SC Hohenems vs. Kapfen­berger SV and ESC Stein­dorf vs. HC Kufstein battle for a place in the final!

And then there were four. After eight entertaining quarter-final games featuring a total of 55 goals, the top four teams from the regular season – SC Samina Hohenems 1974, Kapfenberger SV, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf and HC Kufstein – have prevailed and will battle for a place in the Ö Eishockey Liga final from Saturday onwards.

SF1: Hohenems have unfinished business with Kapfenberg

Last year, too, SC Samina Hohenems 1974 and Kapfenberger SV crossed sticks in the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals. At that time, the Steinböcke, who had entered the series as favourites after going unbeaten through the regular season and quarter-finals, had to accept a semi-final exit against the Kängurus by an aggregate score of 5:11.

This year, the Vorarlberg side battled HC Kufstein for top spot in the Western group until the very end. In the quarter-finals, Head Coach Bernd Schmidle's team advanced against 1. EHC Althofen after a 2:4 first-leg result and a 4:1 home win.

Kapfenberg also had to work hard against league newcomers VEU Feldkirch in the quarter-finals. Their away game at the Vorarlberghalle produced a 5:5 goal fest over 60 minutes, with the second period in particular, featuring seven goals, proving spectacular. The return leg remained open for a long time, but the Styrians eventually won 2:0.

For player-coach Kris Reinthaler and his team, the objective is clearly defined after finishing runners-up behind Wattens last year: the title is to come to the Mürztal.

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach SC Samina Hohenems 1974: "Kapfenberg have a very compact team with a very good goalkeeper and several very good players. This will make for a very fast game for the spectators to watch on Saturday. Naturally, we still remember the games from last season, but it is a new series, a new opportunity and therefore a new challenge. Our defensive game must be very good and we have to stay highly focused shift after shift. In addition, we need to create plenty of traffic in front of the opposition goalkeeper and take our chances ruthlessly."

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach Kapfenberger SV: "We know Hohenems from last year; they are a very strong, experienced team. It certainly will not be easy, and we have to produce our best game again. We can take the positive atmosphere we had in both games in Leoben and Hohenems last year with us. We simply have to focus on our own game; it is a new season and we will certainly do different things well!"

SF2: ESC Steindorf battle HC Kufstein

There could be no better way to celebrate a major anniversary: ESC SoccerZone Steindorf are celebrating 50 years in existence and battling HC Kufstein for a place in the Ö Eishockey Liga final. On Saturday, the Ossiacher See Halle will host a major ice hockey festival, with the semi-final highlight as the icing on the cake.

Steindorf are currently gripped by ice hockey fever. As a warm-up for the ÖEL semi-finals, the final series in the Kärntner AHC Division I against 1. EHC Althofen begins as early as Wednesday. This means that Head Coach Robert Moser's team still have two chances of winning a title in their anniversary year.

Speaking of ice hockey fever: Kufstein are also currently embracing the fastest team sport in the world. Nearly 900 fans attended the comeback from a 0:3 deficit in the home game against EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions at the Eisarena, creating a fantastic backdrop and atmosphere.

Head Coach Ivo Novotny’s players have now caught the scent. The only painful absence for the fortress town side is Czech goal-getter Martin Kosnar, with David Hrazdira having lost his ideal strike partner. Hrazdira played a major role in securing qualification for the semi-finals after all in last Saturday’s 5:3 win, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

Robert Moser, Head Coach ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: "We will approach the games with the same level of respect as we did against our other opponents. 110 goals in 20 games says something. Kufstein’s imports lead the scoring charts. We want to act, not react. We will certainly not be passive. Steindorf will host the first game because of the 50th anniversary celebrations. We are also hoping for a great crowd at the Ossiacher See Halle because of these celebrations!"

Ivo Novotny, Head Coach HC Kufstein: "Steindorf, the southern regular-season winners, await us, and that says it all. We have to produce our best hockey in both games to be able to compete with this experienced team. The atmosphere within the team and throughout Kufstein in general is extraordinary. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the clash."

Play-off format

The semi-final ties will also be decided over a first and second leg in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format. The club that finished higher in the regular season begins with the away game. The aggregate score from both games played will be used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs advances to the final. Should the aggregate score be tied at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. Each first leg ends after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off semi-final first legs

Semi-final 1:

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 25 February 2023, 17:30, Herrenriedstadion Hohenems

Semi-final 2:

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. HC Kufstein
Sat, 25 February 2023, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off semi-final second legs

Semi-final 1:

Kapfenberger SV vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1974
Sat, 04 March 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg 

Semi-final 2:

HC Kufstein vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf
Sat, 04 March 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

ÖEL games will be shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation’s new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at .

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

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