Lustenau win emotional thriller against HC Kufstein – ATSE Graz over­come WEV

The HC Kufstein took on league leaders EHC Lustenau in the Western Division’s game of the round on Saturday, in front of more than 600 fans at the Kufstein Eisarena. The Vorarlberg side took an early lead while shorthanded. The Lions launched a lightning-fast counter-attack from their own defensive zone, which Martin Grabher Meier clinically finished for 1:0 – a textbook shorthander (at 5 minutes).

The Dragons appeared shocked after conceding and were unable to make the most of the remaining power play. The Western Division leaders, meanwhile, were the more dominant and composed side, and Lucas Haberl redirected the puck over the line for 2:0 as a power play expired (at 14 minutes).

The clash remained exciting in the second period. Kufstein tried to score a goal to get back into the game, but continued to come up empty. Lustenau were unable to extend their lead. As the middle period wore on, nerves began to play a part on both sides, and towards the end, a few pleasantries were exchanged as emotions boiled over.

The final period suddenly turned the game into a thriller: Stefan Reiter scored the Dragons’ long-awaited goal to get back into the game, finishing a fine combination with his backhand for 1:2 (at 45 minutes). The contest remained emotional and featured plenty of penalties, with Markus Prock making it 2:2 from close range (at 49 minutes). Then the Kufstein Eisarena erupted for a different reason: captain Dominique Saringer scored a shorthander after a solo effort to make it 3:2 barely a minute later (at 50 minutes).

The match had now entered crunch time, with Jonas Kutzer scoring 3:3 on the power play from the blue line (at 57 minutes). Lustenau responded: prolific scorer Chris D’Alvise lifted the puck into the net from close range for 4:3 (at 59 minutes). Martin Grabher Meier sealed it at 37 seconds before the end with an empty-netter for 5:3 (at 60 minutes). The fists flew once again at the end.

SC Hohenems celebrate narrow win over the Wattens Penguins

The SC Samina Hohenems celebrated their home opener in the Western Division on Saturday in front of more than 630 fans at Herrenried against the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. Having won their first two games, the Steinböcke entered the match full of confidence. However, the Penguins matched them throughout the opening minutes and took a 1:0 lead on the power play: Ricards Purins fired from the left face-off circle and beat Hohenems netminder Karlo Škec (at 8 minutes).

The two teams then engaged in an open exchange before the Vorarlberg side equalised. After a determined attack, the puck fell to Benjamin Kyllönen, who scored from the slot for 1:1 (at 18 minutes).

The second period then really came to life. Wattens initially regained the lead, with Christian Csics converting a puck that rebounded off the boards for 2:1 (at 23 minutes). Hohenems responded quickly, with Fabian Mandlburger scoring 2:2 from close range just 79 seconds later (at 24 minutes). Four minutes later, Noel Vetter deflected the puck in following a face-off and a shot to make it 3:2 for the Emser side (at 28 minutes).

Wattens equalised late in the second period: Patrick Huber scored from close range for 3:3 (at 39 minutes), and the match remained fiercely contested. Just under five minutes into the final period, Michael Novak hammered the puck from the blue line into the net to give Hohenems a 4:3 lead (at 45 minutes). Shortly afterwards, Benjamin Kyllönen scored his second goal from the slot to make it 5:3 (at 47 minutes).

The Tyroleans did not let up, with Patrick Huber sweeping the puck over the line from close range to pull one back at 4:5 (at 50 minutes). The Penguins pulled netminder Jakob Sprachmann at the end, but were unable to find an equaliser. Hohenems won their third game in a row, while Wattens remain without points despite a strong performance.

EHC Kundl move into third place in the Western Division after win over Dornbirner EC

Lustenau head coach Dániel Fekete rates the Dragons highly: "Kufstein have a very good team, and it is only a matter of time before they turn the corner. They play a rather physical style of ice hockey. We need to be prepared for that and stand up to it. With two wins under our belts and the corresponding confidence, we travel to Kufstein looking forward to an intense game!"

The EHC Kundl faced the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs in the Kundl Ice Arena in the West Division on Friday. The team from Vorarlberg enjoyed a dream start: Domenic Grabher collected the puck in the slot and beat Kundl netminder Johann Bauer after 103 seconds to make it 1:0 (2.). Both teams then failed to convert a power play apiece, before engaging in an open end-to-end battle over the course of the first period.

The Tyroleans equalised after a fine combination: Michal Kluka passed to Valentin Ploner, who also scored from the slot to make it 1:1 (14.). Two minutes before the end of the period, Head Coach Jaroslav Betka’s team had initially turned the game around: following a face-off, the puck came to Maximilian Agerer after a shot by Alexander Gruber and a deflection from Lukas Haaser, and he scored from close range to make it 2:1 (19.).

The hosts increased the tempo in the second period, while goaltender Fabian Pozzera made two outstanding saves to preserve the Bulldogs’ narrow deficit. However, the DEC netminder had no chance against Michal Kluka’s rocket while shorthanded 3:5, as Kundl took a 3:1 lead in the second period (34.).

