Show­down for first place between Kapfen­berg and Gmunden – Hohenems derby against Lustenau

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Fri, 30 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

For the fifth and final time in the East Division regular season, the KSV Kängurus and the Wiener Eislauf-Verein will cross sticks on Friday. Two direct encounters in Kapfenberg had to be postponed due to a technical fault at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg, which is why the Mürztal side have had, and continue to have, an extremely home-heavy January.

The first meeting, which the Styrians won 3–5:2 at the Steffl Arena, took place in mid-October. Kapfenberg won the second encounter 3:2 in a shoot-out away from home in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus at the end of December. In mid-January, the Kängurus left nothing to chance and ultimately celebrated a convincing 5:1 home win.

Most recently, the WEV won 4:0 away in Kapfenberg last Friday, taking away the Styrians’ chance to seal first place early. Following the defeat against the Viennese side, the Kängurus now face the major showdown for first place against Sharks Gmunden on Saturday.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler is demanding a win against the WEV from his team ahead of the showdown against Gmunden: "The most important thing now is that we recover well, so that hopefully we can finally train at full strength again next week. Unfortunately, that has often not been the case in recent weeks. We are very aware that everything will be decided in the final game; we cannot afford any more slip-ups now. First of all, we have to get through the game against the WEV!"

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich wants to use the final two regular-season games to fine-tune for the play-offs: "After a very tough weekend with a thin squad, we probably will not train as intensely. Our position cannot change after Sunday’s game, so our focus will already turn towards the play-offs. For me, the two final games against Kapfenberg and Maribor are about showing good habits for, if possible, the full 60 minutes and getting the basics right!"

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 31 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt

For the final time this season, the Wiener Eislauf-Verein will face HDK Maribor at the WEV Arena at Heumarkt on Saturday. The Foxes won the opening game in early October 3:2 on the ice, but the match was subsequently awarded 5:0 to the WEV because the Slovenians had mistakenly fielded a suspended player.

At Vienna’s Heumarkt in early November, the capital side earned a hard-fought 2:1 win. In early December, the Viennese also celebrated a clear 7:1 victory on home ice. In their most recent meeting to date on 10 January, the WEV recorded a 3:0 win in Maribor.

The Slovenian side from the Drava city will conclude their second Ö Eishockey Liga season with the game against the Viennese. Lisjaki had already missed out on the play-offs with a defeat to ATSE Graz on Epiphany and have recorded just one win in 19 games so far. The WEV are cemented in third place – for the Viennese, it is a matter of putting the finishing touches in place for the play-offs.

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., 31st January 2026, 19:30 pm, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The fifth direct meeting of the current season between the league-leading KSV Kängurus in the Division East on Saturday and defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden is the big showdown for first place and the right to pick for the play-off quarter-finals.

It is already the fourth game between the two dominant East sides in the new year. In the first meeting, the Sharks won 3:0 at Lake Traun at the start of October. At the beginning of January, the two dominant East sides faced off at Stadthalle Kapfenberg in front of almost 1.000 fans in a highly entertaining ice hockey game which, with its high tempo, numerous scoring chances and excitement, offered a taste of the play-offs. In the end, the Mürz Valley side won 2:1 in overtime.

On 10th January, the Styrians celebrated a clear 5:1 away win in the Shark Tank. Six days later, in their most recent meeting to date, the Kängurus launched a sensational comeback after trailing 1:5 after 33 minutes, levelled the score at 5:5 with 54 seconds remaining, only to lose 5:6 in overtime.

The Styrians had squandered their chance to secure first place early with their 0:4 home defeat against WEV last Friday. Regardless of the outcome of Friday's Kapfenberg game against WEV, the final head-to-head meeting of the regular season will be for first place. Both sides have six points from their direct meetings, with Kapfenberg one goal ahead on a goal difference of 12:11.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kristof Reinthaler is hoping for a well-attended Stadthalle Kapfenberg in the game for first place against the Sharks: "We cannot afford to lose against Gmunden if we want to achieve our goal – first place – in the Division East. It would of course be great to have a fairly full arena, because that really motivates us and gives us an extra push!"

Gregor Baumgartner, Head Coach of Sharks Gmunden, loves exactly these kinds of games: "The final game of the regular season could not create a better situation than this one. It is for first place and is therefore also excellent preparation for the play-offs, which start the following week. KSV have repeatedly been a major challenge for us this year, and it will take a great day to get the win!"

Division West:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl
Fri., 30th January 2026, 18:30 pm, Alpenstadion Wattens

The Lower Inn Valley derby between the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and EHC Kundl opens the final regular-season matchday in the Division West on Friday. The fourth direct meeting is also their final encounter of the season. Since last Friday's 3:4 overtime defeat against Kufstein and Kundl's 2:1 win over Hohenems, Wattens have no chance of qualifying for the play-offs.

