Play-off start: Kufstein seeking revenge against Sharks Gmunden - WEV face Hohenems again

Quarter-final 1 - Game 1: EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz
Sat., 07 February 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

The dominant winners of Division West - EHC Lustenau - will face ATSE Graz in the opening quarter-final match of the best-of-three series at the Rheinhalle on Saturday. On paper, the side from Vorarlberg are overwhelming favourites. The Lions dominated the Division West regular season, recording 18 wins in 20 games - one of them after a penalty shoot-out - and suffering just two defeats, against EHC Kundl at the start of the year and most recently against SC Hohenems in the derby.

Lustenau were the league's goal-scoring machine, with 114 goals in 20 games equating to an average of almost six goals per match. The team coached by head coach Dániel Fekete were also the strongest defensively, conceding just 34 goals.

Graz, who are back in the play-offs after a year away, reached the quarter-finals as the fourth-placed team in Division East. The team coached by head coach Markus Losch recorded eight wins in total, with the 2:1 overtime win away to Kapfenberg in the season opener and the 4:3 victory over defending champions Sharks Gmunden after a penalty shoot-out at the end of December particularly noteworthy.

Lustenau and ATSE Graz have met eight times in Austrian ice hockey, including at the highest level in the Bundesliga in the 1989/1990 season. Their last meeting took place on 21 January 2012, when EHC Lustenau celebrated a 4:3 penalty-shoot-out win in Graz in the Austrian National League. EHC Lustenau then lost to HC Innsbruck in the quarter-finals, with Innsbruck going on to reach the final and beat ATSE Graz there.

Dániel Fekete, head coach of EHC Lustenau, is approaching the clash with Graz confidently with his team: “Everything starts again from zero now. Looking back at the regular season may be good for confidence, but our focus is on the future. The cards are reshuffled in the play-offs. The players and coaching staff are pleased that the decisive phase of the season is now beginning. We have looked at our quarter-final opponents from Graz and analysed their style of play. We want to put the findings into practice in the very first game and start this play-off series with a win!”

Markus Losch, head coach of ATSE Graz, is aware of the situation but also knows what will be needed to challenge Lustenau: "We are, of course, massive underdogs against EHC Lustenau. I think a lot is possible in the play-offs, but naturally everything has to come together for us. From defence to offence, all the coordination now has to be right, and we will certainly have to produce our best performance to compete in Vorarlberg. With a solid defence and the necessary aggression, the team will certainly try to present itself as well as possible!"

Quarter-final 2 - Game 1: KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl
Sat., 07 February 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The winners of Division East - the KSV Kängurus - will face the EHC Kundl in the opening quarter-final match of the best-of-three series at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday. Kapfenberg had only secured top spot in the East last Saturday with an emphatic 7:1 win in their direct clash with defending champions Sharks Gmunden, putting themselves in ideal shape for the start of the play-offs.

The 2024 champions recorded 15 wins in the preliminary round, but most recently also suffered two home defeats to WEV. This confirms the comments made by player-coach Kris Reinthaler, who had repeatedly pointed out in the autumn that the teams in the East had moved closer together.

Above all, the encounters with the Sharks Gmunden before the most recent win were all of an extremely high standard; in particular, the Kapfenberg side's 2:1 overtime victory at the start of January was a great advertisement for the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Quarter-final opponents Kundl celebrated a total of eight wins in the regular season. Their 2:1 victory over EHC Lustenau at the start of the year deserves special mention, as the Tyroleans sensationally inflicted the first defeat of the season on the commanding Western Conference leaders.

Their most recent 2:1 win over SC Hohenems also showed that Kundl can win tight games at home with a strong defensive display. In addition, the Lower Inn Valley side had already had to demonstrate composure and fighting spirit on several occasions during the regular season in their long-distance battle with the Wattens Penguins for a play-off place.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler is hoping for performances from his team against the Tyroleans similar to those against Gmunden: "We now need to give some thought to the Kundl team; in recent years, we have actually mainly played our games against Hohenems. We have never played Kundl in the league, of course we made brief enquiries with three other people and did not just pick blindly and take the fourth-placed team. But I think, in terms of travel demands, this is one of the best teams we could have chosen. We do not have to travel right across Austria, which is positive. If we can build on the last game against Gmunden in any way, then I am very confident that we will put together a very good run in the play-offs!" 

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer is, like his team, eagerly anticipating the fifth season, with nothing to be left to chance: "With the start of the play-offs, the coolest time of the season begins. The past games have shown just how close and intense this league is. Kapfenberg have proved that they are deservedly top of their group in recent weeks with brutal results, including the statement win against Gmunden and the impressive 7:1. We, too, have taken a clear step forward in recent games, beaten big teams and proved that we clearly belong in the play-offs. As a team, we have grown closer together and worked hard to earn this play-off start. We have analysed both our own recent games and those of Kapfenberg in detail, and are working hard to achieve a major success away from home. We are looking forward to the play-offs, because now only passion, unity and the absolute will to win count!"

Quarter-final 3 – Game 1: UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 07 February 2026, 18:30, muki Arena

Defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden face HC Kufstein again on Saturday at the muki Arena as the quarter-finals get under way. The two clubs already met in the last eight last year: at the start of February 2025, the Tyroleans secured an excellent position for the return leg at Kufstein Ice Arena with a convincing 4:0 away win at Lake Traunsee.

