Strong away win for Wattens Penguins at SC Hohenems - WEV battle past ATSE Graz

For the third time this season, Division West leaders EHC Lustenau and HC Kufstein faced off on Saturday, for the first time at Lustenau's Rheinhalle. The Dragons made the better start and took a 1:0 lead through Valentin Hammerle (5 min.). The Lions equalised through top scorer Chris D’Alvise to make it 1:1 (10 min.). Aleksi Airaksinen restored the Tyroleans' lead with 2:1 four minutes before the end of the period (17 min.).

The Western leaders did not take this lying down and returned to the ice at the start of the second period like a team possessed. The lead changed hands in the blink of an eye with a quick double strike. Manuel Metzler made it 2:2 after exactly ten seconds (21 min.), and just 43 seconds later David Slivnik was on hand to make it 3:2 (21 min.).

The match remained exciting over the following 20 minutes until top scorer Chris D’Alvise netted his second goal for Lustenau to make it 4:2 58 seconds before the end of the period (40 min.). Kufstein were unable to turn the game around in the final period, with the Vorarlberg side controlling proceedings and ultimately celebrating their 13th win in their 13th game.

Wattens Penguins win away at SC Samina Hohenems

On Saturday, SC Samina Hohenems invited their fellow open-air side, WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins, to a heated Division West encounter and got off to a dream start thanks to former Wattens player Ricards Purins, who opened the scoring early to make it 1:0 (5 min.). The Penguins, who had gained confidence with two consecutive wins, hit back in the first period: Simon Gratzer levelled the score at 1:1 (13 min.). Just under four minutes later, the Tyroleans had turned the game around for the time being, with Luca Venier putting Wattens 2:1 ahead (17 min.).

The visitors began the middle period with a power play after almost five minutes and made perfect use of their numerical advantage: Sandro Wille extended Wattens' lead to 3:1 (26 min.). The Steinböcke now recognised the seriousness of the situation and stepped up a gear: Julian Payr pulled one back for Hohenems to make it 2:3 shortly afterwards (28 min.), before Christian Haidinger quickly equalised at 3:3 (30 min.).

The Penguins were not intimidated by the quick equaliser; quite the opposite: Noah Polig provided the right response and made it 4:3 for the Lower Inn Valley side (35 min.). In the final period, Hohenems tried everything, but the Penguins defended their one-goal lead intelligently. In the end, Hohenems head coach Martin Mallinger pulled goalkeeper Pascal Prugger, and Sandro Wille sealed Wattens' third consecutive victory by making it 5:3 into the empty net five seconds before the final buzzer.

EHC Kundl celebrate important win against Dornbirner EC Bulldogs

Also for the third time this season, EHC Kundl and Dornbirner EC Bulldogs crossed sticks in Division West on Saturday. Both teams engaged in an open exchange in the first period, with neither goalkeeper – Jakub Kostelny for Kundl and Kevin Wanger for the Bulldogs – conceding initially.

When Raphael Bruimann of Kundl was sent to the penalty box for two minutes, Sven Vugrinec scored on the power play to give the Vorarlberg side a 1:0 lead (19 min.). Just 43 seconds later, Bruimann made amends for his penalty and levelled the score at 1:1 for the hosts (20 min.).

Just under two minutes into the second period, Raphael Bruimann once again put the Unterinntal side ahead for the first time that evening with his goal for 2:1 (with 23 on the clock). Dornbirn were then unable to use a power play to equalise, while Kundl missed the chance to extend their lead with the man advantage – briefly even five-on-three.

In the final period, Kundl took a two-goal lead for the first time, with Simon Brandner making it 3:1 (with 47 on the clock). Kundl then saw out the game and kept Wattens Penguins three points behind them in the standings in the battle for the final playoff spot.

Division East:

KSV Kängurus prevail at HDK Maribor

The HDK Maribor hosted the KSV Kängurus on Saturday in the first part of their Division East weekend double-header. Both teams engaged in a fiercely contested battle in the opening period, with the hosts more than holding their own against the second-placed side and even creating slightly more chances. Rene Zernko converted one of those chances late on to give the Foxes a 1:0 lead (with 19 on the clock).

In the second period, the Mürztal side turned the game around with a quick double strike: Lukas Draschkowitz levelled at 1:1 (with 25 on the clock), before Pierre Graf made it 2:1 for Kapfenberg 45 seconds later (with 26 on the clock). The Kängurus then survived a four-minute penalty kill. Shortly after the halfway point of the game, Lukas Draschkowitz extended the visitors' lead to 3:1, with the visitors now in control of the game (with 31 on the clock).

