WEV enter the play-offs as league leaders – Lustenau win derby against Hohenems

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein faced HDK Maribor and aimed to secure top spot in the standings in order to earn the right to choose their quarter-final opponents. Vienna took the lead against the Füchse, who travelled to the capital with only eleven outfield players, through Marco Bayer to make it 1:0 (9nd minute). 

Maribor kept the open-air match close for a long time despite their very short line-up. WEV held the upper hand but initially could not add another goal. It was not until the second period that Head Coach Philipp Ullrich's team extended their lead: Lukas Kaider worked the puck over the line for 2:0 (27 min.).

Following a quick counter-attack in which Denis Simek used his skating speed to break through and score, the Heumarkt league leaders were 3:0 ahead later in the middle period (35 min.). In the final period, the Viennese controlled the game and did not allow anything more, quite the opposite: Theodor Fichtinger put a rebound over the line for 4:0 to seal the match (53 min.).

With the win, the Viennese secured first place in the East Division of the Ö Eishockey Liga for the first time, along with the right to pick their quarter-final opponent, with WEV able to choose between fourth-placed EHC Kundl and third-placed SC Hohenems from the West Division.

Kapfenberg finish second behind WEV after victory over ATSE Graz

Defending champions Kapfenberger SV hosted ATSE Graz for the final Styrian derby of the season on Saturday. For last season's semi-finalists ATSE Graz, the match in the Böhlerstadt was also their final game of the season, with the Eggenberg side having definitively missed out on the play-offs following last weekend's 0:1 defeat to WEV.

The defending champions took a 1:0 lead following a quick attack, with Florian Hoppl scoring from the slot (4 min.). Both teams engaged in a brisk end-to-end contest in which ATSE found an equaliser: following a fine attack and an impressive combination, Luca Rodiga set up his teammate Cody Wickstrom, who gave KSV goaltender Oliver Zirngast no chance from the left face-off circle (16 min.).

Kapfenberg responded quickly. Neal Unterluggauer scored with a precise shot from the slot to make it 2:1 and restore the home side's lead (18 min.).

In the second period, the Kangaroos waited patiently for their chances, and Manuel Trost increased the lead to 3:1 from close range (22 min.). This time, Graz responded quickly, with Cody Wickstrom again reducing the deficit to 2:3 with a precise shot (24 min.). Following a puck loss by Adrian Stühlinger at the blue line, Marco Scheriau drove towards the Kapfenberg goal and scored the equaliser for 3:3 (34 min.).

In the final period, the reigning champions took control and scored goal after goal: Neal Unterluggauer deflected a shot to give them a 4:3 lead (44 min.), before Kevin Pesendorfer scored for 5:3 following a superb pass from Manuel Trost just 53 seconds later (45 min.). Christoph Draschkowitz then sealed the match with two goals: first, he fired in for 6:3 just 27 seconds later (46 min.). He then converted a fine cross-ice pass to make it 7:3 (48 min.). With their win over ATSE Graz, Kapfenberg finished the regular season in second place behind WEV and ahead of Sharks Gmunden.

West Division:

EHC Lustenau win derby against SC Hohenems

Division winners EHC Lustenau played the big Vorarlberg derby against the in front of 1.500 fans at the Rheinhalle on Saturday to conclude the Division West regular season.SC Samina Hohenems on Saturday in front of __OEHV_NUM_Y_A__ fans at the Rheinhalle to conclude the Division West regular season. While the Lions were able to fine-tune for the playoffs in this prestigious clash, the Steinböcke were battling Kufstein remotely for second place in the standings. The Dragons had taken over second place from Hohenems with a win in Wattens on Friday.

The explosive Ländle derby initially lived up to all expectations. It began emotionally and was an intense contest, offering a taste of the upcoming playoffs. Shortly after a power play, Jonas Kutzer gave the home side a 1:0 lead with a shot from just behind the blue line (15.). Just 22 seconds later, Kutzer added the 2:0 with a shot from the left face-off circle (16.).

Shortly after the halfway point of the game, the visitors were back in contention on the scoreboard: Christian Haidinger reduced the deficit to 1:2 for the Schlittschuhclub from a tight angle on the left (32.). Barely a minute and a half later, Lustenau had restored their two-goal lead, with Dominic Haberl scoring for 3:1 in a scramble after a previously well-worked attacking sequence (33.). 

The derby remained exciting and open for a long time. The division winners were on top but could not beat Karlo Škec in the Hohenems goal. Lustenau netminder Felix Beck also allowed no further goals. In the final period, Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha pulled his goalie just under two minutes from the end. Adem Kandmir put the finishing touch on the game, firing the puck into the empty net for 4:1 (60.). 

Lustenau therefore celebrated their third win in four derbies. SC Hohenems remain third in the standings behind HC Kufstein and could now be selected by Division East winners WEV in Sunday's playoff pick for the quarter-finals.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor 4:0 (1:0,2:0,1:0)
Sat., 01 February 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Marco Bayer (08:47), Lukas Kaider (26:57), Denis Simek (34:29), Theodor Fichtinger (52:36)

KSV Kängurus vs. ATSE Graz 7:3 (2:1,1:2,4:0)
Sat., 01 February 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorers: Florian Hoppl (03:52), Neal Unterluggauer (17:01, 43:53), Manuel Trost (21:43), Kevin Pesendorfer (44:46), Christoph Draschkowitz (45:13, 47:23)
ATSE Graz scorers: Cody Wickstrom (15:52, 23:50), Marco Scheriau (33:31)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems 4:1 (2:0,1:1,1:0)
Sat., 01 February 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle
EHC Lustenau scorers: Jonas Kutzer (14:57, 15:19), Dominic Haberl (32:33), Adem Kandemir (59:39/EN)
SC Hohenems scorer: Christian Haidinger (31:09)

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

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