WEV start the new year with a win at ATSE Graz – HC Kufstein win at SC Hohenems

The ATSE Graz began the new year on Saturday in Division East at the Liebenauer Bunker in the classic against the Wiener Eislauf-Verein. The Viennese made perfect use of their first power play: following a save by ATSE netminder Florian Zeugswetter, Patrick Bolterle pounced on the rebound to make it 1:0 for WEV (3.).

The visitors pressed on, and how: a double strike within 13 seconds suddenly gave WEV a three-goal lead. First, Richard Gruber launched a quick attack down the left wing, with the defenceman playing an ideal cross-ice pass to Rupert Fichtinger, who scored for 2:0 (9.). Immediately after the face-off, the Viennese gained possession following an errant pass and Nils Granitz deflected the puck in for 3:0 (10.).

Things then got heated, with ATSE player Moritz Ausperger and Jan Billa engaging in an entertaining fight. The game was over for both, as they received five-minute major and game misconduct penalties. The Viennese played with abandon after the third goal and added another: Theodor Fichtinger burst in front of the ATSE goal at speed and netted for 4:0 (13.). With 21 seconds remaining in the period, Denis Simek fired a wonderful wrist shot from the right face-off circle to make it 5:0 (20.).

Just before the halfway mark of the game, the hosts got on the scoreboard: Kevin Pesendorfer beat Moritz Merkader from the slot to make it 1:5 (30.). Maximilian Schwarz then reduced the deficit to 2:5 on the power play (35.). The Viennese responded perfectly, with Stefan Nador scoring from the slot to make it 6:2 (37.).

There was then another fight: ATSE's Lukas Werkl and WEV's Richard Gruber came to blows, and the game was also over for both of them. Graz pulled back to 3:6 with 43 seconds remaining in the period, with Maximilian Schwarz again scoring on the power play (40.). There were no further goals in the final period, as WEV began the new year with a 6:3 win in Graz.

KSV Kängurus defeat HDK Maribor after trailing

The KSV Kängurus begin the new year with a home double-header this weekend. On Saturday, the Mürztal side faced HDK Maribor, with the major clash against league leaders Sharks Gmunden to follow on Sunday. Maribor made a superb start: Rok Frešer weaved through the KSV defence and gave netminder Oliver Zirngast no chance with a precise shot (6.).

The Slovenians added another just under three minutes later: Luka Vinčec calmly entered the offensive zone down the left side before firing a stunning shot under the crossbar to make it 2:0 (9.). Kapfenberg quickly recovered from the initial shock and pulled one back, as Stefan Trost netted for 1:2 (14.).

In the second period, the Mürztal side pressed for an equaliser, which duly came: Lukas Winkler played the puck across to Mark Kompain, who gave Maribor goaltender Lazar Ilić no chance to make it 2:2 (27.). Still in the second period, the Kängurus turned the game around: Luca Fasching drove forcefully towards the Maribor goal and scored to make it 3:2 (33.).

Kapfenberg then turned up the pressure: three further goals within 73 seconds suddenly made it 6:2. Lukas Winkler scored to make it 4:2 from the right face-off circle (37.). 17 seconds later, Nick Strumberger extended the lead to 5:2 (37.), before Daniel Oberkofler added 6:2 (37.). In the final period, the home side had a power play and Pierre Graf spectacularly lifted the puck under the crossbar with his backhand to make it 7:2 (42.).

Following a quick attack, Florian Hoppl fired home to make it 8:2 (51.). Jure Robek pulled one back to 3:8 for the Foxes with just under seven minutes remaining (54.). On Sunday, Kapfenberg have the added attraction of the showdown with leaders Sharks Gmunden. The direct duel for top spot takes place at the Kapfenberg Stadthalle, with the Upper Austrians having won the first meeting of the season 3:0.

Division West:

HC Kufstein win away at SC Hohenems

On Saturday, the SC Samina Hohenemsfaced HC Kufstein for the fourth and final time in the regular season in the West Division. The Tyroleans made a dream start. Aleksi Airaksinen perfectly redirected a long pass from Florian Eder to Stefan Reiter, who quickly skated into the offensive zone and fired home clinically for 1:0 after exactly 15 seconds (1st minute).

The Dragons added another, with Florian Eder again playing a long pass, this time directly to Stefan Reiter, who beat Hohenems netminder Karlo Škec with a long stick to make it 2:0 (7th minute). The home side responded on their first power play: Leon Schmeiser deflected a pass from Kai Fässler to make it 1:2 (12th minute).

