Ö Ice Hockey League: Four year-end games in Group West and Group South

Before the battle for the playoff places reaches its climax in January, the Ö Ice Hockey League will round off 2022 with a total of four games on Friday. In Group West, league leaders HC Kufstein take on defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. Chasers SC Hohenems face HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II. In Group South, UECR Eisbären Huben take on USC Pirates Velden. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf host the young eagles of EC iDM VSV.

28 December 20223 min read

In mid-October, HC Kufstein began their highly successful season to date against defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins with a 6:2 win.

In the second meeting, the team coached by Ivo Novotny followed up with an emphatic 11:2 victory over the Penguins. On Tuesday, Kufstein won 3:2 away to EHC Crocodiles Kundl in a high-quality and exciting district derby, reclaiming top spot in Group West after a brief Hohenems interlude.

Defending champions Wattens are fighting hard to close the gap on third place, and with it the playoff spot currently held by VEU Feldkirch. The Crystal City side have recently celebrated two consecutive wins: 6:2 against Kundl and an emphatic 11:0 victory over HC Innsbruck II.

SC Hohenems face HC Innsbruck II

The SC SAMINA Hohenems take on HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II at the Herrenriedstadion. The Ibex have recently found their stride.

Following their narrow derby defeat to VEU Feldkirch in mid-November, the team coached by Bernd Schmidle recorded five wins. In particular, their recent away victory over HC Kufstein and their win in the Vorarlberg derby on Boxing Day show that Hohenems are gradually playing themselves into playoff form.

Innsbruck have had a difficult season, suffering twelve defeats from twelve games. And away in Hohenems, the chances of picking up points are rather slim for most clubs.

Group South: Eisbären Huben host Pirates Velden

In Group South, UECR Eisbären Huben host USC Pirates Velden in the wonderful open-air arena below the road to the Defereggen Valley.

The East Tyroleans were beaten 3:6 at home by the young eagles on Boxing Day, and now the third-placed side from the western shore of Lake Wörthersee travel to the Isel Valley.

Head coach Herwig Gressel's team suffered a 2:3 defeat to league leaders 1. EHC Althofen on 23 December, following three consecutive wins. The first meeting of the season in Velden was extremely tense, with Johannes Warscher scoring the 1:0 winner for the Eisbären from Huben exactly one second before the end of overtime after 60 scoreless minutes.

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf take on EC iDM VSV

It is the first meeting of the season between ESC SoccerZone Steindorf and the Young Eagles of EC iDM VSV at the Ossiacher See Halle, and it is a home game for both sides, as VSV's juniors also play all their home games in Steindorf.

Steindorf are currently second in Group South behind leaders Althofen and would therefore qualify for the interregional playoffs. Head coach Robert Moser's team recently recorded two wins, with the 5:3 victory over the Rhinos from Althofen on 10 December particularly making a statement.

The Villach Young Eagles are also far from out of the race for an ÖEL playoff spot. Head coach Günther Lanzinger's side celebrated a 6:3 away win in Huben on Boxing Day, and the battle for the playoffs now continues for the young side from the Drau city on the shores of Lake Ossiach.

Group West matchday

SC SAMINA Hohenems vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II
Fri, 30 December 2022, 19:00, Herrenriedstadion

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. VEU Feldkirch
The game has been cancelled; a new date will be announced.

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Fri, 30 December 2022, 19:45, Eisarena Kufstein

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 2:3 (0:1,1:1,1:1)
Tue, 27 December 2022, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Paul Krammer (38:25), Adrian Schuster (45:59)
HC Kufstein scorers: David Hrazdira (17:51/PP1), Philipp Sappl (25:07), Dominique Saringer (59:22)