Ö Ice Hockey League: HC Kufstein edge the Wattens Penguins in the Lower Inn Valley derby

HC KufsteinHC Kufstein played their rescheduled Division West match against the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. The clash, originally scheduled for 25 October, had to be called off at the time due to an ammonia leak at the Eisarena Kufstein.

The two clubs now met for the first time this season in the Lower Inn Valley derby. Valentin Hammerle gave the hosts a 1:0 lead with a shorthanded goal during the first penalty kill (in the 7 minute). Exactly three minutes later, Stefan Reiter made it 2:0 (in the 10 minute). The Dragons failed to add another goal on two power plays.

Wattens battled their way back into the game in the second period: Noah Polig pulled one back for the Penguins to make it 1:2 shortly before the halfway point (in the 30 minute). After the goal, the visitors failed to capitalise on two power-play opportunities, and that had consequences: Stefan Reiter scored his second goal of the night to make it 3:1 for Kufstein (in the 36 minute).

The Penguins showed character once again, with Alexander Erlacher scoring the 2:3 goal after exactly 67 seconds of the final period (in the 42 minute). The derby was now on a knife edge: Daniel Frischmann equalised for Wattens at 3:3 on a 5:3 power play (in the 53 minute).

Shortly before the end, Kufstein had another power play and Finnish new signing Aleksi Airaksinen made it 4:3 for the home side two minutes before the final siren (58nd minute). Wattens pulled goalie Jakob Sprachmann, and Stefan Reiter sealed the 5:3 win with an empty-net goal – his third of the evening – to secure Kufstein’s third consecutive victory (60th minute). The Dragons, in third place, are now already twelve points ahead of the Penguins.

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 29 November 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein

Immediately after the rescheduled match against Wattens, the Eisarena Kufstein hosts its next Division West showpiece on Saturday: HC Kufstein – now third in the table after their shootout win in the derby against Kundl – take on the hitherto dominant league leaders EHC Lustenau.

The only previous meeting this season was won 5:3 by the Vorarlberg side away from home in the fortress town in mid-October. The game was a real thriller: the Dragons turned a 0:2 deficit into a 3:2 lead. However, the Lions produced a stunning late surge, scoring three goals in the final three and a half minutes to claim a narrow victory.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner is hoping for plenty of fans at both matches and for points against the leaders too: "Saturday's home game against league leaders Lustenau will certainly be a very different proposition. Everything really has to come together for us if we are to take points from it. However, the team has taken a huge step forward in recent rounds. We are therefore looking very positively at the two games this week and hope that as many fans as against Kundl come to the Kufstein Arena."

Dániel Fekete, coach of EHC Lustenau, is hoping to add further points in Tyrol: "The games in Kufstein are usually fiercely contested. This makes it all the more important that we impose our game on the opposition. In attack, we must turn the opportunities that come our way into goals, while delivering a solid performance in defence. The team is well prepared for the task ahead and I hope to return to the Ländle with more points!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 29 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins host SC Samina Hohenems in a clash between open-air clubs at the Alpenstadion on Saturday, following their rescheduled Division West game against Kufstein. In their first meeting in mid-October, the Penguins led twice at the Herrenried-Stadion but ultimately suffered a narrow 4:5 defeat against the Steinböcke. The Tyroleans, who have celebrated just one win against Dornbirn this season, now want to gain revenge on home ice.

Penguins head coach Fabian Hechenberger is confident ahead of the home game against the Vorarlberg side: "For the home game against Hohenems, we want to show our fans our true colours. We know that Hohenems are a top opponent, but at home we have the energy and support to put in a strong performance on the ice. We are ready to give everything!"

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun, 30 November 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

On Sunday, the Dornbirn Bulldogs face EHC Kundl at the Messestadion to conclude the Division West round. In their only meeting of the season so far in mid-October, the Bulldogs pushed the Tyroleans all the way on the road, taking an early 1:0 lead and pulling one back while trailing 1:3, before Kundl secured a narrow 4:2 win with a late power-play goal.