The Sharks hit back away from home, levelling the aggregate score at 4:4 just before the midway point of the game in the quarter-final, which was still played in Champions Hockey League format at the time. The Dragons regained the advantage with the 1:4 in the final period, but a double strike within 30 seconds secured the eventual ÖEL champions a place in the semi-finals. Kufstein took some time to recover from the 1:6 home defeat and their early play-off exit in the previous season. However, the Lower Inn Valley side now have an early opportunity for revenge.

Gmunden were the dominant team in the East before Christmas and began the season with nine consecutive wins. A 0:4 home defeat to WEV shortly before Christmas began a run of five defeats, before the reigning champions recovered.

The Dragons finished third in the West behind Lustenau and Hohenems, but were locked in a long battle with the Steinböcke for second place in the table. While Kufstein could not take a point against Lustenau, they recorded two impressive wins over Hohenems – a 7:4 home victory in mid-December and a 5:2 away win at the start of January.

Gregor Baumgartner, head coach of Sharks Gmunden, is embracing the challenge against the Tyroleans with his team: "We are looking forward to the challenge and to another clash with HC Kufstein. The Dragons will certainly be ready for revenge, and it will be up to us whether we can take enough intensity into the play-offs!"

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner and his team are eager for revenge: "In Gmunden, we face a very strong opponent in the quarter-finals, one with whom we still have unfinished business from last year. We are therefore very much looking forward to a hot play-off series! The Sharks have impressed throughout the season, particularly with the speed they bring onto the ice. But we are not in the play-offs for nothing either; we have improved from game to game and are now exactly where we wanted to be. To travel home on Saturday with the lead in the best-of-three series, we will certainly need to play our best hockey and make the most of our strengths. But hey, it is play-off hockey – every shift counts now, and that is exactly what we have been working towards!"

Quarter-final 4 – Game 1: SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 07 February 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The reigning runners-up SC Samina Hohenems will cross sticks with the Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Saturday at Eisstadion Hohenems in the quarter-final playoff opener. It is the third consecutive playoff meeting between the two clubs. They also met in the quarter-finals two years ago. On that occasion, Hohenems celebrated a convincing 10:3 win in Vienna and a 3:0 victory in the return leg.

Last year, the two outdoor-playing clubs met in the semi-finals. The Steinböcke won 3:0 at home at Herrenried at the end of February and, a week later, secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 1:0 away win at WEV Arena at Heumarkt and an aggregate score of 4:0. There, Hohenems had to accept defeat against Sharks Gmunden and consequently finished as Ö Eishockey Liga runners-up for the third consecutive time.

In the first half of the season, the Vorarlberg side stayed on the heels of local rivals Lustenau in the standings with nine wins and just one penalty shootout defeat, on Weltspartag in the derby against Lustenau, before a 0:2 defeat in another derby against Lustenau on the public holiday in early December marked the start of a slight slump, which saw them suffer six defeats in ten games in the second half of the regular season.

On the final matchday of the regular season, the Skating Club responded with a 3:2 home win in the final derby against the Western winners and are ready for the playoffs. Behind Kapfenberg and Gmunden, WEV were clearly the third-strongest force in the East with eleven wins. Two recent away wins in Kapfenberg, as well as two victories against Sharks Gmunden, underline that Vienna can be expected to pose a threat when they are on form.

Hohenems sporting director Matthias Fritz expects a strong WEV side playing with plenty of confidence: "For the third consecutive time, we are facing WEV. The encounters were already fiercely contested last season, and this year the Viennese have again strengthened their squad well. Following their win against Kapfenberg, they come into the series with plenty of confidence. But we too go into this match-up full of confidence after our last three games. The team is ready and looking forward to an intense, exciting series, which we are allowed to start at home!"

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich sees the Steinböcke as favourites, but wants his team to give the Vorarlberg side a real challenge: "We are looking forward to the games against Hohenems. They are a very good and experienced team. We are certainly not going into this series as favourites, but we will prepare as well as possible to give them a tough battle. My team will be ready!"

Ö Eishockey Liga 2025/2026 – Playoffs – Quarter-finals

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz
Sat, 07 February 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau – >> Watch the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl
Sat, 07 February 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg – >> Watch the livestream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 07 February 2026, 18:30, muki Arena – >> Watch the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 07 February 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems – >> to the livestream

Game 2:

ATSE Graz vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

EHC Kundl vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl

HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt

Game 3: (if necessary)

EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz
Tue, 17 February 2026, Rheinhalle Lustenau

KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl
Tue, 17 February 2026, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein
Wed, 18 February 2026, muki Arena

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Wed, 18 February 2026, Eisstadion Hohenems

Play-off format and further dates

The play-off match-ups, starting with the quarter-finals and continuing through the semi-finals to the final, will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H). The teams that record two wins first advance to the semi-finals. If the score is tied after regulation time, a five-minute three-on-three overtime will be played, as in the regular season. Should overtime also fail to produce a winner, a penalty shoot-out will follow.

Semi-final series
Sat, 21 February 2026 | Sat, 28 February 2026 | Wed, 04 March 2026 (if necessary)

Final series
Sat, 07 March 2026 | Sat, 14 March 2026 | Sat, 21 March 2026 (if necessary)

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

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