Sharks Gmunden stay on leaders Kapfen­berg's heels after win over HDK Maribor

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced HDK Maribor in the Eastern Division in the second game of their home double-header to conclude the round. After the 1:5 defeat in the showdown against new league leaders Kapfenberg, the Sharks needed to respond against the Slovenian side at the bottom of the table.

Dominik Stöttner scored to make it 1:0 for the ÖEL defending champions in the first period (13.). Gmunden added another, with Hubert Berger making it 2:0 just under three minutes before the end of the period (17.).

The hosts made a dream start to the second period: Fabian Ricjter made it 3:0 for the Sharks after exactly 43 seconds (21.). The Upper Austrians controlled the game and extended their lead further: Ian Motil made it 4:0 (28.), before Hubert Berger scored for the second time that evening to make it 5:0 shortly afterwards (29.).

Five minutes before the end of the period, Danilo Tomašević pulled one back for the Lisjaki to make it 1:5 (36.), but the Sharks struck straight back: Simon Reder restored the five-goal lead with the 6:1 (38.). In the final period, the home side managed the result, with Dominik Stöttner scoring his second goal to make it 7:1 (52.).

The Sharks celebrated a clear home win and now face Kapfenberg away from home on Friday in the major showdown for top spot, their third head-to-head meeting in twelve days.

Kapfenberg win showdown against Sharks Gmunden

For the third time this season, defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced the KSV Kängurus in the Eastern Division on Saturday. After their 6:4 win over ATSE Graz, the Styrians arrived at Lake Traun as new league leaders for the major showdown.

The game began with a scare for the hosts, as goaltender Luka Gračnar had to leave injured after just under two and a half minutes, with Tobias Windhofer taking his place between the pipes. Buoyed by their position at the top of the table, the Kängurus played with confidence and took a 1:0 lead through Kevin Moderer (13.). Less than three minutes later, the Mürztal side added another: Phileas Lyssy made it 2:0 for Kapfenberg (16.).

At the start of the second period, the visitors were unable to convert their first power-play opportunity, but extended their lead shortly afterwards: Manuel Trost made it 3:0 for KSV (27.). The Sharks finally got on the scoresheet on the power play, with Hubert Berger cutting the deficit to 1:3 (37.).

However, Kapfenberg gave the Upper Austrian fans no hope of a comeback: Manuel Trost restored the three-goal lead with his second goal to make it 4:1 just 28 seconds later (37.). The visitors gave nothing away in the final period; on the contrary, Florian Hoppl made it 5:1 on the power play to seal the win (53.).

WEV leave nothing to chance at HDK Maribor

For the fourth time this season, HDK Maribor and the Wiener Eislauf-Vereintheir sticks. From the outset, both teams engaged in an intense battle, with chances at both ends. As the first period progressed, the Viennese side created increasingly more offensive advantages, and WEV took the lead during a spell of pressure. Patrick Bolterle deftly lifted the puck into the net with his backhand for 1:0 (16th minute).

Right at the start of the middle period, the Foxes failed to convert their first power play into a goal. The capital side's defence, together with netminder Moritz Merkader, was strong and did not concede during this phase. In another power play shortly after the halfway mark, the Slovenians applied huge pressure and laid siege to the WEV goal, but the hosts were again unable to score. As Maribor also failed to capitalise on their third power play, the Viennese retained their narrow one-goal lead after 40 minutes.

In the final period, WEV were extremely efficient in attack. With just two passes, they opened up the Maribor defence and Rupert Fichtinger made it 2:0 in the 43 minute. The hosts were unable to beat the Vienna defence even on their fourth power play, with the fans at Ledna dvorana Maribor repeatedly having a goal cry caught in their throats.

WEV looked completely different: following a superb combination, Lukas Kaider fired home from the slot to make it 3:0 (51nd minute). With Maribor unable to turn the game around and WEV netminder Moritz Merkader recording a shutout, the announced Teddy Bear Toss took place at the final buzzer.