In the final period, the team from Vorarlberg initially failed to capitalise on an early power play, but shortly afterwards Alessandro Togni caught Kundl goaltender Bauer out with a fine wrist shot following a quick attack to pull it back to 2:3 (46.). Suddenly, the match was highly exciting again and fiercely contested by both teams.

Unlike Dornbirn, Kundl made the most of another power play and restored their two-goal lead: Christian Baierl finished off a superb move, following a one-two with Lukas Thaler, to make it 4:2 (56.). Head Coach Jörg Kopeinig’s team could find no way to turn the match around in the closing minutes, as Kundl celebrated their second home win and now sit third in the Western standings.

Ö Ice Hockey League – East Division:

ATSE Graz prevail against Wiener Eislauf-Verein

The ATSE Graz faced the Wiener Eislauf-Verein in the ever-young classic at the Merkur Ice Stadium in the East Division on Saturday. Vienna took a 1:0 lead following a turnover in the Graz defence, with Lucas Burzin quickest to react and scoring from the left face-off circle (13.). The hosts equalised shortly after their first power play: Mathias Werkl drove towards the WEV net and made it 1:1 (17.).

The match also showed in the second period that the teams in the East Division have moved closer together. Both sides engaged in an even and intense battle, with both defensive units well organised, while the two goaltenders – Florian Zeugswetter for ATSE and Moritz Merkader for WEV – took care of the rest.

The contest became even more intense in the final period. Emotions also increasingly came into play. Following an attack down the right, the puck came to Jonas Nemas, who scored from the right face-off circle to make it 2:1 for ATSE Graz (50.). WEV tried everything and pulled goaltender Moritz Merkader. Maximilian Schwarz took advantage, scoring into the empty net from the centre line to make it 3:1, 18 seconds before the siren (60.). Graz thus celebrated their second win in three games.

KSV Kängurus edge HDK Maribor

The KSV Kängurus welcomed HDK Maribor to the Stadthalle Kapfenberg for their second home game of the season in the East Division on Saturday. The two teams traded chances at a brisk pace from the outset, with Kapfenberg squandering good opportunities. Following a fine attack, the visitors from Slovenia suddenly took a 1:0 lead, as Ian Fingušt forced the puck over the line on the power play (12.).

The Kangaroos, meanwhile, also needed a power-play opportunity to level the score. The Mürztal side patiently worked the puck around with the man advantage and combined their way in front of the Maribor goal, where player-coach Kris Reinthaler finished to make it 1:1 (16).

The contest remained an exciting affair in the second period. Once again, it was a power play that the Kapfenberg side used to take the lead: Christoph Draschkowitz hammered the puck into the net from the left face-off circle with a splendid slap shot to make it 2:1 (27). Neither side was able to convert further power-play opportunities into goals. The Kangaroos took a narrow one-goal lead over the Foxes into the final period.

There, Jan Čerič levelled the score at 2:2 on another power play (43). Kapfenberg pressed for the lead and got it after the Slovenians lost the puck. Christoph Draschkowitz scored to make it 3:2 on his second attempt (48). In the end, Maribor head coach Jure Verlič took a risk and pulled netminder Jaka Gajšek, but Kapfenberg prevailed narrowly 3:2 to take over top spot in the table.

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden had a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 5:4 (1:1,2:2,2:1)
Sat, 18 October 2025, 18:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems scorers: Benjamin Kyllönen (17:41, 46:27), Fabian Mandlburger (23:26), Noel Vetter (27:23), Michael Novak (44:46)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Ricards Purins (07:53/PP1), Christian Csics (22:07), Patrick Huber (38:03/PP1, 49:29)

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 3:5 (0:2,0:0,3:3)
Sat, 18 October 2025, 19:00, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Stefan Reiter (44:21), Markus Prock (48:22), Dominique Saringer (49:33/SH1)
EHC Lustenau scorers: Martin Grabher Meier (04:37/SH1, 59:23/EN), Lucas Haberl (13:08), Jonas Kutzer (56:20/PP1), Christopher D’Alvise (58:46)

EHC Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 4:2 (2:1,1:0,1:1)
Fri, 17 October 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Valentin Ploner (13:05), Maximilian Agerer (18:02), Michal Kluka (33:39/PP2), Christian Baierl (55:05/PP1)
Dornbirner EC scorers: Domenic Grabher (01:43). Alessandro Togni (45:10)

Ö Eishockey Liga – EAST Division:

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:1 (1:1,0:0,2:0)
Sat., 18 October 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz scorers: Mathias Werkl (16:14), Jonas Nemas (49:33), Maximilian Schwarz (59:42/EN)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer: Lucas Burzin (12:47)

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor 3:2 (1:1,1:0,1:1)
Sat., 18 October 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Kristof Reinthaler (15:57/PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (26:45/PP1, 47:13)
HDK Maribor scorers: Ian Fingušt (11:05/PP1), Jan Čerič (42:36/PP1)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

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

Following Phase 1, an inter-regional playoff will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The coming season will also see a playoff pick add extra excitement after the regular season. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose 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 the coming season onwards.

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

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