There were penalties on both sides in the final period, and the Slovenians pulled one back late on the power play: Adi Drnda fired home to make it 2:3 and reignite the contest (with 58 on the clock). In the closing stages, Maribor head coach Jure Verlič had to pull netminder Omar Ždralović for an extra skater, and Stefan Trost scored into the empty net 26 seconds before the final buzzer to seal the 4:2 final score (with 60 on the clock).

Kapfenberg celebrated their seventh consecutive victory. The Foxes travel to ATSE Graz on Sunday for the Styrian derby between the partner cities.

Wiener Eislauf-Verein edge out ATSE Graz

Both Wiener Eislauf-Verein and ATSE Graz began their Division East weekend double-header on Saturday. The Viennese side conclude it on Sunday away to leaders Sharks Gmunden, while the Graz side face Maribor. The Viennese side made a lightning start and quickly took a 1:0 lead, as Patrick Bolterle beat ATSE netminder Florian Zeugswetter, who had returned to the Graz line-up, after just under four and a half minutes (with 5 on the clock).

WEV continued to press, and just under four minutes after taking the lead, Lukas Pohl made it 2:0 (with 9 on the clock). Graz quickly found the right response, with Cornelius Kaschnig reducing the deficit to 1:2 and initially making the game competitive again (with 12 on the clock). The hosts converted their first power play, with Daniel Aschauer restoring the two-goal lead at 3:1 (with 17 on the clock).

The Styrians did not let up in the second period and closed the gap again: Cory Krenz made it 2:3 for ATSE (with 28 on the clock). The game remained highly exciting and was played with great intensity by both teams. Graz tried to find an equaliser in the final period, while WEV resisted with everything they had.

In the final eleven minutes, the home side had to kill off three penalties, with WEV netminder Moritz Merkader preserving the narrow one-goal lead alongside his defence. Towards the end, ATSE head coach Markus Losch pulled goaltender Florian Zeugswetter, but the Styrians were unable to find an equaliser. WEV celebrated their second consecutive home win and now sit third in the standings, ahead of ATSE.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 4:2 (1:2,3:0,0:0)
Sat, 20 December 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goalscorers for EHC Lustenau: Christopher D’Alvise (09:53, 39:02), Manuel Metzler (20:10), David Slivnik (20:53)
Goalscorers for HC Kufstein: Valentin Hammerle (04:33), Aleksi Airaksinen (16:01)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 3:5 (1:2,2:2,0:1)
Sat, 20 December 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
Goalscorers for SC Hohenems: Ricards Purins (04:56), Julian Payr (27:37), Christian Haidinger (29:01)
Goalscorers for Wattens Penguins: Simon Gratzer (12:10), Luca Venier (16:17), Sandro Wille (25:48/PP1, 59:55/EN), Noah Polig (34:18)

EHC Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 3:1 (1:1,1:0,1:0)
Sat, 20 December 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
Goalscorers for EHC Kundl: Raphael Bruimann (19:04, 22:14/PP1), Simon Brandner (46:44)
Goalscorer for Dornbirner EC: Sven Vugrinec (18:21/PP1)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division EAST:

HDK Maribor vs. KSV Kängurus 2:4 (1:0,0:3,1:1)
Sat, 20 December 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor
Goalscorers for HDK Maribor: Rene Zernko (18:53), Adi Drnda (57:12/PP1)
Goalscorers for KSV Kängurus: Lukas Draschkowitz (24:21, 30:36), Pierre Graf (25:06), Stefan Trost (59:34/EN)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz 3:2 (3:1,0:1,0:0)
Sat, 20 December 2025, 19:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Patrick Bolterle (04:21), Lukas Pohl (08:14), Daniel Aschauer (16:04/PP1)
ATSE Graz scorers: Cornelius Kaschnig (11:49), Cory Krenz (27:47)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden have a bye.

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sun, 21 December 2025, 17:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A) - >> to the livestream

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sun, 21 December 2025, 18:30, muki Arena Gmunden - >> to the livestream

KSV Kängurus have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its first matchday on 4 October 2025. 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 two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds, 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 interregional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The coming season will also feature a play-off pick after the regular season, providing additional excitement. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may select its quarter-final opponent from the third- or fourth-placed team 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 the coming season onwards.

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

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