Division West:

EHC Lustenau give Dornbirner Bulldogs no chance

The Dornbirner EC Bulldogs hosted EHC Lustenauat the Messestadion for the third district derby. The hosts entered the clash with their local rivals, who will finish top of the West Group, with a short line-up of just 12 skaters. Following a swift attack down the right, Sven Vugrinec found the far corner to give the Bulldogs a 1:0 lead (5nd minute).

Lustenau, who had gradually found their rhythm, soon equalised: Martin Grabher Meier fired a low shot from the slot to make it 1:1 (8nd minute). Lustenau were unable to capitalise on their first power play. The Lions then at times created a power-play-like spell at five-on-five, and Dornbirn goaltender Cosmo Reichhalter could not complain about a lack of work.

Late in the first period, the league leaders took the lead for the first time: Robin Wüstner reacted quickest in a congested situation and made it 2:1 (19 minutes).

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period, with Lustenau still clearly on top and Dornbirn resisting as best they could. Following an attack down the right, Timo Demuth pounced on a rebound to make it 3:1 (26nd minute). Riku Tiainen made it 4:1 from the slot (34th minute), before goalscorer Chris D’Alvise appeared in front of the Dornbirn net after a fine combination to make it 5:1 (37th minute).

Just under five minutes into the final period, D’Alvise converted a cross-ice pass from Manuel Metzler while kneeling to make it 6:1 (45.). The visitors continued to impress, with Luca Künz extending the lead to 7:1 with a shot from mid-range (53.). Timo Demuth rounded off the scoring from close range to make it 8:1 (59.).

SC Hohenems v EHC Kundl

The match between SC Hohenems and EHC Kundl on Saturday had to be cancelled due to the weather – a new date will follow.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor 7:1 (2:0,4:1,1:0)
Sun, 11 January 2026, 18:30, muki Arena
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Dominik Stöttner (12:23, 51:37), Hubert Berger (16:51, 28:43), Fabian Richter (20:43), Ian Motil (27:27), Simon Reder (37:14)
HDK Maribor scorer: Danilo Tomašević (35:06)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kängurus 1:5 (0:2,1:2,0:1)
Sat, 10 January 2026, 18:30, muki Arena
Sharks Gmunden scorer: Hubert Berger (36:13/PP1)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Kevin Moderer (12:42), Phileas Lyssy (15:21), Manuel Trost (26:36, 36:41), Florian Hoppl (52:36/PP1)

HDK Maribor vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 0:3 (0:1,0:0,0:2)
Sat, 10 January 2026, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Patrick Bolterle (15:17), Rupert Fichtinger (42:58), Lukas Kaider (50:22)

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz 6:4 (4:2,0:0,2:2)
Fri, 09 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Michael Malle (06:44), Kevin Moderer (11:45, 15:07), Stefan Trost (13:09), Florian Hoppl (50:08/PP1), Pierre Graf (59:56/EN)
ATSE Graz scorers: Kilian Schwarz (03:36, 54:38), Filip Matijević (09:16), Maximilian Schwarz (59:09)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau 1:8 (1:2,0:3,0:3)
Sat, 10 January 2026, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
Scorers Dornbirner EC: Sven Vugrinec (04:20)
Scorers EHC Lustenau: Martin Grabher Meier (07:20), Robin Wüstner (18:09), Timo Demuth (25:07, 58:48), Riku Tiainen (33:16), Christopher D’Alvise (36:23, 44:55), Luca Künz (52:04)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Kundl cancelled – new date to follow!

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 2:6 (0:4,2:1,0:1)
Fri, 09 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Scorers Wattens Penguins: Fabian Nußbaumer (22:17), Patrick Huber (39:06/PP1)
Scorers HC Kufstein: Aleksi Airaksinen (00:11), Tomáš Vildumetz (01:12), Valentin Hammerle (13:13, 15:58, 57:53/SH1/EN), Stefan Reiter (24:09)

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began its new season on 4 October 2025 with the first matchday. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in phase 1 in the two divisions: West, with six teams, and East, with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half-round home-and-away schedule, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

After phase 1, there will once again be an interregional play-off, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The play-off pick will also provide additional excitement after the regular season in the coming campaign. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select 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 best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

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

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