After their previous three games against each other, the Penguins lead 2:1: on World Savings Day at the end of October, Kundl were not short of goals, and after two fiercely contested periods, EHC swept past the Penguins with a 7:0 final period to win 9:1.

At the start of December, Wattens celebrated an impressive 7:4 away win, initially launching their comeback bid in the fight for a play-off place, which, as mentioned, came to an end last Friday. On Epiphany, the Penguins edged a thriller at Alpenstadion 5:4. For Kundl, Friday is now solely about maintaining or finding their form for the play-offs.

Fabian Hechenberger, Head Coach of the Wattens Penguins, wants to bid farewell to the fans with a win in the season finale: "The outcome of the season is enormously disappointing for us and hurts a great deal. At the same time, we must not forget the journey we have taken as a team. Our development is on track; we are heading in the right direction – especially in the second half of the season, when we performed incredibly well and showed great character. That is exactly what we want to bring onto the ice once more in our final home game and bid farewell together with our fans with dignity and a win!"

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer sees the clash with the Penguins as the ideal test run for the play-offs: "Wattens have played very strong, fast ice hockey in recent weeks. They are the ideal opponents for us to play our final away test before the play-offs. In recent weeks, we have rediscovered the strength that already distinguished us at the start of the season and have celebrated important wins against strong opponents. We want to use this game to sharpen our play further, refine the details and consistently eliminate the last remaining mistakes. The test comes at exactly the right time!"

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

For the fourth time this season, the SC Samina Hohenems and group winners EHC Lustenau will meet in the prestigious major Vorarlberg derby on Saturday in the Division West. The first two local derbies were thrilling and fiercely contested: at the end of October, the Ibex came back from a 0:2 deficit in front of almost 1.500 fans at the Rheinhalle, but the Lions eventually won 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out.

At the beginning of December, Lustenau were defensively strong away at the Herrenried in front of another 1.500 fans and claimed a 2:0 win. On Epiphany, Lustenau showed no mercy to their opponents from the Dornbirn district, sealing first place in the West and selection rights for the play-off quarter-finals early with a resounding 10:2 victory in front of more than 1.300 fans at the Rheinhalle.

SC Hohenems will defend second place against Lustenau in their long-distance battle with HC Kufstein, who will likely have already pencilled in three points at home against the Bulldogs from Dornbirn. This second place is important and sought-after because these teams cannot be selected by the group winners of the respective other division.

Hohenems sporting director Matthias Fritz wants his team to confirm their positive trend in the derby: "We still have something to put right in the final game of the regular season. At the same time, we have clearly been back on the right track for three games and want to confirm this trend. The aim is to put the finishing touches on our preparations for the play-offs, give everything once again and perform as a united team. In the end, we will see whether we finish second or third!"

Dániel Fekete, Head Coach of EHC Lustenau and his team are highly motivated going into the away derby in Hohenems: "We are already looking forward to the derby against SC Hohenems, probably once again in front of a great crowd. The players are motivated to the hilt for this game and want to win the fourth meeting with Hohenems as well. The play-offs will begin shortly, and a game against Hohenems is very well suited to trying out a few more variations. Hohenems will try everything to avenge the 2:10 defeat in the last game – we are ready!"

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

For the fourth and final time in the current Division West season, HC Kufstein and the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs will battle for points on Saturday. At the beginning of November, the Dragons left nothing to chance away at the Messestadion, winning 5:0. Kufstein were also dominant in their second away game in Vorarlberg, winning 5:1. At home on Epiphany at the beginning of January, the Tyroleans celebrated a clear 8:0 victory.

While the season ends with this game for Dornbirn, Kufstein can plan for the play-offs. Kufstein must do their duty against Dornbirn with a win to retain a chance of finishing second in the table. They must then await the result of the Vorarlberg derby between Hohenems and Lustenau.

By finishing second, Kufstein would avoid being picked by the Division East winners – Kapfenberg or Sharks Gmunden – for the quarter-finals. The fortress town side currently sit on 35 points, one point behind the Steinböcke from Hohenems.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner wants his team to secure the important second place in the West: "Our objective ahead of the final regular-season game remains second place in the table. To achieve this, we need help from Lustenau on the one hand, but also three points against Dornbirn on the other. We have that in our own hands, and the team is therefore aware that the Bulldogs must not be underestimated!"

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division EAST:

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Fri, 30 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg – >> to the livestream

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 31 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt – >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 31 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg – >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division West:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl
Fri, 30 January 2026, 18:30, Alpenstadion Wattens – >> to the livestream

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems – >> to the livestream

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat, 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein – >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga got the new season under way on 4 October 2025 with the opening matchday. In its fifth year, the format features a change in Phase 1 across 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, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The coming season will again feature a play-off pick after the regular season, adding further excitement. 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 a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

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

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!