Lustenau new Western Confer­ence leaders after derby win over Hohenems – cham­pions Kapfen­berg beat WEV

League newcomers EHC Lustenau faced the at the Rheinhalle on National Day in the Division West in the first Vorarlberg derby in front of more than 1.600 fansSC Samina Hohenems in the first Vorarlberg derby in the Western Conference on National Day, in front of more than __OEHV_NUM_E_A__ fans at the Rheinhalle. Both teams started the game at full speed, with the visitors taking the lead through their first quick attack as Christian Haidinger beat Lustenau goaltender Felix Beck with a precise shot, 1:0 (2.). 

The Lions quickly found the right response. Having just served a penalty, Dominic Haberl fired the puck into the net following a fine combination to level the score at 1:1 (6.). Lustenau then had a power play, but the Steinböcke broke away on a quick shorthanded counterattack and Benjamin Kyllönen converted his own rebound to restore Hohenems' lead (7.).

The hosts made the better start to the second period: after exactly 69 seconds, Lucas Haberl was in the right place at the right time and scored the equaliser from close range for 2:2 (22.). Little changed in the nature of the game: both teams sought to create quick offensive opportunities, but goaltenders Felix Beck and Karlo Škec initially stood firm. That changed when Dominic Haberl scored from the slot to give head coach Daniel Fekete's team a 3:2 lead, as Lustenau had turned the game around (36.). 

Lustenau also made a flying start to the final period: Martin Grabher Meier made it 4:2 from the left side (42.). With their two-goal lead behind them, the hosts were now even better offensively and tested Hohenems goaltender Škec several times. Thomas Sticha's team tried to fight their way back into the game. 

However, Lustenau allowed nothing more defensively and added two empty-net goals late on. First, Dominic Haberl scored shorthanded for his third goal of the game to make it 5:2 (59.). With five seconds remaining, Maid Meduseljac scored into the empty net to seal the 6:2 final score (60.). Lustenau celebrated their third win in three games in the derby and moved to the top of the Western Conference standings.

First win for the Wattens Penguins in their comeback season in Dornbirn

The Dornbirner EC hosted the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins on Sunday to conclude the Western Conference round. Both teams had started the season with two defeats, and it was already clear before the game that one of them would claim their first win of the season. 

Both teams set a good pace from the outset. After just under three minutes, Simon Gratzer fired home to give the Tyroleans an early 1:0 lead (4.). Four minutes later, Julian Jagersbacher made it 2:0 for the Penguins, with the forward beating Bulldogs netminder Kilina Wempe with a precise shot from the slot (8.). The young Dornbirn side pulled one back during the frenetic opening phase. Marcel Wohlmuth won the puck, carried it into the attacking zone and scored to make it 1:2 (11.).

The two clubs continued to trade chances openly in the second period, which remained exciting for a long time. On a late power play, Matthias Schöser tapped the puck over the line from point-blank range following a classic tic-tac-toe move to make it 3:1 for WSG (38.).

Neither goaltender – Kilian Wempe for Dornbirn and Wotan Knecht for Wattens – allowed another goal in the final period. The Vorarlberg side pulled their netminder twice late on, but the Bulldogs could not find another goal. Coaches Andreas Sarg and Manfred Burgstaller's team celebrated their first win of the comeback season.

Crocodiles Kundl edge HC Kufstein in dramatic first district derby

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl faced their eternal rivals in the first district derby of the new season in the Western Conference of the Ö Eishockey Liga on Friday, HC Kufstein. The hosts began the high-stakes local clash with the Dragons with goalie Michael Sicher, who had trained at KAC, while regular netminder Thomas Hechenberger was between the pipes for the visitors. 

Neither team was interested in feeling each other out at the Eisarena Kundl: Sebastian Schild gave Kundl an early 1:0 lead (4.). Valentin Hammerle soon equalised at 1:1 for Kufstein (8.).

Neither team gave an inch, with the derby developing into a close and hard-fought affair. Both goalies and the defensive units performed strongly and initially allowed little. Shortly before the midway point of the game, Erik Hefke once again sparked celebrations at the Eisarena Kundl when he scored to make it 2:1 (30.). The first emotions then flared up, with Patrick Hager sent for an early shower for the Dragons. 

In the final period, the Crocodiles initially held on to their lead before defenceman Josef Flick made it 3:1 on a 5:3 power play (49.). But Head Coach Andreas Luchner's team refused to give in; quite the opposite: Maximilian Camondo cut the deficit to 2:3 on the power play (53.). Just under two minutes later, Valentin Hammerle equalised at 3:3 for Kufstein (56.). 

The heated derby went to overtime, where Maximilian Agerer scored the 4:3 for Kundl after 34 seconds to secure the Crocodiles' victory after a dramatic final period (61.).

Eastern Division:

Champions Kapfenberg win convincingly against Wiener Eislauf-Verein

After two consecutive away defeats, each by a single goal, champions Kapfenberger SV played their first home game of the season against Wiener Eislauf-Verein. After two games, the defending Ö Eishockey Liga champions were bottom of the table with zero points, an unfamiliar situation for the Kängurus, who had gone unbeaten in their title-winning season. 

