ÖEL: Excite­ment ahead of the start in the West group

To open the West group, EHC Crocodiles Kundl welcome WSG Svarowski Wattens Penguins to their ice arena. “Taking stock” is the motto for both teams. The start in a new league brings excitement and anticipation ahead of the first face-off.

Gerhard Maier, chairman of EHC Crocodiles Kundl: “Our objective for the season is clear. We want to secure a playoff ticket. Wattens are a team with several very experienced players who can decide games. That means we face a major task right from the start, one we need to master!”

The hosts have strengthened their squad with Slovakian Vladimir Dolnik. The tall, powerful forward is expected to add more quality to their attacking play. The Kundl Crocodiles will need to keep an eye on Penguins defenceman Taylor Holst, who had already found his range in pre-season and scored four goals in the friendly against Silz.

Saturday also marks the start of the Ö Eishockey Liga chapter for SC Hohenems and HC Kufstein Dragons (the game will be streamed live by Online Sport from 18:30) . Coach Bernd Schmidle’s side welcome the Tyroleans for an open-air clash at Eisstadion Herrenried and are considered favourites for the title.

Bernd Schmidle, head coach of SC Hohenems: “As in previous years, the standard of the new league will once again be very high. But we have a strong team and are therefore working solely towards winning the championship. Pre-season was not exactly ideal, as we only had ice training on Fridays and Saturdays and were otherwise off the ice all week. The two friendlies against Pfronten were okay. As for our first opponent this weekend: Kufstein are difficult to assess, but we will certainly be challenged in a completely different way from the first minute than we were in pre-season. I am convinced that the spectators will see a top-class game on Saturday!”

Willi Lanz, sporting director of HC Kufstein Dragons: “The ambition of the board, the team and the coach is to compete at the top. Our first objective is to reach the playoffs and then progress to the semi-finals. HC Hohenems are the title holders in the West and, in my opinion, the strongest team in the ÖEL. Their squad is strong and deep on paper. They have plenty of first- and second-tier experience. Nevertheless, with our passionate style of play, we have repeatedly been able to challenge Hohenems in recent years.”

Shortly before the start of the championship, the Fortress Town side strengthened their squad with Fabian Zick after Alexander Feichtner announced his retirement. In 570 DEL2 and Oberliga games, the 30-year-old German recorded no fewer than 220 points.

Styrian ice hockey fans can look forward to a hockey treat in the North-East group on Saturday. Kapfenberger SV EHC and ATSE Graz, two illustrious names in Austrian ice hockey, will cross sticks.

Kapfenberg have started the Ö Eishockey Liga with two wins. A hot contest on the ice in Leoben is guaranteed when the provincial capital side visit the current league leaders. Graz celebrated a convincing 7:1 win over the Sharks from Gmunden in their opener.

The second game in the North-East group sees EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions face Wiener Eislauf-Verein. The Lions lost their first Ö Eishockey Liga game at home to Kapfenberg by 3:5. WEV started with a narrow 5:4 win over UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden, but suffered a clear 0:5 defeat against Kapfenberg in their second match.

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Svarowski Wattens – Penguins
Fri, 15 October 2021, 19:30

SC Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein Dragons
Sat, 16 October 2021, 18:30
The game will be broadcast live by Online Sport: Livestream

Kapfenberger SV EHC vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 16 October 2021, 19:00

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 16 October 2021, 19:00