Styrian derby show­downs: Dukes Graz face ATSE - Murtal Lions chal­lenge Kapfen­berg

Sharks Gmunden take on Wiener Eislauf-Verein. In the South Group, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf host EC LiWoDruck Spittal. League leaders 1. EHC Althofen welcome UECR Eisbären Huben, while USC Pirates Velden face the Jungadler of EC iDM VSV.

In the West Group, leaders HC Kufstein play VEU Feldkirch. Defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins face SC SAMINA Hohenems. ÖEL games will be shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

League leaders against the team in second place. And it is also the Upper Styrian derby.

The Kapfenberger Kängurus host EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions in the Ö Eishockey Liga's North-East Group at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday. Kapfenberg won the first meeting of the season at the beginning of November 6:2 and have won all seven of their matches so far in regulation time.

Both teams have shown their offensive power in their last five games: the Kängurus have scored 31 goals, while the Lions have netted 30.

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach, Kapfenberger SV: "The statistics look good for us. As an unbeaten team with a corresponding goal difference, we have made a very good start to this season. We need to stay grounded and continue working hard on ourselves. There is still plenty of room for improvement in terms of converting our chances, and we definitely need to improve our play without the puck and our play in the defensive zone. That will also be our focus for the match against Zeltweg next weekend. It will certainly be a tough game and we want to leave the ice as winners again!"

Franz Gärtner, chairman, Kapfenberger SV: "I am very proud of what the team has achieved in the first seven rounds: seven wins, 49 goals scored and 15 conceded. That gives us every reason to approach the derby with confidence, although derbies always follow different rules. The lads also want to win their eighth game in a row, and I am convinced that everyone will give 100 per cent and that the fans will see a very exciting and high-quality Upper Styrian derby in the Ö Eishockey Liga!"

Christian Mayerl, chairman, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: "With an 11:6 win over Gmunden in the rear-view mirror, we travel to Kapfenberg on Saturday for probably the toughest task in our group. We will give everything to break their run, we have to stick to the basics and cannot give them anything! A look at the statistics proves how strong they are. Every smallest mistake is punished by KSV – but in the home game we also saw what they do not like, and that is what we want to offer away from home for 60 minutes. The league would thank us if we could trip them up! Derbies have their own rules, and we want to prove that."

Graz derby: Dukes face ATSE

The Graz derby in the North-East Group takes place as early as Friday between league newcomers UHT Dukes Graz and ATSE Graz.

The situation is an exciting one: both the Dukes and ATSE need every point over the coming weeks to remain in the playoff race.

The Dukes narrowly won the first city derby on 16 November, 3:2, which also marked the last victory for Head Coach Jurica Bednjanec's team. Most recently, they suffered a 4:9 defeat against league leaders Kapfenberg.

ATSE player-coach Rupert Strohmeier and his team have most recently had to accept three consecutive defeats, including a 0:4 loss at WEV in the atmospheric open-air clash at Vienna's Heumarkt.

Jurica Bednjanec, Head Coach UHT Dukes Graz: "No game against ATSE will be a walk in the park, we know that. Following the first win, we are the ones being chased; now we will see whether we can handle that pressure. In any case, it will be an exciting clash!"

Rupert Strohmeier, player-coach ATSE Graz: "We are currently going through a difficult period of adjustment. The changes to the squad are now having an effect after all. But we now need to stay calm and continue working consistently, then success will return. The Dukes certainly present us with a difficult task. However, the objective remains the same. We want and need three points!"

Sharks Gmunden host WEV

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden face the Wiener Eislauf-Verein at the Shark Tank on Lake Traun on Saturday.

The Upper Austrians have endured a difficult season so far, with just one win from eight games. The Sharks are nine points behind third place and the playoff spot currently held by the visitors from Vienna. Player-coach André Flatscher knows that three points are almost a must to stay in the playoff race.

WEV travel to Gmunden buoyed by their 4:0 win against ATSE Graz in their comeback at Vienna's Heumarkt. The first meeting on 5 November was narrowly won 3:2 by the team led by player-coach Mario Kubeczka.

André Flatscher, player-coach UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: "In recent weeks, we have had to contend with numerous absences, but the personnel situation should ease somewhat again on Saturday. Vienna are a strong opponent who play hard, physical ice hockey. We must be prepared for that. A win is almost a must in order to preserve our playoff chances."

Michael Vorlaufer, chairman of Wiener Eislauf-Verein: "The Sharks are a really strong opponent awaiting us on Saturday. We have to be careful and once again play consistently for 60 minutes, as we did in the previous games, and act as a team. If we manage that, we are confident of taking the three points back to Vienna. As for the game at the Heumarkt, it was a true ice hockey festival with a surprising, but ultimately deserved win. I am proud of my boys for delivering such a great game and for earning a deserved victory for our fans."

South Group: Steindorf await Spittal

After the opening rounds in the South Group, one thing is clear: the battle for the two interregional playoff places will be extremely exciting.

Saturday's headline clash is ESC SoccerZone Steindorf against EC LiWoDruck Spittal. The players from Lake Ossiach are currently third in the table after three games, while the Hornets are second having already played six matches. Both teams have won their last two games, with Steindorf demonstrating their strength in last weekend's 4:1 win over Velden.

But Spittal were also in fine form in their 7:2 victory over Huben.

