Murtal Lions and Kapfen­berg set for derby – Western show­down: SC Hohenems host Kufstein

What could be better than a derby? A derby that is also the top-of-the-table clash between the league leaders and second place. That is exactly the scenario awaiting fans in Upper Styria for the traditional highlight at Zeltweg's Aichfeldhalle between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and Kapfenberger SV.

The Kangaroos travel to Murtal to face the Lions from Zeltweg next Saturday as league leaders, having dropped no points in four games. The Murtal Lions are their closest challengers, five points behind, but have only played three games after last Saturday's game against ATSE was postponed. The two teams know each other from pre-season: KSV won 6:5 in overtime in the Gösser Cup.

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach, Kapfenberger SV: "Despite winning, we did not play good ice hockey against Zeltweg in the Gösser Cup, and that now needs to change. We will try to play our game from the first to the last minute in order to take all three points."

Christian Mayerl, chairman of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: "After the illness-related break, we face the group's top favourites on Saturday and, to be honest, we do not know where we currently stand. Kapfenberg are excellently staffed on every line; all you need to do is look at the statistics. But of course, we will throw everything into it to achieve a good result. Which team we will be able to field will become clear during the week. Unfortunately, we have a very small squad, where every absence hurts twice as much. But perhaps that is precisely what will strengthen the team spirit and cohesion even further, allowing us to perform well. One thing is clear: we will once again have to take to the ice with changes for the fourth game, but challenges are there to be accepted and overcome. The fans are already looking forward to this classic, and the league situation also has plenty to offer to make this the top-of-the-table clash."

ÖEL games are shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Association's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

WEV and Sharks Gmunden need points

This was not the start to the season that the Wiener Eislauf-Verein and the UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden had envisaged ahead of their direct clash on Saturday at the Eishalle Leithana in Bruck an der Leitha. The Viennese side narrowly lost 4:5 to league newcomers UHT Dukes Graz after an exciting match last time out. Player-coach and leading scorer Mario Kubeczka is now hoping for an improved performance against the Sharks from Lake Traun.

The Upper Austrians, who reached the play-offs last season, began the new campaign just as they did in their first season: with four defeats in October.

The Gmunden side have struggled with a lack of finishing and have faced goalkeeper problems in recent weeks, with none of their netminders fit. The return of veteran Rudi Hummel is intended to bring greater stability to the defence as well.

Like WEV, the Sharks also urgently need points to remain in the race for the play-off places. That makes for an exciting scenario.

Mario Kubeczka, WEV player-coach: "I hope that we have learned from our mistakes in the last two games and finally get back on the winning track. Gmunden have had just as difficult a start to the season as we have, but I think good ice hockey will be on display on Saturday. Both teams need to avoid losing touch in the standings. We are highly motivated and will give everything to win this game, even though we are once again dealing with absences!"

Thomas Schatzl, Chairman of UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: "Unfortunately, just like last year, we have started the season with four defeats. We wanted to avoid that, but it is understandable given our goaltending problems and lack of finishing. We have a good team and finally converted our chances better against the strong Kapfenberg side. In the bottom-of-the-table clash against WEV, we have to take all three points in order not to lose touch in the standings."

West Group: Leaders Kufstein visit Hohenems

The West Group has been extremely exciting in the new season. The HC Kufstein Dragons are sitting top of the table after five rounds and are setting the fortress town ablaze with ice hockey fever.

Following their 4:2 win at the Eisarena Kufstein last Saturday, the Dragons travel confidently to Hohenems for the return blockbuster at the atmospheric Herrenriedstadion against SC SAMINA Hohenems, having also recorded a clear 10:3 win against the Young Sharks in Innsbruck on All Saints' Day. 

After two previous derby defeats against VEU Feldkirch and in the direct clash against Kufstein, the Vorarlberg side showed the right response for Head Coach Bernd Schmidle in their 5:1 home win over EHC Crocodiles Kundl. The offensively potent Steinböcke – 27 goals in five games demonstrate their drive towards goal – are eager to draw level with the leaders in the standings.

However, Kufstein have a formidable counterargument in their new Czech power duo of Martin Kosnar and David Hrazdira, with the Dragons having scored 29 goals so far.

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach SC SAMINA Hohenems: "Against Kundl, the team showed a good response to the previous week and deservedly won thanks to a great team performance. Kufstein will certainly be a tougher proposition and we will definitely have to fight even harder for the win."

Ivo Novotny, Head Coach HC Kufstein: "We have to prepare for a completely different game from the one we experienced in Kufstein on Saturday. They will come at us very offensively and with plenty of forward momentum, and we have to be ready for that. We must not allow anything major at the back and have to take the chances that arise going forward. It will be a very close game."

VEU Feldkirch and HC Innsbruck II face off

League newcomers VEU Feldkirch host HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II at the Vorarlberghalle on Saturday. The Montfortcracks sensationally won the derby against SC Hohenems on National Day and got off the mark in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Head Coach Thomas Sticha’s young team thrilled the 600 fans at the Vorarlberghalle and now wants to continue its upward trend in the clash with the young team from Innsbruck. 

Innsbruck have shown good, fast-paced ice hockey in patches so far this season, but against the seasoned veterans in the Ö Eishockey Liga, they need to deliver for the full 60 minutes, otherwise results such as the 1:10 against Hohenems or the 3:10 against Kufstein will follow.

The Young Sharks had already taken a 2:0 lead in this match at the TIWAG Arena after a dream start. It was only at the beginning of the second period that the game swung in the Dragons’ favour. Haie assistant coach Andreas Sarg is therefore demanding a response from his team in Saturday’s clash of the "Young Guns".

Heimo Lindner, General Manager VEU Feldkirch: "After the win against SC Hohenems, which did the team a great deal of good, the next ‘derby’ is on the agenda. You can see that the team and every individual player are developing step by step; that is and remains our top priority. We are looking forward to another great game and will do everything we can to win it."

Andreas Sarg, assistant coach HC Innsbruck II: "To be able to compete in Feldkirch, certain players need to take responsibility and show the team what being a team means. Without heart, commitment and mutual respect, there can be no success."

South Group: EC Spittal vs. 1st EHC Althofen

The South Group only really gets under way on 12 November. Only the EC LiWoDruck Spittal, now playing its third match, is already fully up to speed.

On Saturday, the Hornets welcome 1st EHC Althofen to the Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal for a "back-to-back" game. Last Saturday, the Hornets edged last season’s regular-season winners 3:1 in Althofen after a hard-fought, physical battle to celebrate their first win of the season. 

Althofen Head Coach Gerald Ressmann and his players are keen for revenge in Upper Carinthia. In what is sure to be another evenly matched South Group, every point must be collected from the outset in order to remain in the play-off race.

North-East Group matchday

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat., 05 November 2022, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 05 November 2022, 19:15, Eishalle Leithana, Bruck an der Leitha

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz postponed
Wed., 16 November 2022, Merkur Eisstadion

West Group matchday

SC Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 05 November 2022, 17:30 pm, Herrenried Ice Stadium

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II
Sat, 05 November 2022, 19:30 pm

South Group matchday

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. 1st EHC Althofen
Sat, 05 November 2022, 18:15 pm, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal

ÖEL games are shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

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