Ö Eishockey Liga starts as early as 26 September

On 4 October 2025, the Ö Eishockey Liga starts the new season with its first matchday, with defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden set to be the team to beat.

Rescheduled opening match

The first league match will take place in Kapfenberg a week earlier. The clash between KSV Kängurus and ATSE Graz, originally scheduled for 28 December, has been brought forward to 26 September.

In its fifth year, the format will see a change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. In the coming season, Division East 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.

In Division East, champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden open with the big showdown against Kapfenberger SV, who face Wiener Eislauf-Verein on the second matchday. The Viennese play their opening game in Slovenia against HDK Maribor. Last year, the team coached by head coach Philipp Ullrich won their first match at Ledna dvorana Maribor 2:1 in overtime, laying the foundations for a good season. Defending champions Sharks Gmunden travel to Liebenau to face ATSE Graz on the second matchday, with Graz having a bye in the opening round. 

On the third matchday, Kapfenberg host HDK Maribor. The Kängurus from the Mürz Valley, who won the Ö Eishockey Liga title for the first time in the 2023/2024 season, once again head into the new campaign as one of the top favourites despite losing their quarter-final against Hohenems in February. ATSE Graz host WEV in the age-old classic.

Division West opens with HC Kufstein showdown against runners-up SC Hohenems

In Division West, HC Kufstein host runners-up SC Samina Hohenems in the opening-round showdown. EHC Lustenau welcome EHC Crocodiles Kundl. The opening matchday in the West concludes with Dornbirner EC Bulldogs against WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. There are two hot local derbies as early as the second matchday: HC Kufstein travel to face EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the ever-fiery district derby, while Dornbirn take on SC Hohenems. 

On the third matchday, HC Kufstein play EHC Lustenau, SC Samina Hohenems face WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins, who play their first five matches away from home. Crocodiles Kundl host Dornbirner EC Bulldogs.

The first three rounds of the ÖEL Division West regular season

Rescheduled match:

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz

Fri, 26 September 2025, 20:00

Matchday 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat, 4 October 2025

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat, 4 October 2025

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sun, 5 October 2025

Matchday 2:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein

Sat, 11 October 2025

EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sat, 11 October 2025

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sun, 12 October 2025

3rd matchday:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau

Sat, 18 October 2025

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sat, 18 October 2025

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 

Sat, 18 October 2025

The first three rounds of the ÖEL Division East regular season

1st matchday:

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 4 October 2025

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus

Sat, 4 October 2025

ATSE Graz have a bye

Sat, 4 October 2025

2nd matchday:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. KSV Kängurus

Sat, 11 October 2025

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Sat, 11 October 2025

HDK Maribor bye

Sat, 11 October 2025

3rd matchday:

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor

Fri, 17 October 2025

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 

Sat, 18 October 2025

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden bye

Sat, 18 October 2025

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga will begin the new season with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format in the two divisions, West with six teams and East with five teams, will undergo a change in phase 1. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half round robin, 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.

After phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, too, a play-off pick after the regular season will provide additional excitement. The highest-ranked team in each of the West and East Divisions may select its quarter-final opponent from the team finishing third or fourth in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off match-ups will be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

Ö Eishockey Liga - entry list 2025/2026

EAST DIVISION | 5 teams

ATSE Graz

HDK Maribor

Kapfenberger SV

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Wiener Eislauf-Verein

WEST DIVISION | 6 teams

Dornbirner Eishockeyclub Bulldogs

EHC Lustenau

EHC Crocodiles Kundl

HC Kufstein

SC Samina Hohenems

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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