohenems win derby at Dornbirner Bulldogs

The second local derby of the weekend in the West Division was contested on Saturday by Dornbirner EC Bulldogs and SC Samina Hohenemsin front of more than 1.100 fans at the Messestadion Dornbirn. The Steinböcke made a dream start: Lukas Fritz scored the 1:0 for the Emser from close range after a wonderful backhand pass from Fabian Mandlburger (2).

The visitors set the tone in a fast-paced game and extended their lead, with Patrick Spannring firing from just behind the blue line to make it 2:0 (11 minutes).

23 seconds had elapsed in the second period when Tobias Metzler-Wagner pulled one back to make it 1:2 (21). Straight from the face-off, the visitors moved into the offensive zone and Leon Schmeiser made it 3:1 just ten seconds later (21). Just after the halfway point of the game, Lukas Fritz extended the Schlittschuhclub’s lead to 4:1 (31).

Just under four minutes later, Christian Haidinger flicked the puck into the net to make it 5:1 (35). In the final period, Mathias Hofer picked up the puck while shorthanded, raced clear and stylishly reduced the deficit to 2:5 for the Bulldogs (52). That was all Dornbirn could manage, and Julian Payr made it 6:2 with 56 seconds remaining before the final buzzer (60).

Eastern Division:

ATSE Graz edge Sharks Gmunden in shootout thriller

The ATSE Graz welcomed Division Ost leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden to the Liebenauer Bunker on Saturday. The Upper Austrians were the dominant team early on, but it was the home side that took the lead. Following a quick attack down the left, Simon Helm lifted the puck into the net with his backhand to make it 1:0 for ATSE (6).

Despite trailing, the Sharks from Lake Traun continued to set the tone, while the Styrians were primarily occupied with defensive work but proved highly efficient in front of the opposition net: after successfully killing off a penalty, Maximilian Schwarz launched an attack down the right and played a perfect pass to Niki Zierer, who made it 2:0 for ATSE Graz with a precise shot (13).

Towards the end of the first period, Graz had a power play, including a spell with a 5:3 advantage, but no further goal was scored before the first buzzer.

In the second period, the league leaders looked to get back into the game and did so on the power play: Marc-André Dorion picked out the net from just behind the blue line to make it 1:2 (23). The Sharks were efficient on the power play: once again, it was Marc-André Dorion who this time sent the puck into the net from the right face-off circle to level the score at 2:2 (36).

The game entered crunch time early in the final period. On the power play, Graz laid siege to the Gmunden net, and Mathias Werkl eventually worked the puck into the net guarded by Tobias Windhofer to give his side a 3:2 lead (46). The defending champions responded, with Simon Huemer scoring a fine goal to level the score at 3:3 (51).

Neither team could find the winner in regulation time, and the game went to overtime before ultimately being decided in a shootout. Niki Zierer, Florian Murg and Simon Helm scored for ATSE, while Hubert Berger was the only Sharks player to convert. Graz therefore celebrated a sensational 4:3 shootout victory over the reigning champions.

Kapfenberg also beat WEV in a shootout

Only for the second time this season, the Wiener Eislauf-Verein and the KSV Kängurus faced off in the Division Ost on Saturday, for the first time outdoors in front of the Vienna Konzerthaus. Earlier in the day, the Viennese had announced Rafael Rotter’s return on social media, and the Vienna ice hockey star was already in the WEV line-up for the evening’s clash with Kapfenberg.

Right at the start, the hosts were unable to capitalise on their first power play. Both teams were dealing with illness-related absences, with player-coach Kris Reinthaler missing for the Mürztal side. Kapfenberg took the lead after just under ten minutes: following a save by WEV netminder Moritz Merkader, Daniel Oberkofler scored from the slot to make it 1:0 (10).

The Styrians added another, with Maximilian Ramsbacher collecting the puck after a face-off and firing home to make it 2:0 (16). WEV returned to the game with a shorthanded goal: Rupert Fichtinger beat KSV netminder Oliver Zirngast after winning the puck while shorthanded to make it 1:2 (19).

Both teams continued to engage in an open and intense contest in the second period. The Kängurus were very disciplined defensively, and WEV had only a few good chances to equalise. Oliver Zirngast was also solid in goal, while his opposite number Moritz Merkader also delivered a good performance. Kapfenberg therefore retained their narrow one-goal lead after 40 minutes.

In the final period, the Styrians held on to their 2:1 lead for a long time. In the end, WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich pulled netminder Merkader, and Lukas Pohl converted a wonderful cross-ice pass from Jan Billa to level the score at 2:2 (58). The game went to overtime and then to the ultimate showdown: the shootout. Lukas Fassmann and Christoph Draschkowitz scored for Kapfenberg, as the Mürztal side edged a hard-fought contest at the Heumarkt 3:2.

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor postponed. A new date will be announced.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Kundl 3:2 (2:0,1:2,0:0)
Sat, 27 December 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Aleski Airaksinen (16:05), Manuel Eder/Philipp Sappl (17:46), Tomáš Vildumetz (25:18)
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Raphael Bruimann (25:28), Lion Ramoser (38:44)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau 1:3 (0:2,1:0,0:1)
Sat, 27 December 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Mikus Mintautiskis (21:13)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Riku Tiainen (00:24), Martin Grabher-Meier (08:56), Christopher D‘Alvise (58:48/EN)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. SC Samina Hohenems 2:6 (0:2,1:3,1:1)
Sat, 27 December 2025, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC goalscorers: Tobias Metzler-Wagner (20:23), Mathias Hofer (51:05/SH1)
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Lukas Fritz (01:53, 30:46), Patrick Spannring (10:40), Leon Schmeiser (20:33), Christian Haidinger (34:24), Julian Payr (59:04)

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 4:3 n.P. (2:0,0:2,1:1,0:0,1:0)
Sat, 27 December 2025, 17:30, Gmunden Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz scorers: Simon Helm (05:22 min.), Nikolaus Zierer (12:28 min.), Mathias Werkl (45:56 min./PP1)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Marc-André Dorion (at 22:42, PP1; at 35:12, PP1), Simon Huemer (at 50:51), Florian Murg (at 65:00, winning penalty)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. KSV Kängurus 2:3 after penalties (1:2,0:0,1:0,0:0,0:1)
Sat., 27 December 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Rupert Fichtinger (at 18:14, SH1), Lukas Pohl (at 57:56)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Daniel Oberkofler (at 09:43), Maximilian Ramsbacher (at 15:10), Lukas Fassmann (at 65:00, winning penalty)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor postponed. A new date will follow.

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 in Phase 1 will change in both the West Division, with six teams, and the East Division, with five teams. In the East Division, there will be two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds 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 inter-regional playoff, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. A playoff pick after the regular season will also provide additional excitement in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions 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 playoff match-ups will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecenter

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