Robert Moser, Head Coach ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: "Our aim is to continue playing good hockey in order to get fans back into the arena. Especially after coronavirus, it should be our task to use the first team and good ice hockey to inspire kids and get them involved in ice hockey. Spittal will certainly come to Steindorf full of confidence after their clear home win over Huben, but we are ready!"

Florian Orzetek, Head Coach EC LiWoDruck Spittal: "I think it will be a difficult game in Steindorf on Saturday. On paper, Steindorf certainly have the best team in the South Group, packed with former Bundesliga players, so we will definitely be the underdogs. We need to produce a compact team performance, stick to our game system and stay out of the penalty box, otherwise we will certainly have problems with the quality Steindorf possess. Make a few mistakes and you will immediately be punished there with goals against. Steindorf certainly have the favourites' role in this game. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to the game; many players from both teams know each other, with some having come through the same VSV youth system. A derby against Steindorf is always something very special."

1st EHC Althofen face UECR Eisbären Huben

South Group leaders 1st EHC Althofen face UECR Eisbären Huben.

It is their first meeting of the season, with the 'back-to-back' game in Huben following the following Wednesday. The Rhinos from Althofen, coached by Head Coach Gerald Ressmann, have most recently recorded four consecutive victories, two of them after overtime.

After their sensational 1:0 overtime win in Velden, the Eisbären most recently had to accept a clear 2:7 defeat against Spittal.

Silvio Trojer, Head Coach UECR Eisbären Huben: "Saturday brings what will probably be our most difficult away game so far. Althofen have made a very good start to the championship and have a great deal of experience in their ranks, making them clear favourites. We are still without two regular defencemen, while there is also another absence in attack. We will compensate for those absences with young players from our second team. For the young players, it is an opportunity to put themselves forward for further tasks. In any case, we will give everything and be ready. At this point, I would also like to thank our fans, who always provide us with tremendous support at away games!"

Velden take on the young Eagles of EC iDM VSV

The USC Pirates Velden host the young Eagles of EC iDM VSV on Saturday. Both teams are on four points after four games.

Both the Pirates and Villach currently have one win and three defeats to their name, one of them in each case after overtime. As only the top two places in the South Group qualify for the inter-regional playoffs, both teams must ensure they do not lose touch with the upper reaches of the table.

Velden lost 1:4 to Steindorf last weekend, while VSV were only beaten 4:5 in overtime by league leaders Althofen after an extremely exciting contest.

West Group: Kufstein face VEU

League leaders HC Kufstein host VEU Feldkirch at the Eisarena Kufstein on Saturday. The Tyroleans have won their last three games in a row, scoring 30 goals in the process.

League newcomers Feldkirch quickly found their feet in the Ö Eishockey Liga after two opening defeats: five consecutive wins have taken Head Coach Thomas Sticha's team to third place in the table.

In their first meeting of the season on 21 October, the Dragons took all three points from the Vorarlberghalle with a 5:2 win. Nevertheless, Head Coach Ivo Novotny is warning of the young, fast players from the Montfortstadt.

Ivo Novotny, Head Coach HC Kufstein: "After initial difficulties, Feldkirch have really found their rhythm. They have already beaten every team in our group at least once. That should be warning enough for us. We must continue to stick to our game, work hard, allow few chances at the back and take our opportunities up front. Then I am confident that we will get points against this young and fast team."

Wattens Penguins confident ahead of Hohenems clash

Defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins face SC SAMINA Hohenems at the Alpenstadion on Saturday.

The Tyroleans most recently lost 2:3 to VEU Feldkirch at home after a penalty shoot-out and sit fifth in the table after eight games. Kufstein and Hohenems are currently out of reach for the Penguins, but third place and the associated playoff qualification are a realistic target. However, they need to pick up points in the coming rounds.

The Vorarlberg side have already suffered three defeats this season, while six wins after 60 minutes have taken Hohenems to second place behind Kufstein. Hohenems clearly won the first game at Herrenried in October 7:1. A hot outdoor match in Wattens is guaranteed.

Jaro Betka, Head Coach WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: "As our game last Saturday was cancelled by the opposition, we have naturally prepared even more thoroughly for our strong opponents Hohenems. We are feeling confident and will show our best ice hockey. The skates are sharpened, the sticks are taped, so nothing stands in our way."

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach SC SAMINA Hohenems: "Hot games are always to be expected in Wattens, and that means we have to be ready again from the first minute. It will certainly be a very physical game."

Matchday, West Group

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat, 03 December 2022, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Due to illness- and injury-related absences in the EHC Crocodiles Kundl squad, the match against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II has been postponed!

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Hohenems
Sat, 03 December 2022, 19:00, Alpenstadion Wattens

Matchday, North-East Group

UHT Dukes Graz vs. ATSE Graz
Fri, 02 December 2022, 20:00, Merkur Eisstadion

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 03 December 2022, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Kapfenberger SV vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sat, 03 December 2022, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Matchday, South Group

1st EHC Althofen vs. UECR Eisbären Huben
Sat, 03 December 2022, 16:00, Stadthalle Althofen

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal
Sat, 03 December 2022, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle Steindorf

USC Pirates Velden vs. EC iDM VSV
Sat, 03 December 2022, 18:30, Eishalle Velden

ÖEL matches are shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

All Ö Eishockey Liga tables, statistics and fixtures in the Game Centre

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