WEV begin the new year against Dukes Graz at Vienna’s Heumarkt

In the West Group, the defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins have the same objective as they face HC Kufstein in a "back-to-back" as early as Friday. Saturday then brings the clash between VEU Feldkirch and EHC Crocodiles Kundl.

In the South Group, there are also two "back-to-back" fixtures: on Friday, the EC iDM VSV Jungadler host ESC SoccerZone Steindorf. Eisbären Huben once again welcome USC Pirates Velden for an open-air game on Saturday. League leaders 1st EHC Althofen travel to face the Hornets from Spittal.

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein will continue their series of open-air home games at Vienna’s Heumarkt, set against the magnificent backdrop of the Wiener Konzerthaus, against UHT Dukes Graz.

The home games in the Austrian capital have been well received so far and have given the Vienna players a lift. In December, WEV became the first team to take a point off league leaders Kapfenberg this season. The team coached by player-coach Mario Kubeczka are third in the North-East Group and therefore occupy the highly coveted play-off spot.

UHT Dukes Graz have most recently suffered five consecutive defeats, while the head-to-head record is level after two games. The Dukes won 5:4 at the end of October, before WEV responded with a 5:2 away win in November.

ATSE Graz challenge league leaders Kapfenberg

ATSE GrazATSE Graz welcome North-East Group leaders Kapfenberger SV on Saturday. The Graz side are fourth in the table and, although they are four points behind WEV and the play-off place, they have also played two games fewer.

Taking points off the Kangaroos, who have been dominant so far, is difficult but not impossible, as their direct rivals for play-off qualification, WEV, have already shown. In the only meeting between the sides this season, the team coached by player-coach Kris Reinthaler celebrated a 7:4 victory in Kapfenberg at the start of October.

West Group: Wattens battle for a play-off place

The reigning Ö Eishockey Liga champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins host HC Kufstein in a “back-to-back” clash on Epiphany.

The team coached by head coach Jaro Betka made a statement with a 4:0 win away to the Dragons in their final game of the year. With their third straight victory, the Penguins have returned to the battle for third place in the playoffs, currently occupied by league newcomers VEU Feldkirch.

Kufstein had to surrender top spot to SC Hohenems following their home defeat to Wattens in the final game of the past year and are eager for revenge at the Alpenstadion.

VEU v Kundl: a potential playoff decider

There are currently eleven points between VEU Feldkirch and EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the standings, but the draw at the start of the year sees the two teams face each other in “back-to-back” clashes in the current and next round. The Tyroleans have also played one game fewer.

That makes these two games particularly significant: league newcomers VEU could take a major step towards the playoffs with two wins, while the Crocodiles need two victories to keep their final chance of reaching the knockout stage alive. The head-to-head record between the two teams is even. EHC Crocodiles Kundl won 3:1 at the start of the season in October, followed by a 5:1 win for the Montfort city side in mid-November.

South Group: “Back-to-back” as VSV face Steindorf

The young Eagles of EC iDM VSV have the chance right at the start of the year to avenge their __OEHV_NUM_AQ_A__ defeat to ESC SoccerZone Steindorf the chance to avenge the 2:6 defeat at the Ossiacher See Halle on the final matchday of 2022.

In the South, league leaders 1. EHC Althofen and Steindorf currently occupy the two inter-regional playoff places. The team coached by head coach Robert Moser has increasingly found its form with six wins from eight games and will battle the Rhinos for first place in the South Group.

VSV are currently eight points behind Steindorf and have also played two more games. Günther Lanzinger’s team are taking it one game at a time and want to upset the “big boys”.

Spittal host league leaders 1. EHC Althofen

The EC LiWoDruck Spittal is looking back fondly ahead of the clash with leaders 1st EHC Althofen at the start of the season, when the Hornets handed the Rhinos the first of their two defeats at the end of October – the second followed against Steindorf.

However, Althofen gained revenge in the "back-to-back" match in Spittal at the start of November and subsequently climbed to the top of the table with strong performances. Reaching the inter-regional playoff is now merely a formality for Head Coach Gerald Ressmann's team.

The Hornets, meanwhile, will need a winning streak if they are to retain a chance of finishing second.

Huben against Velden promises to be a close affair

Whenever UECR Eisbären Huben and USC Pirates Velden cross sticks this season, a thrilling, hard-fought contest is guaranteed.

The first meeting of the season in Velden in November was extremely exciting. After 60 scoreless minutes, Johannes Warscher scored the 1:0 game-winning goal for the Eisbären from Huben with exactly one second remaining in overtime.

The final game of the year last Friday was also an ice hockey thriller. Head Coach Herwig Gressel's team initially turned a 0:1 deficit in the final period into a 2:1 lead, before Alexander Payr equalised at 2:2 for the Eisbären two seconds before the end of regulation. This time, the Pirates from the western shore of Lake Wörthersee claimed the extra point in overtime.

Matchday Group North-East

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UHT Dukes Graz
Sat, 07 January 2023, 18:00, Wiener Eislauf-Verein

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 07 January 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion Hall B

Matchday Group South

EC iDM VSV vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf
Fri, 06 January 2023, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. 1st EHC Althofen
Sat, 07 January 2023, 18:15, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal

UECR Eisbären Huben vs. USC Pirates Velden
Sat., 07 January 2023, 19:00, Eisstadion Huben

Western Group matchday

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein
Fri., 06 January 2023, 19:30, Alpenstadion

VEU Feldkirch vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 07 January 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

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