ÖEL: HC Kufstein gain revenge in district derby against EHC Kundl

For the second time this season in the West Division, EHC Kundl and HC Kufstein met in the district derby in front of more than 500 fans at the Eisarena Kundl. The home side took control from the outset, and Kufstein netminder Thomas Pfarrmaier had no shortage of work. Kundl's dominance resulted in a 1:0 lead, with Sebastian Schild scoring from close range (8.).

The Dragons then applied plenty of pressure on their first power play, but Kundl, together with goaltender Jakub Kostelny, showed strong penalty killing. Shortly afterwards, the visitors equalised when Valentin Hammerle fired into the empty net for 1:1 after a botched excursion by goaltender Kostelny (13.). Kundl then had their first power play, but no goal came with the man advantage. On the next power play, Michal Kluka scored 2:1 from close range (19.). Emotions then boiled over for the first time, with the derby already a heated affair in the opening period.

The game lost none of its intensity in the second period, with both teams engaging in an entertaining battle and creating good chances at both ends. Kundl's third goal was in the air on another power play. Shortly afterwards, Aleksi Airaksinen equalised following a Kufstein counter-attack, with the Finnish new signing putting the loose puck into the opposition net for 2:2 (34.). As in their first meeting of the season, the derby developed into a thriller.

Kufstein took the lead for the first time in the final period: captain Dominique Saringer made it 3:2 with a fine shot on the power play (44.). Just over two minutes later, the Festungsstädter added another: Herbert Steiner was where a centre needs to be and scored from the slot for 4:2 (46.). Kundl tried everything, but two spells short-handed hampered their attacking efforts. Kufstein were solid defensively and, even at the end when Kundl pulled goaltender Kostelny, did not let anything slip, drawing level with their local rivals in the standings with the 4:2 victory. The Lower Inn Valley will get another taste of play-off feeling a week on Saturday, when the return match takes place at the Kufstein Arena.

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 15 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The second exciting local derby in the West Division takes place on Saturday between SC Samina Hohenems and the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs at the Eisstadion Hohenems. Like the Kufstein district derby, the Dornbirn district derby is also a back-to-back fixture, with the teams meeting again a week later at the atmospheric open-air stadium in Herrenried.

The Steinböcke are the closest challengers to West Division leaders EHC Lustenau, against whom Hohenems lost their only game of the season so far in a penalty shootout. Most recently, they recorded a hard-fought 4:2 home win over Kufstein.

Hohenems head coach Martin Mallinger is wary of the Bulldogs ahead of the game with his team: "We are looking forward to the first home derby and the back-to-back games against Dornbirn. Our aim is to win every home game. Dornbirn have clearly improved compared to last season and can cause any opponent problems. The previous meetings have demanded everything from us, so full concentration and commitment are needed from the first minute!"

For Dornbirn, a run of five consecutive defeats began in mid-October with the 1:5 result in the first home derby against Hohenems. Their only win so far came in the season opener against the Wattens Penguins, whom the Bulldogs fought back against impressively away from home last Saturday after trailing 0:4, eventually closing the gap to 3:5 before ultimately having to leave the ice with a 3:6 defeat.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger hopes his team can challenge the favourites: "Hohenems are a strong side, and we have to keep our game under control in our own zone against them. We know how dangerous the Steinböcke are and that mistakes are punished. The new foreign player (Ricards Purins, editor's note) gives Hohenems additional momentum. We want to compete with the favourites and will give our best. We kept the first game open for a long time and also showed that we can keep up with the team in second place!"

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., 15 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins host league leaders EHC Lustenau in Division West at the Alpenstadion Wattens on Saturday. Following four consecutive away defeats, the Tyroleans celebrated their first win of the season last weekend in the long-awaited open-air home debut against Dornbirn, claiming their first full three points and handing the Bulldogs the bottom spot in the table.

Wattens lost the first meeting against the Lions 1:5 at Lustenau's Rheinhalle, and now, as with the Kufstein and Dornbirn district derbies, there will be a back-to-back clash with the Vorarlberg side.

Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger is relieved after the first win and promises the league leaders a passionate battle: "The 6:3 home win in our season opener in front of our own fans was enormously important – for the team and for confidence. Now a really tough opponent awaits us in Lustenau. They deliver game after game and are unbeaten so far, playing great ice hockey. Simply taking part will definitely not be enough. It is about investing everything; we are the underdogs and have to play with full passion, take on every battle and not give up an inch. Defensively, we need to stay compact and take our chances ruthlessly in attack. We will be ready and leave everything out there!"

As in the previous season, Lustenau are the benchmark in the Division West regular season. With six straight wins – including one in a shootout in the derby against Hohenems – Lustenau lead the table with 17 points, with only the Steinböcke currently able to keep pace on 16 points. Most recently, the Green-and-Yellows secured a comfortable 5:1 away win in Kundl, and with 30 goals in six games, Lustenau are the league's strongest attacking team.