The two teams contested an intense game from the very start. Following a fine attack, Lukas Winkler pounced from close range to make it 1:0 for Kapfenberg (14.). Shortly before the end of the period, the Kängurus added the 2:0. Christoph Draschkowitz beat WEV goalie Moritz Merkader with a fierce shot from the right face-off circle 50 seconds before the end of the period (20.).

In the second period, both clubs' defensive units were disciplined for long stretches, while both goalies, Merkader and Kapfenberg's Michael Bischof, also made good saves. Vienna had to kill off two penalties, but the champions from the Mürztal were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage with another goal. The match remained a hard-fought affair, not least because Head Coach Philipp Ullrich's team did not want to surrender easily. 

As the second period progressed, however, the hosts led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler repeatedly pinned WEV in their own defensive zone, with 3:0 in the air. Then Maximilian Ramsbacher of the Styrians was sent for an early shower with a two-plus-five-game misconduct penalty. WEV had a great opportunity to get back into the game. But it turned out differently: following a quick counter-attack, Pierre Graf scored shorthanded to make it 3:0 for Kapfenberg (39.). 

In the final period, the Mürztal side controlled the game, with Pierre Graf making it 4:0 after a fine combination (48.); that settled the match for good. On a power play, player-coach Kris Reinthaler fired from the point and Pierre Graf scored for the third time that evening to make it 5:0 for the Kängurus (55.). 

With three and a half minutes remaining, WEV finally got on the scoresheet as Nils Granitz beat KSV goalie Bischof with a fierce shot (57.). Kris Reinthaler had the final say, firing from the blue line to make it 6:1 (59.). After two opening defeats, the champions claimed their first three points of the current season.

ATSE Graz celebrate first win of the season against HDK Maribor

After a weekend without a game, ATSE Graz hosted the HDK Maribor in the Eastern Division on National Day in their second home game, in a Styrian derby between partner cities against a side that had made a strong start to the Ö Eishockey Liga. 

Both teams engaged in a lively contest from the outset, with quick attacks at both ends. ATSE had the first power play but, despite setting up well, were unable to make their numerical advantage count. The Foxes from Slovenia then played with great confidence and repeatedly created offensive chances. The visitors were also unable to capitalise on a power play, with both netminders – Florian Zeugswetter for Graz and Omar Ždralović for Maribor – keeping clean sheets over the opening 20 minutes.

In the second period, ATSE suddenly took a 2:0 lead with two goals in 56 seconds. Florian Murg first converted a rebound to make it 1:0 (25.), before Luca Rodiga backhanded home a rebound off netminder Ždralović (25.). Graz pressed on and, following a swift attack, Matthias Kaltenegger lifted the puck into the far corner with a backhand shot to make it 3:0 (29.). Ždralović had seen enough after the third goal and Lazar Ilić replaced him in net. But ATSE extended their lead to 4:0 through Clemens Lennkh, who deflected the puck in unstoppable fashion (35.). 

Four minutes before the end of the period, Nejc Kastelic fired from close range to score the first goal for Head Coach Jure Verlič's team (37.). In the final period, Florian Angerbauer added the 5:1 for ATSE Graz, which proved to be the final decision in this game (44.). While shorthanded, Rupert Strohmeier broke away and scored to make it 6:1 for the Eggenberg side five minutes from time (55.).

With 31 seconds remaining, Adi Drnda scored the 2:6 merely as a consolation for Maribor (60.). In the end, Head Coach Markus Losch's team celebrated their first win of the season.

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden had a bye at the weekend. The Upper Austrians return to action against ATSE Graz on 02 November.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems 6:2 (1:2,2:0,3:0)
Sat., 26 October 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Dominic Haberl (05:18, 35:38, 58:12/SH1/EN), Lucas Haberl (21:09), Martin Grabher Meier (41:56), Maid Meduseljac (59:55/EN)
SC Samina Hohenems goalscorers: Christian Haidinger (01:20), Benjamin Kyllönen (06:43/SH1)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 4:3 after overtime (1:1,1:0,1:2,1:0)
Fri., 25 October 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Sebastian Schild (03:51), Erik Hefke (29:43), Josef Flick (48:31/PP2), Maximilian Agerer (60:34)
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Valentin Hammerle (07:10, 55:55), Maximilian Camondo (52:38/PP1)

Dornbirner EC vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 1:3 (1:2,0:1,0:0)
Sun., 27 October 2024, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Dornbirner EC goalscorer: Marcel Wohlmuth (10:04)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Simon Gratzer (at 03:02), Julian Jagersbacher (at 07:10), Matthias Schöser (at 37:13/PP1)

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor 6:2 (0:0,4:1,2:1)

Saturday, 26 October 2024, 18:00, Merkur Eisstadion

ATSE Graz scorers: Florian Murg (at 24:02), Luca Rodiga (at 24:58), Matthias Kaltenegger (at 28:02), Clemens Lennkh (at 34:12), Florian Angerbauer (at 43:51), Rupert Strohmeier (at 54:58/SH1)

HDK Maribor scorers: Nejc Kastelic (at 36:01), Adi Drnda (at 59:29)

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 6:1 (2:0,1:0,3:1)

Saturday, 26 October 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

KSV Kängurus scorers: Lukas Winkler (at 13:15), Christoph Draschkowitz (at 19:10), Pierre Graf (at 38:48/SH1, at 47:30, at 54:12/PP1), Kris Reinthaler (at 58:47)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer: Nils Granitz (at 56:35)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden bye

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