Top clashes for first place: Stein­dorf vs. Althofen and SC Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein

On Friday, the Herrenriedstadion will once again host an ice hockey festival. League leaders SC Samina Hohenems 1974 host second-placed HC Kufstein in the battle for top spot in the group.

The Vorarlberg side currently hold a slight advantage, with the Steinböcke three points ahead of the Fortress Town side following their 4:2 win over Wattens. Hohenems also have the edge in the head-to-head record: the Dragons won at the end of October, before Head Coach Bernd Schmidle's team added two further victories at the start of November and shortly before Christmas.

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach of SC Samina Hohenems 1974: "I am convinced that Kufstein will travel here with a top line-up, as they too still have a chance of finishing first. Accordingly, it will be a difficult game, but despite having secured play-off qualification, we want to play for the win. We will also be able to field a full squad."

Kundl host Wattens Penguins

While defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins are fighting fiercely to reach the play-offs, last season's quarter-finalists EHC Crocodiles Kundl have already missed out on the play-offs. According to chairman Gerhard Maier, the Crocodiles' aim is to finish the regular season with dignity.

The Penguins lost 2:4 away to league leaders SC Hohenems on Tuesday despite a strong performance and are six points behind VEU Feldkirch, who currently occupy the third play-off place. The head-to-head meetings have so far all been won by the home teams. Wattens won at the end of October and shortly before Christmas, while the Crocodiles won the game in Kundl in mid-November.

Gerhard Maier, chairman of EHC Crocodiles Kundl: "Although we can no longer reach the play-offs, we want to see out the remaining games with dignity. Matches against the Wattens Pinguins are always close and hard-fought – we want to take all three points!"

Jaro Betka, Head Coach of WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: "On Friday in Kundl, we are playing for our lives, which means 60 minutes flat out. Only three points count if we want to remain in the play-off race. The two games against Feldkirch will probably be decisive, but for now we are focusing solely on Kundl. We need to deliver at least the same kind of performance as against Hohenems, where unfortunately we were not rewarded and small details decided the game. But my team is so strong and experienced that we can do it in Kundl too!"

Group South: blockbuster clash between Althofen and Steindorf

The new league leaders ESC SoccerZone Steindorf will face second-placed 1. EHC Althofen on Saturday for a possible group win in the South.

In the season's head-to-head record, Steindorf hold a slight advantage ahead of their third meeting: the Rhinos won the first game of the season in overtime, while the second match went to the players from Lake Ossiach. Head coach Robert Moser wants his team to enter the play-offs as group winners, and after Tuesday's 8:2 victory over VSV, their chances look good.

Robert Moser, Head Coach ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: "We definitely want to go into the play-offs in first place. It is in our own hands. A win against our direct rivals Althofen on Saturday would bring us very close to that goal."

USC Pirates Velden face EC LiWoDruck Spittal

For USC Pirates Velden and EC LiWoDruck Spittal, the Ö Eishockey Liga's inter-regional play-offs are no longer an option following Steindorf's win over VSV on Tuesday.

The Pirates have a perfect record after two head-to-head meetings. In mid-November, Velden celebrated a clear 5:0 away win in Spittal before prevailing 8:5 in a goal fest in mid-December. The Hornets most recently beat Steindorf 5:4 in a penalty shoot-out after a huge effort with just ten skaters – player Tim Thaler had left the game through injury after ten minutes.

Herwig Gressel, Head Coach USC Pirates Velden: "Even though we have already beaten Spittal twice this season, I expect a close game. The Hornets' win over Steindorf at the weekend is warning enough for us. It is about third place, which we definitely want to defend."

Florian Orzetek, Head Coach EC LiWoDruck Spittal: "I think it will certainly be a difficult game for us. Velden have a superb goalkeeper, against whom we always find it difficult to score. I also hope that I will have more players available again for Saturday's game. In Steindorf, we had only eleven skaters and, after an injury ten minutes in, had to finish the game with just ten men. If we perform as we did in the last game, it will certainly be an exciting contest until the end."

ATSE Graz aim to preserve play-off chance against Kapfenberg

The last meeting between ATSE Graz and the leaders of the North-East group, Kapfenberger SV, on 07 January was a great advertisement for the Ö Eishockey Liga.

The Eggenberg side pushed the Kangaroos all the way, took a point off the Mürztal team and forced the leaders into overtime, but in the end the favourites narrowly prevailed 2:1. This time, three points would be beneficial for player-coach Rupert Strohmeier's team in order to put themselves in a good position in the battle for the play-offs. Kapfenberg, who already have their play-off ticket secured, will have something to say about that.

