Lustenau edge Hohenems in Halloween derby – Kundl cele­brate convincing win over Wattens

On Friday, the Ö Eishockey Liga experienced its ultimate derby clash in the Division West: league leaders EHC Lustenau faced their then level-on-points rivals in the Reinhalle in front of almost 1.500 fans, SC Samina Hohenems. In line with their positions in the standings, both teams were evenly matched from the outset, initially playing out of a controlled defence without taking major risks.

A fine move gave the Lions a 1:0 lead: Adem Kandemir played a superb pass to advancing defenceman Stefan Hrdina, who scored from close range (12.). The hosts then came through a tricky spell of 3:5 short-handed play without conceding, even with one player fewer.

Towards the end of the first period, Lustenau had their first power play and carried most of their numerical advantage into the middle period. As the second period progressed, the home side increasingly took control and were the better team. The Steinböcke failed to make another power-play opportunity count.

Lustenau added another: Dominic Haberl got the puck to his brother Lucas Haberl, who made it 2:0 from close range (35.). Shortly afterwards, the fans in the Reinhalle celebrated again, but the apparent 3:0 was disallowed by the officials for a high stick. Hohenems had another power play in the final minute, but Head Coach Martin Mallinger's side were unable to find a goal before the second buzzer.

The visitors attempted to get back into the game, but the leaders were strong defensively and more dangerous in attack. During another power play, Head Coach Dániel Fekete's team missed the chance to put the game beyond doubt. And so what had to happen, happened: Kai Fässler deflected a shot for the 1:2 goal with exactly eight minutes remaining (53.).

The derby suddenly became a thriller. Soon afterwards, Hohenems even equalised: following a quick counter-attack, Lustenau netminder Felix Beck initially made a save, but Benjamin Kyllönen was perfectly positioned in the slot to score for 2:2 (55.). Shortly afterwards, Hohenems failed to capitalise on a power play to take the lead for the first time.

The derby went to overtime, where Lustenau twice missed the chance to win it on breakaways. Hohenems then had a 4:3 power play but could not find the winner, setting up the ultimate showdown: the shootout. Veterans Thomas Auer and Martin Grabher Meier scored for Lustenau, while Julian Payr was on target for Hohenems. The league leaders ultimately prevailed 3:2 in a thrilling derby shootout.

EHC Kundl celebrate rout against Wattens Penguins

On Friday, EHC Kundl welcomed the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins for the Unterinntal derby in the Division West. The visitors made a dream start: Noah Polig scored from the slot to give them an early 1:0 lead after exactly 83 seconds (2.). Both teams had a power play shortly afterwards, but neither was able to turn it into a goal.

The game was intensely contested by both sides from the first period onwards – a derby in every sense. Matko Pavetić levelled the score at 1:1 with a fine shot from the slot (8.). Both netminders – Johann Bauer for Kundl and Jakob Sprachmann for Wattens – prevented any further goals in the remainder of the first period.

Kundl increasingly took control in the second period and created chances, but netminder Sprachmann initially prevented the home side from taking the lead. Wattens only occasionally got in front of the opposition goal, but their shots were too tame. Following an attack down the left, Lion Ramoser surprised the Wattens netminder with a backhand shot from a tight angle to make it 2:1, 21 seconds after the halfway point of the game (31.).

Immediately afterwards, the Kristallstädter missed another power-play opportunity to equalise quickly. The derby remained exciting, with neither team giving an inch in the battles. In the final period, Kundl put themselves on course for victory with a three-goal burst in the space of 45 seconds: Maximilian Mackner finished a quick attack with a fierce shot from the slot to make it 3:1 (44.), before Simon Brandner added the 4:1 (44.). The home side were now truly on fire, with Alexander Frandl scoring from the left to make it 5:1 (45.).

After Michal Kluka won possession of the puck, Valentin Ploner found himself completely unmarked in front of the Wattens goal – now guarded by Isaac Schönthaler – and made it 6:1 (48.). Following a straightforward attack, Maximilian Agerer made it 7:1 from close range (57.).

Kundl's hunger for goals was still not satisfied: while short-handed, Valentin Ploner finished a breakaway with a fine deke to make it 8:1 (59.). With his second goal, Lion Ramoser completed the 9:1 final score from the slot with forty seconds remaining (60.). The win consolidates Kundl's third place in the standings behind Lustenau and Hohenems, while the Penguins are still waiting for their first points.

Eastern Division:

Sharks Gmunden remain flawless

Defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced HDK Maribor in the muki Arena in the Eastern Division on Saturday. Marc-André Dorion (in the 7th minute) and Dominik Stöttner (in the 15th minute) gave the Sharks a 2:0 lead, before Adi Drnda pulled one back for the Foxes to make it 1:2 (in the 18th minute).

The reigning champions from Upper Austria extended their lead to 4:1 in the second period, with Paul Ornetzeder shortly after the halfway point of the game (in the 32nd minute) and Elias Koller on the power play (in the 37th minute) securing a three-goal lead after 40 minutes. The team coached by Gregor Baumgartner scored twice more in the final period: André Flatscher took the score to 6:1 with a brace (in the 41st and 46th minutes), as the Sharks celebrated their fourth win in four games.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Western Division:

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:2 after penalties (1:0,1:0,0:2,0:0,1:0)
Fri., 31 October 2025, 18:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Stefan Hrdina (11:59), Lucas Haberl (34:11), Martin Grabher Meier (decisive penalty)
SC Hohenems scorers: Kai Fässler (52:00), Benjamin Kyllönen (54:18)

EHC Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 9:1 (1:1,1:0,7:0)
Fri., 31 October 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Matko Pavetić (07:38), Lion Ramoser (30:21, 59:20), Maximilian Mackner (43:34), Simon Brandner (43:48), Alexander Frandl (44:19), Valentin Ploner (47:41, 58:27/SH1), Maximilian Agerer (56:28)
WSG Wattens Penguins scorer: Noah Polig (01:23)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. HC Kufstein
Sun., 02 November 2025, 17:30. Messestadion – >> Watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga – EAST Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor 6:1 (2:1,2:0,2:0)
Sat., 01 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Marc-André Dorion (at 06:25), Dominik Stöttner (at 14:03), Paul Ornetzeder (at 31:19), Elias Koller (at 36:56/PP1), André Flatscher (at 40:33, at 45:51)
HDK Maribor goalscorer: Adi Drnda (at 17:11)

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz
Sun., 02 November 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg – >> to the livestream

Wiener Eislauf-Verein have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga begins the new season on 4 October 2025 with the opening matchday. In its fifth year, the format in the two divisions – West with six teams and East with five – will undergo a change in Phase 1. In the East Division, the coming 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.

After Phase 1, an interregional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, a play-off pick after the regular season will once again add extra excitement. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select their 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 the coming season onwards.

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

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