A road win in Dornbirn would see the Unterinntal side take a major step towards the play-offs, with their current lead in the standings standing at six points. Conversely, three points after 60 minutes would make the race for a quarter-final place more open again for the Bulldogs.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger is calling for the Bulldogs' familiar virtues following the clear derby defeat against Hohenems: "After the sobering double-header against Hohenems, we now need to get back on track. In the upcoming game against Kundl, our virtues will once again be clearly required. We need to bring our pace back into the game and fight for every puck. But we are absolutely ready to do everything to finally pick up points against Kundl again!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is not expecting an easy task against Dornbirn: "In the last two games, we played very fast and good ice hockey and were largely able to impose our game on the opposition. Nevertheless, we left important points on the table because we were too careless in allowing counter-attacks and were not clinical enough with our chances. In these two games, we basically beat ourselves. An away game in the Ländle against the Bulldogs is certainly not going to be any easier. It will be a high-speed game in which we have to be fully switched on from the first second, focused, uncompromising and ruthlessly clinical in front of goal!"

Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 29 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena, Gmunden

League leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden face the Wiener Eislauf-Verein in the muki Arena on Saturday in the East Division. Following their narrow 1:2 home defeat to the defending champions at Steffl Arena Halle 3 at the end of October, the Viennese side will be out for revenge.

The Sharks from Lake Traun have been very strong so far, winning all six matches – one of them against ATSE Graz in overtime after a late equaliser half a minute before the end of regulation. WEV have yet to really find their stride, most recently suffering a 2:3 home defeat to ATSE after a penalty shoot-out.

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden, and his team expect an extremely intense contest against the side from the federal capital: "We are delighted to be able to get back into action after the break. WEV are always a major challenge for us because our styles of play are very similar. We expect a highly intense game in which I expect my team to show great commitment in the battles!"

WEV Head Coach Philipp Ullrich is demanding an energetic performance from his team with a focus on discipline: "The game in Gmunden will be another tough test for us. My team must gradually realise that we need to switch gears and play with much more energy and discipline. Otherwise, it will be a short season for us."

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., 29 November 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

The ATSE Graz host HDK Maribor on Saturday in the East Division for the Styrian derby between the partner cities. Their first meeting just under a month ago was an emotionally charged thriller, with the Foxes claiming a narrow 2:1 home win. At the final buzzer, fists flew following the exciting and nerve-racking contest at Ledna dvorana Maribor. The final tally totalled 191 penalty minutes.

After eight matches, Graz have already collected eight points – more than they managed over the entire 2024/2025 season (7) – and could pull clearly away from the Slovenians with a win after 60 minutes. The third-placed side currently hold a five-point lead over the bottom team.

Markus Losch, Head Coach of ATSE Graz, wants his team to avenge the narrow away defeat: "Following the win in Vienna, we go into Saturday's game in Graz against Maribor with confidence. All of the Foxes' results have been very close, but we are highly motivated to avenge the defeat in Maribor. If we stick to our game plan and score the goals, we will leave the ice as winners on Saturday. We are again expecting a physically very intense game and will of course take up the fight against Maribor!"

Maribor Head Coach Jure Verlič knows where his team needs to improve: "In recent games, we have often been close, but have lost them all by just one goal. I think we have shown that we can compete with every team. Normally, we fail because of our own mistakes. We have to work hard to score goals, but constantly give our opponents the chance to score easily. We need to play more responsibly if we want to win!"

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

HC Kufstein vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 5:3 (2:0,1:1,2:2)
Thu., 27 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein scorers: Valentin Hammerle (at 06:28 / SH1), Stefan Reiter (at 09:28, 35:40, 59:59 / EN), Aleksi Airaksinen (at 57:58 / PP1)
Wattens Penguins scorers: Noah Polig (at 29:45), Alexander Erlacher (at 41:07), Daniel Frischmann (at 52:53 / PP2)

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 29 November 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein - >> to the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 29 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> to the livestream

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun, 30 November 2025, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 29 November 2025, 18:30, muki Arena, Gmunden - >> to the livestream

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 29 November 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will change in Phase 1 across the two divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature two and a half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, likewise resulting in 20 games per team.

After Phase 1, a cross-regional playoff will once again be held, starting with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, a playoff pick after the regular season will also provide added excitement. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions 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, the playoff match-ups will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

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

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