At the start of the second period, the fans at Herrenried again saw a fast-paced, entertaining game, with attacks and scoring chances at both ends. Following a turnover, Tomáš Vildumetz fed Herbert Steiner, who scored from the slot to make it 3:1 for Kufstein (30th minute). With his 119th goal in a Dragons jersey, Steiner surpassed previous record holder Robert Schopf. All Kufstein players took to the ice at that moment and celebrated the new Kufstein record goalscorer.

The Steinböcke quickly found the right response, as Marcel Wolf hammered the puck into the net on the power play just 61 seconds later to pull one back at 2:3 (31st minute). The match remained highly exciting in the final period, with Kufstein landing the next blow: following a quick attack, Florian Eder pounced on a rebound to make it 4:2 for Kufstein (46th minute). The Schlittschuhclub could no longer turn the game around; on the contrary, Luca Reiter made it 5:2 with an empty-net goal 50 seconds from the end (60th minute).

Kundl sensationally hand Lustenau their first defeat of the season

The EHC Kundl and EHC Lustenau ushered in the new year in the West Division as early as Friday. The Tyroleans and the Vorarlberg league leaders faced each other for the fourth and final time in the regular season. Lustenau were dominant in the opening period, with the Lions launching attack after attack, but Kundl were exceptionally solid defensively and goaltender Jakub Kostelny provided security at the back.

After a scoreless first period, the home side struck exactly 38 seconds into the second: Valentin Ploner made it 1:0 for EHC Kundl (21st minute). The match became more intense with every shift, with the Vorarlberg side pushing for an equaliser while the Tyroleans looked to counter and patiently waited for chances: following a face-off on the right side of the offensive zone, the puck came to Maximilian Mackner, who lifted it from close range under the crossbar and over Lustenau netminder Felix Beck, who was already down, to make it 2:0 just under four minutes before the end of the period (36th minute). Goaltender Kostelny continued to keep Lustenau scoreless until the second siren.

The home side's somewhat surprising two-goal lead after 40 minutes set up an exciting final period. Little changed in the nature of the game, with the visitors quickly establishing themselves in the offensive zone. After a shot was saved by Kostelny, Lucas Haberl converted the rebound from close range after just under two minutes to pull one back at 1:2 (43rd minute).

Kundl then failed to restore their two-goal lead during two power plays, and the game had long since entered crunch time. Lustenau had a power play at the end and also pulled goaltender Felix Beck. They were unable to find an equaliser, as Kundl completed the sensation and inflicted the first defeat of the current season on the commanding West Division leaders.

Ö Eishockey Liga - EAST Division:

ATSE Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:6 (0:5,3:1,0:0)
Sat., 03 January 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Kevin Pesendorfer (29:44 min.), Maximilian Schwarz (34:14 min./PP1, 39:17 min./PP1)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Patrick Bolterle (02:28 min./PP1), Rupert Fichtinger (08:47 min.), Nils Granitz (09:00 min.), Theodor Fichtinger (12:42 min.), Denis Simek (19:39 min.), Stefan Nador (36:23 min.)

KSV Kängurus vs. HDK Maribor 8:3 (1:2,5:0,2:1)
Sat., 03 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Stefan Trost (at 13:08), Mark Kompain (at 26:58), Luca Fasching (at 32:49), Lukas Winkler (at 36:23), Nick Strumberger (at 36:40), Daniel Oberkofler (at 37:36), Pierre Graf (at 41:29/PP1), Florian Hoppl (at 50:13)
HDK Maribor goalscorers: Rok Frešer (at 05:07), Luka Vinčec (at 08:09), Jure Robek (at 53:18)

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> to the livestream

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz
Tue, 06 January 2026, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor >> to the livestream

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Tue, 06 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. HC Kufstein 2:5 (1:2,1:1,0:2)
Sat, 03 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Leon Schmeiser (at 11:12/PP1), Marcel Wolf (at 30:36/PP1)
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Stefan Reiter (at 00:15, 06:40), Herbert Steiner (at 29:35), Florian Eder (at 45:32), Luca Reiter (at 59:10/EN)

EHC Kundl vs. EHC Lustenau 2:1 (0:0,2:0,0:1)
Fri, 02 January 2026, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Valentin Ploner (at 20:38), Maximilian Mackner (at 35:55)
EHC Lustenau goalscorer: Lucas Haberl (at 42:10)

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sun, 04 January 2026, 17:30, Messestadion Dornbirn - >> watch the livestream

EHC Lustenau vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue, 06 January 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau - >> watch the livestream

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Tue, 06 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> watch the livestream

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl
Tue, 06 January 2026, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens - >> watch the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with its first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format in the two divisions – West with six teams and East with five teams – will undergo a change in phase 1. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half round robin, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

Following phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. The coming season will again see a play-off pick after the regular season, providing additional excitement. The highest-ranked 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. The play-off match-ups, from the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from the coming season onwards.

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

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!