Styrian derby to launch the Ö Eishockey Liga: ATSE Graz take on Kapfen­berg!

After 196 days without action, the Ö Eishockey Liga is back. Friday is the moment of truth for the first two clubs following their summer preparations. The KSV Kängurus begin the new season with the rescheduled home game, originally scheduled for 28 December, against ATSE Graz and, as always, are regarded as one of the title favourites. 

Last season brought two new experiences for the Mürztal side: Firstly, unlike in the previous three seasons, the Kangaroos had to relinquish top spot in the Eastern regular season to Wiener Eislauf-Verein, and secondly, the 2024 champions’ playoff campaign ended in the quarter-finals for the first time after a defeat to Hohenems.

Reason enough for the team led by head coach and player-coach Kristof Reinthaler to come back fighting: "Our objectives for this season are very clearly defined. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary, we have quite a lot planned for the coming years and accordingly want to have a solid season this year, one that goes all the way to the final and, ideally, ends positively for us there." 

Reinthaler knows that his team has some making up to do after last year's false start and, following a rather mixed final warm-up game against Grizzlies Linz, demands: "We want to deliver a much better performance against ATSE Graz and make amends for the start to last season, when we got off to a catastrophic start. That must not happen again this year; we really want to focus on playing and showing consistent hockey, and the foundation for that has to be laid in the first game."

For Kapfenberg, former ÖEHV defenceman Dominique Heinrich is serving as the new general manager following the end of his playing career and sees plenty of positives in opening with a derby: "It is great that we have the Styrian derby right at the start. The clear objective is to begin the season with a win and then win the regular season, because our big goal is the championship. But the focus is now on the first game, and the team is looking forward to it and ready."

Graz failed to reach the playoffs last season, with only two wins from 16 games, having reached the semi-finals in 2023/2024 before losing out to eventual champions and now opening opponents Kapfenberg. The game against consistently strong Kapfenberg will provide an initial indication of where they stand. During pre-season, there were two warm-up games against the Kängurus in the Gösser Cup, with the Kängurus winning both (5:1 and 4:2).

Markus Losch, head coach of ATSE Graz is hoping for a close away game: "I am hugely looking forward to the start of the season. Since last season unfortunately did not go entirely as we had hoped, we hope this year's games will be more consistent. The players have another year of experience in senior hockey and have matured in many respects. However, the process of 'rejuvenating the squad' will certainly take another one or two seasons. I always particularly look forward to the games against Kapfenberg, as they are an important indicator of our development. KSV have a very good team, and ATSE's young players can learn a great deal from their experience. If we do our job well, it could be a close game!"

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz
Fri, 26 September 2025, 20:00 >> to the RED+ livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

In its fifth year, the Ö Eishockey Liga format will see a change in phase 1 across the two divisions: the West, with six teams, and the East, with five. In Division East, the coming season will feature two-and-a-half home-and-away rounds, resulting in 20 games per team. In Division West, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, likewise 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 play-off pick after the regular season will also add extra excitement in the coming campaign. 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. Starting with the quarter-finals and continuing through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off match-ups will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Entry list 2025/2026

EAST DIVISION | 5 teams

ATSE Graz

HDK Maribor

Kapfenberger SV

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Wiener Eislauf-Verein

WEST DIVISION | 6 teams

Dornbirner Eishockeyclub Bulldogs

EHC Lustenau

EHC Crocodiles Kundl

HC Kufstein

SC Samina Hohenems

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

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

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