Ö Eishockey Liga begins its fifth season in early October with two new features

The Ö Eishockey Liga will begin its fifth season in early October with its two regional divisions, East and West, and once again a total of eleven clubs – the field of participants remains unchanged. What is new is that the clubs in Division East will also play 20 games in the regular season, as is the case in Division West. In the playoffs, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will each be played as a "Best of Three" series.

16 April 20251 min read

The Ö Eishockey Liga will start the new season with the first matchday in early October, with defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden set to be the team to beat. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 in both Division West, with six teams, and Division East, with five teams.

In Division East, the coming season will feature two and a half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. As in the previous season, Division West will play two home-and-away rounds, 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 playoff pick after the regular season will also provide additional excitement in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of Division West and Division East 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, playoff match-ups will be decided in a Best-of-Three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards. The exact schedule will be published by the ÖEHV as soon as it is confirmed.