ÖEL - Divi­sion West: HC Kufstein and VEU Feld­kirch open the new season

The ÖEL begins the new season this weekend with its first Division West games.

And two attractive games are immediately on the schedule: HC Kufstein will host VEU Feldkirch in Friday's opening game before travelling to face league newcomers Dornbirner Eishockey Club at the Messehalle on Sunday. The Dragons entered the playoffs as runners-up, level on points with SC Hohenems, last season, where the Tyroleans were only eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Steindorf. 

VEU Feldkirch produced strong performances in their debut season and, after finishing third in the regular season, surprisingly reached the playoffs. There, the young Ländle players pushed heavy favourites Kapfenberger SV all the way over two games, but had to accept their quarter-final exit on a narrow 5:7 aggregate score.

Roland Luchner, Chairman of the Board & Head of Marketing at HC Kufstein can sense the anticipation in the fortress town, where Dragons fans will once again be treated to ice hockey played with passion at the Kufstein Arena: "We are very pleased that things are finally getting under way again. You can already feel the excitement throughout the city. At the HTR Cup, our own pre-season tournament, we already had around 500 spectators in the arena again. Pre-season has also been very promising from a sporting perspective. We were able to strengthen the team well and hope to build on last season's performances. The semi-finals are the stated objective."

The big unknown on the opening matchday is Dornbirner Eishockey Club, for whom Sunday’s first home game will immediately provide an important test against strong Kufstein. The "Rheintal Future" project is intended to promote ice hockey youth development in Vorarlberg and develop young players.

Pavel Takac, Head Coach of Dornbirner Eishockey Club sees his team as underdogs in their opening game against Kufstein, but wants to challenge the established clubs in every match: "The Rheintal Future project continues for us all the way to the Ö Eishockey Liga. We know that the league will be a major challenge for us. The aim is to reach a playoff spot through hard work, determination and pace. Against Kufstein in the opener, we are certainly the clear underdogs – as we are in almost every game. Kufstein have been in the league for a long time and have very good players. This season will be our first year of learning. But we will be capable of troubling one or two big opponents. Our aim here in Dornbirn is to further develop young, talented players and offer them a platform to play ice hockey at a high level. We have also reorganised ourselves in Dornbirn and will have to learn some costly lessons off the ice as well."

The Vorarlberg derby between SC Hohenems and VEU Feldkirch, which had been scheduled for Saturday, had to be postponed due to technical problems at the Hohenems ice stadium and will now take place on Saturday, 14 October 2023.

Division East starts on 14 October 2023

A week after the opening in the west, on 14 October 2023, Division East will also get under way. 

ATSE Graz take on Kapfenberger SV, who, having been dominant division winners and semi-finalists last season, are again considered among the title favourites for the new campaign. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions face Wiener Eislauf-Verein, while UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden travel to UHT Dukes Graz.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West

1st matchday:

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch
Fri, 06 October 2023, 19:45, Eisarena Kufstein

Dornbirner Eishockey Club vs. HC Kufstein
Sun, 08 October 2023, 17:30, Messehalle Dornbirn

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. VEU Feldkirch
Postponed to Sat, 14 October 2023, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

EHC Crocodiles Kundl have a bye

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East

1st matchday:

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 14 October 2023, 18:00, Merkur Eisstadion Halle B

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 14 October 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

UHT Dukes Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 14 October 2023, 20:00, Merkur Eisstadion

All tables, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecentre

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!