Sharks Gmunden battle Murtal Lions for playoff chance – Hohenems seeking revenge against Kundl

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Fri, 12 January 2024, 17:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The Kapfenberger SV face Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Friday and are hosting a Family Hockey Day. The East Division leaders have already secured their playoff place, while the question for the Kangaroos at present is whether they can win every regular-season game.

WEV are right in the thick of the battle for a playoff place, and their recent win over UHT Dukes Graz saw the Viennese side take a major step towards the quarter-finals.

This game is all about Family Hockey Day. Kapfenberg have invited all schools in Kapfenberg and Bruck an der Mur to come to the ice rink from 14:15 on Friday. “Players and coaches from our youth programme will be there, and we have prepared plenty of activities. Perhaps we can inspire one or two people to take up our sport,” said KSV chairman Franz Gärtner.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler is already preparing with his team for the playoffs: “Our focus is on the playoffs; we do not want to drop any more points. As we are used to, WEV will work hard and use every means at their disposal to get points. The remaining playoff places have not yet been decided, which means they will fight for every single point. We are making sure we are ready for the playoffs and refining our game!”

WEV head coach Mario Kubeczka will have his team perfectly prepared for the Kangaroos: “Kapfenberg are in a league of their own this season. To upset them, you have to be tactically perfectly prepared for 60 minutes and very efficient in attack. We go into this game in a positive frame of mind and will try everything to make it a close game!”

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sat, 13 January 2024, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden face EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions on Saturday and realistically need to take maximum points to remain in the race for the playoff places. The Styrians recently claimed two important consecutive wins against Dukes Graz, putting themselves in a good position for the remainder of the regular season.

Sharks head coach Gregor Baumgartner is aware of the importance and intensity of the game against the Murtal Lions: "The season has been an up-and-down affair so far, and recently we have had many players ill and injured. In the next few games, we need to pool our resources. The first opportunity to pick up important points comes against the Lions. It will be a fierce battle, as both teams need the points!"

Christian Mayerl, chairman of the Murtal Lions,  sees the two upcoming games against the Sharks from Traunsee as decisive in the playoff race: "A hot Gmunden double-header (note: the next meeting follows next Wednesday at 18:30) for the Lions! The two games will bring a preliminary decision. Gmunden are extremely strong, if you can say that about Sharks. We will throw everything into the balance to make these crucial games a success. Respect, yes – fear, no! We have it in our own hands to forge our playoff destiny."

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 13 January 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

The ATSE Graz are in fourth place ahead of the clash with leaders Kapfenberger SV and are far from safe yet. The Eggenberg side hold a four-point lead over Sharks Gmunden and UHT Dukes Graz. Like ATSE, the Upper Austrians still have five games to play, while the Dukes have only three games remaining to pick up points.

In their last meeting, the team led by head coach Markus Losch gave the previously flawless league leaders a real challenge – Kapfenberg have taken the maximum 30 points from ten games – until half-time, even leading 2:0. In the end, the Kangaroos turned the game around and won 5:3.

ATSE head coach Markus Losch recalls the strong opening thirty minutes of the game in Kapfenberg and wants to challenge the league leaders again: "After the last game against KSV, the team is highly motivated. We will try to implement the instructions even better than in the last game in Kapfenberg. Perhaps then we can pull off a surprise. If we manage to play as we did in the first period in Kapfenberg, anything is possible. But against a team with this potential and ability, the entire team has to deliver its best performance in order to keep the three points in Graz!"

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler rates the Graz side highly: "ATSE battle extremely hard, they had a gap and need to pick up points to get into the top four. ATSE are always very well prepared and very strong defensively. In the last game in Kapfenberg, they shut the game down at the back, much like Gmunden, and played on the counter-attack. We have to make sure nobody sneaks up behind us and play effectively towards goal at the other end!"

Division West:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Fri, 12 January 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl        

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl face league leaders SC Samina Hohenems. Last Friday, the Tyroleans defeated the Steinböcke 5:3 away from home, inflicting the Vorarlberg side's first defeat of the season.

Since Jaroslav Betka took over as coach of the Unterinntal side, the Crocodiles' form has steadily improved. Kundl most recently celebrated three consecutive victories, with HC Kufstein also being beaten in the derby before the win in Hohenems.

Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier promises the fans an excellent ice hockey game against the West leaders: "We will once again do everything we can to keep riding the wave of success. We will therefore also play for the win on Friday and offer our fans a great game!"

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha wants revenge for the home defeat against the Crocodiles: "As expected, the last game was a close affair and Kundl were able to see their narrow lead out. We had good chances in the final period to turn the result around, but we were unable to do so. However, we have already shown several times this year that we can still turn games around. We therefore still have unfinished business with Kundl; they handed us our first defeat in our own stadium. For this reason, we are travelling to Kundl fully motivated and want to take the three points home from their stadium."

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC
Sun., 14th January 2024, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

The VEU Feldkirch face Dornbirner EC in the Vorarlberg derby on Sunday, in the final meeting of the season. So far, the Montfort city side have won all three games against the trade fair city side. For VEU, the remaining schedule is about finding their form for the playoffs. Dornbirn are still fighting for their first points in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue., 16th January 2024, 19:30, Messestadion

Tuesday also sees the Vorarlberg derby between Dornbirner EC and SC Samina Hohenems. This game is the final direct local encounter between these two teams in the regular season. So far, the Steinböcke have won all derbies against the young Bulldogs, who are still fighting for their first win in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Ö Eishockey Liga - East Division:

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Fri., 12th January 2024, 17:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sat., 13 January 2024, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat., 13 January 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Fri., 12 January 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC
Sun., 14 January 2024, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue., 16 January 2024, 19:30, Messestadion

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