Rupert Strohmeier, player-coach, ATSE Graz: "We are currently in the decisive phase of the regular season and every point could prove crucial in the end. Nevertheless, we do not want to start doing the maths. At the weekend, we will once again be going all out for victory. We know that Kapfenberg will be overwhelming favourites in this game, but we have already shown how close we can get to them when everything clicks for us. So, if we want three points, it will take an exceptional team performance."

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach, Kapfenberger SV: "The match against ATSE is one of the final three regular-season games; we have already secured our play-off place. We want to take our game to the next level; in my view, there is still plenty of room for improvement. The priority is to achieve our goal and also take a step forward in terms of fitness. That means we will train hard and intensely. ATSE will still be fighting for a play-off spot, they certainly will not give anything away and will start the game very aggressively, as we are used to from ATSE. It will certainly be a good and exciting game at the weekend!"

Murtal Lions expect a "play-off battle" against WEV

Great anticipation ahead of the clash between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and the Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Vienna recently slipped up against UHT Dukes Graz at Vienna's Heumarkt and lost important points in the battle to qualify for the play-offs, while the match against ATSE had to be postponed due to rain.

The Murtal Lions beat Sharks Gmunden on Saturday and have a comfortable five-point cushion in the play-off race for the remaining games. Both teams are expecting a hard-fought game, with their previous meetings having been close affairs. In early October, WEV won away from home in overtime, while in mid-November the Murtal Lions responded with an overtime victory of their own.

Christian Mayerl, chairman, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: "The win against Gmunden was enormously important after the long break and gives us momentum for the next challenges. In our final home game, we host WEV, who will certainly do everything in their power to make amends for the 3:4 overtime defeat in November. Above all, it is already a play-off final for Vienna. We clearly expect play-off hockey and will prepare accordingly. Be solid at the back, give nothing away through the middle and score up front. Take every hit and finish our checks too; then another three-pointer should be on the cards here as well. In any case, the fans can look forward to a feisty game and we expect a great many of them for this potentially decisive fixture."

Mario Kubeczka, player-coach, Wiener Eislauf-Verein: "Since we slipped up in our last game, the match against Zeltweg is an extremely important one. Games against Zeltweg are always hard, but that is the beauty of ice hockey. It is an evenly matched duel and, in the end, what counts is who wants the win more. We have done our homework and will do everything we can to return to Vienna with three points on Saturday!"

Sharks Gmunden face Dukes for a good cause

Following a coronavirus-related break, the Sharks' charity game will return to Gmunden Ice Rink on 21 January. The proceeds from the evening will go to BezirksRundSchau Christkind Samuel from Kirchham. The main sponsor of the charity game is Stern Holding. As always, there will be a comprehensive supporting programme.

The players of UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden will face UHT Dukes Graz that evening in specially made Christkind jerseys. During the first intermission, the Junior Sharks will play an exhibition game, while during the second intermission Marie Födinger from the skating club will perform a freestyle routine.

"Following a coronavirus-related break, the players, officials, club members and volunteers are delighted that we can once again support BezirksRundSchau's Christkind campaign. The fate of little Samuel has touched us deeply, and we will once again do our best to raise a substantial donation. I invite everyone to come to the charity game," said Sharks Gmunden chairman Thomas Schatzl.

There is plenty at stake on the ice in the Upper Austrians' clash with UHT Dukes Graz. Both teams want to avoid finishing the regular season bottom of the table.

Thomas Schatzl, Chairman of UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden: "From a sporting perspective, our aim on Saturday is to beat our direct rivals, the Dukes, and thereby move off the bottom of the table. If we take our chances, it is achievable. Unfortunately, our scoring efficiency has been our main problem this year, along with our goaltenders. With Daniel Mörixbauer, we only have one goaltender left, but he is doing a very good job, although he is also in constant action for the 2 senior team every weekend. Hopefully, he will not be sidelined in the final three rounds. The second aim that evening is to attract plenty of spectators to the arena so that we can present Samuel's parents with a substantial donation."

Matchday, West Group

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Fri, 20 January 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. HC Kufstein
Fri, 20 January 2023, 19:30, Herrenriedstadion

Matchday, North-East Group

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. UHT Dukes Graz
Sat, 21 January 2023, 18:20, Eishalle Gmunden

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 21 January 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 21 January 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle Zeltweg

Matchday, South Group

1. EHC Althofen vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf
Sat, 21 January 2023, 17:00, Stadthalle Althofen

USC Pirates Velden vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal
Sat, 21 January 2023, 18:30, Eishalle Velden

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