Dániel Fekete, head coach of EHC Lustenau, is travelling to Tyrol with his team full of confidence: "Our team has already produced several good performances over the course of the championship so far. We want to continue that in Wattens and return to the Ländle with three points. We will try to impose our game on the Tyroleans and put them under pressure in their own zone!"

Division East:

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 15 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor

The HDK Maribor take on defending champions and league leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden in Division East at the Ledna dvorana Maribor on Saturday. The home-strong Foxes from the Slovenian city on the Drava currently sit bottom of the table with three points and are eager for revenge after their 1:6 away defeat to the Upper Austrians on All Saints' Day.

Maribor are proof that Division East is more balanced and closer this season. The Slovenians pushed the Kangaroos from Kapfenberg all the way in a 2:3 away defeat, before a hard-fought and ultimately emotional 2:1 win against ATSE Graz followed. Most recently, Hokejsko Drsalni Klub gave WEV a tough battle in front of the Konzerthaus, but ended up with a narrow 1:2 defeat after conceding the decisive goal late in the final period.

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič hopes his team can avoid mistakes and improve their scoring efficiency: "After two away games, we are now playing at home, where it is difficult for every opponent. We are facing the leaders of our division, so we must make as few mistakes as possible and not allow them too many chances. We have had problems scoring goals, so we need to find ways to get the puck in front of their net and put their defence under pressure!"

The Sharks from Lake Traun had to work hard at home against ATSE Graz on Sunday, levelling 32 seconds from the end after trailing 0:1 for a long time before eventually securing victory in overtime.

The Sharks, who had actually been due to play a double-header at the weekend – the showpiece game in Kapfenberg had to be postponed due to a technical fault at Kapfenberg Stadthalle – currently lead the table on 14 points. However, they only had a relatively easy time in the 6:1 win against their upcoming opponents; all their other games have been hard-fought.

Sharks head coach Gregor Baumgartner knows that another tough game awaits on the road at Ledna dvorana Maribor: "We had a difficult game against ATSE Graz and will need to sharpen up our game during the training week so that we can hold our own in Maribor. Maribor play very intense, physical hockey, and we should be ready for that!"

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat., 15 November 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion Graz (Hall A)

For the third time already, the ATSE Graz and the KSV Kängurus will face off in the East Division on Saturday at Merkur Eisstadion. In the rescheduled opening derby at the end of September, Graz celebrated a surprise 2:1 overtime win in Kapfenberg. The Kängurus gained revenge with a 5:2 win in their second meeting at the beginning of November.

Now, the first meeting at the Liebenau Bunker is on the agenda. The Styrian capital side pushed champions and league leaders Sharks Gmunden all the way last Sunday, leading 1:0 until 32 seconds from the end, before having to accept a 1:2 defeat in overtime following the extremely late equaliser.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch knows how his team can hold their own against the Mürz Valley side: "After the defeat in the second game in Kapfenberg, the ATSE team are eager to gain revenge against KSV. If we manage to carry out our tasks as we did in the first game in Kapfenberg, we can certainly keep pace with the Kängurus. We have to try not to let the opposition into the slot and remain compact in front of our own goal. If we can then also score offensively, it will certainly be another interesting, evenly matched contest!"

Kapfenberg, who had found their rhythm in their last three games after an inconsistent start to the season and recorded three consecutive wins, had been looking forward to a home double-header at the weekend featuring the showpiece games against champions Gmunden and WEV, but were forced into inactivity.

Both games had to be cancelled and postponed due to a technical fault at Kapfenberg Stadthalle. The new dates will be announced as soon as possible.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler wants to prepare as well as possible with his team for the task in Graz despite the situation: "The two cancellations are force majeure, so now we have to make the best of it. ATSE Graz have now also taken a point off Gmunden; according to the live ticker, the game was very close. ATSE are a strong team, and we need to make sure that we go into the game as well prepared as possible, both through training and mentally, in order to take the full points tally home again!"

Ö Eishockey Liga – West Division:

EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein 2:4 (2:1,0:1,0:2)
Fri., 14 November 2025, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl scorers: Sebastian Schild (07:07), Michal Kluka (18:14/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Valentin Hammerle (12:23), Aleksi Airaksinen (33:55), Dominique Saringer (43:21/PP1), Herbert Steiner (45:46)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 15 November 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> to the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Lustenau       
Sat, 15 November 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 15 November 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor - >> to the livestream

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 15 November 2025, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga got the new season under way with the first round of fixtures on 4 October 2025. 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. 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, 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-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 play-off match-ups will be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

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

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