New Year block­buster: Sharks Gmunden v WEV for top spot – derby thriller in the west

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz

Sat, 04 January 2025, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

For the HDK Maribor and ATSE Graz the new year in the East Division begins as the old year ended: with a direct meeting that has a highly exciting scenario. Their narrow 3:2 home win before Christmas brought the Graz side back into contention for the final play-off place. 

The two opponents now meet again straight away in the derby of the twin cities. The Foxes from the Slovenian city on the Drava are currently in fourth place, the final play-off spot, and still hold a two-point lead. ATSE have only recorded two wins this season, both of them at home against Maribor. Before the most recent 3:2, there had been a 6:2 on National Day. On 09 November, the hosts won 4:1 at Ledena dvorana Maribor.

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sun, 05 January 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden

The draw has ensured that the UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden and Wiener Eislauf-Verein begin 2025 in the same way 2024 ended. With their 3:1 win before the turn of the year on 28 December, the Vienna side had moved to within one point of the league leaders from Lake Traun. 

The situation is clear: the direct clash for top spot in the Muki Eisarena is the standout fixture in the East Division. The Upper Austrians have won seven of their ten matches so far, with all three defeats coming, of all teams, against the capital side. All three meetings this season have been very close. On 09 November, WEV won 4:3 on penalties at Lake Traun, followed in December by a 2:1 home win for the Vienna side and, most recently, the 3:1 victory.

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Defending champions Kapfenberger SV Kängurus face UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. Less than 24 hours after the home face-off against WEV, the Sharks travel to the Mürztal. What the Viennese are to the Sharks, Gmunden are to the Kangaroos: their "bogey team" this season. 

The reigning champions have lost four of their ten games played, one of them against Maribor in the opener. The other three defeats came against the Upper Austrians. They suffered a narrow 4:5 defeat away from home in October, followed by a 3:7 home defeat at the end of November, before being beaten 1:4 in Gmunden shortly before Christmas.

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein must also take to the ice against ATSE Graz just 24 hours after the face-off at Sharks Gmunden. The hosts remain unbeaten this season at the WEV Arena opposite the Vienna Konzerthaus. The capital side celebrated a commanding 4:0 win against Graz in mid-December, while their 5:0 away victory in Liebenau in November was even more impressive.

Division West:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein

Fri, 03 January 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl 

As early as Friday, EHC Crocodiles Kundl and local rivals HC Kufstein will ring in the new year in the third district derby of the season at Eisarena Kundl. The clash between the two teams from the Lower Inn Valley will answer two questions: who are the number 1 team in the Kufstein district? And who will be third in the Division West table after the match? 

The teams have already met twice this season, with both encounters going down to the wire. The Crocodiles won the first match in Kundl at the end of October 4:3 after overtime, while the Dragons celebrated a razor-thin 1:0 victory in their home game on St Nicholas Day. 

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau

Sat, 04 January 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The Vorarlberg derby between the chasing SC Samina Hohenems and league leaders EHC Lustenau on Saturday at Herrenried is the absolute top clash in the West Division and could turn into a genuine open-air ice hockey festival. Both teams have won the direct home encounters played so far.

The Lions won 6:2 at the Rheinhalle on National Day in front of more than 1.600 fans. At the end of November, the Ibex achieved something special: they handed Lustenau their first and only defeat of the season at Eisstadion Hohenems in front of more than 1.300 fans. Even though there is not much at stake in terms of the standings – Lustenau are comfortably first and Hohenems comfortably second – a fiercely contested, prestigious derby is on the agenda right at the start of the year.

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Dornbirner EC

Sat, 04 January 2025, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins face Dornbirner EC at Eislaufplatz Wattens on Saturday. Ahead of the double matchday, the Penguins from the Crystal City are ten points behind the final play-off place, currently held by Kundl ahead of their clash with Kufstein. The Tyroleans and Vorarlbergers have already met twice this season, with Wattens claiming a 3:1 away win at the end of October before Wattener Sportgemeinschaft followed that up with a clear 9:2 victory at home.

EHC Lustenau vs. Dornbirner EC

Mon, 06 January 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Just 48 hours after the Hohenems match, league leaders EHC Lustenau have the next Vorarlberg derby on the agenda against Dornbirner EC. On paper, this should be a clear-cut affair for the Lions from the Rhine. This meeting is the final head-to-head encounter of the ÖEL regular season. There have already been three derbies this season, with Lustenau leaving the ice against the Bulldogs as 7:0, 10:0 and 9:2 winners.

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:00, Eisarena Kundl

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl host SC Samina Hohenems at Eisarena am Inn for the second time on Epiphany. The Vorarlberg side won their last meeting shortly before Christmas 3:1. That was successful revenge for the 2:3 overtime defeat at Herrenried on home ice at the start of November. The Ibex are firmly entrenched in second place in the West Division standings, while after Friday's derby the Crocodiles will be battling Kufstein from afar for third place.

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein

Mon., 06 January 2025, 19:30, Wattens Ice Rink

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and HC Kufstein conclude the Christmas holiday fixtures in the Ö Eishockey Liga with the Lower Inn Valley derby on Epiphany. The two clubs have crossed sticks only once so far this season. Shortly before Christmas, HC Kufstein won 5:2 at home thanks to a surge in the middle period. 

League returnees Wattens are ten points behind the final playoff spot after 13 games ahead of the double-header weekend. By the end of the match against Kufstein at the latest, the Penguins will know whether they still have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals. Following the derby against Kundl, the Dragons will be looking to remain in the battle for third place with the Crocodiles.

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz

Sat., 04 January 2025, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sun., 05 January 2025, 18:30, Gmunden Ice Arena

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Mon., 06 January 2025, 18:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz

Mon., 06 January 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein

Fri., 03 January 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl 

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau

Sat., 04 January 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Dornbirner EC

Sat., 04 January 2025, 19:30, Wattens Ice Rink

EHC Lustenau vs. Dornbirner EC

Mon, 06 January 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Mon, 06 January 2025, 18:00, Eisarena Kundl

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein

Mon, 06 January 2025, 19:30, Eislaufplatz Wattens

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