WEV visit Eastern leaders Sharks Gmunden – HC Kufstein chal­lenge league leaders EHC Lustenau

EHC Lustenau vs HC Kufstein

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

League newcomers EHC Lustenau have made a lion-hearted start to their first Ö Eishockey Liga season, in keeping with the club's animal, and sit top of the table ahead of Saturday's clash with HC Kufstein. On Wednesday, Lustenau secured a convincing 7:0 derby victory over Dornbirner EC. Having won all five of their games, Lustenau already hold an eight-point lead over the current second-placed side, EHC Crocodiles Kundl. 

HC Kufstein are still struggling somewhat for form at the start of the new season. Most recently, despite their clear superiority in the overtime win against Dornbirn, finishing was an issue, but sporting director Willi Lanz is giving the team time to develop a new style of play. 

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner knows where his players need to improve: "Against Lustenau, we need to increase our offensive output and stabilise our defensive structure. The aim is to work with focus and efficiency on the ice for the full 60 minutes."

SC Samina Hohenems vs WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

For the second time already this season, SC Samina Hohenems will face WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins at home at Herrenriedstadion. The Steinböcke won the first encounter in the Grafenstadt 9:2 after a match that was tense and hard-fought for a long time, before eventually ending clearly in their favour. After two wins at the start of the season, Hohenems have most recently suffered two defeats, against Lustenau and, last weekend, against Kundl in overtime. 

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha is confident but aware of the Penguins' strength: "After two consecutive defeats, we naturally want to get back to winning ways against Wattens. However, it certainly will not be an easy task, as Wattens are getting stronger from game to game and anyone can beat anyone in this year's championship. But the team is hungry for the Wattens game and experienced enough to put the last two matches out of their minds. We will do everything we can this weekend to keep the points in Hohenems."

The Wattens Penguins experienced league leaders Lustenau's home strength for the second time on Saturday in their 0:4 defeat. For the Tyroleans, the trip to Hohenems is the provisional last of five consecutive Ländle road trips before they finally celebrate their eagerly awaited return to Wattens' Alpenstadion on 16 November. 

Coach Andreas Sarg is hoping for an upset: "We played well against Lustenau, unfortunately three individual errors led to goals against, but that is hockey against an experienced side. We will look to build our game with focus across all three periods, and we hope we can spring a surprise in Hohenems."

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat, 09 November 2024, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

The Dornbirner EC host EHC Crocodiles Kundl. The Bulldogs suffered a 1:4 defeat against the Tyroleans in their season opener in mid-October. Before their second meeting with the Crocodiles, the Bulldogs face the hitherto imperious league leaders EHC Lustenau in the Vorarlberg derby this Wednesday. Dornbirn recently picked up their first point of the current season with a narrow 2:3 shootout defeat away to HC Kufstein. 

Bulldogs head coach Jaroslav Husar and his team have developed an appetite for more after securing their first point: "The league leaders come to Dornbirn on Wednesday and we know the strengths of the Lustenau team. They are league leaders for a reason. However, we will not be intimidated by that and will once again give everything to be competitive. We have a plan and will continue to work hard on it. On Saturday, we play Kundl for the second time. Once again, we need to keep working on our plan and give everything to achieve a good result. The boys are hungry and want more points. The mood in the team is good and the players are motivated. We will know on Saturday whether we are rewarded and pick up points in the next two games."

The Crocodiles Kundl have looked extremely sharp so far. Three wins – including two overtime victories in the derby against HC Kufstein and most recently away to SC Hohenems – are offset by just one defeat against Lustenau. 

This currently makes the Tyroleans the closest challengers to the West leaders from the lower Rhine Valley. Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier is hoping for a win in Vorarlberg: "We saw in the first round that Dornbirner EC are no easy opponents. Our motto for next Saturday is to start focused and committed and return home with three points!"

Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat, 09 November 2024, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden

League leaders UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden face Wiener Eislauf-Verein at the MUKI Eisarena Gmunden. After three wins in three games, the Traunsee Sharks are currently riding a wave of euphoria, with the Upper Austrians most recently putting on a spectacle in front of more than 700 fans in their 7:1 win over ATSE Graz. 

Gmunden head coach Gregor Baumgartner wants to keep his team grounded despite their winning streak: "It is important to remain focused now. The league is more evenly matched this year. You have to approach every game with focus. WEV have a very dynamic team and we need to be ready for that!"

WEV, for whom the game in Gmunden is the last of three consecutive away fixtures, must find their rhythm again after the weekend off – no easy task against the East leaders. The Viennese most recently came up short against champions Kapfenberg on National Day, having celebrated a 2:1 overtime win in Maribor in their opener. 

Everyone at WEV is eagerly awaiting their home opener in front of the Wiener Konzerthaus on 16 November, when the return fixture against the defending champions from the Mürztal is on the agenda. 

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich hopes his team will quickly rediscover their rhythm at Lake Traunsee: "We expect a fast, intense and evenly matched game against Gmunden. Unfortunately, we had another weekend off after the last game against Kapfenberg, so it will be important for us to get back into competitive mode straight away in order to challenge Gmunden."

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz

Sat, 09 November 2024, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

League newcomers HDK Maribor face ATSE Graz in the derby between partner cities at the Ledena dvorana Maribor on Saturday. Graz won the first meeting of the season at home by 6:2 on the Austrian National Day holiday. After their sensational opening win against champions Kapfenberg, the Slovenians had most recently suffered three straight defeats – one of them against WEV in overtime – but put up fierce resistance in last weekend's narrow 1:3 away defeat to the defending champions. 

With four points so far, the Foxes have embraced the fight for the play-offs early on, and the clash with ATSE Graz can already be described as pivotal. 

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič is calling for a simple game from his team and better finishing: "We have had plenty of chances in recent games, but have not been able to score more than one or two goals. We need to get our legs moving and get the puck towards the net. If we play simply and put some pressure on the goaltender, we have a better chance of scoring goals."

In addition to their win in the first meeting with Maribor, the Mur city side have had to acknowledge the current strength of Sharks Gmunden twice. The clear 1:7 defeat in the Shark Tank at Lake Traunsee particularly hurts the Eggenberg side, who are now seeking redemption in the Styrian derby against Maribor. 

ATSE head coach Markus Losch knows the Slovenians' strengths and wants to see more passion from his players on the ice: "After the unsuccessful return fixture against Gmunden, the team must now reproduce its performance against Maribor. The result of the first game against the Foxes in Graz may have been relatively clear, but the team from Slovenia must not be underestimated under any circumstances. They are very good skaters and have several quality players in their ranks. We have to be ready from the outset and show better hockey again, with more passion."

The Kapfenberger SV have the weekend off – the defending champions return to action on Saturday, 16 November, against Wiener Eislauf-Verein in Vienna.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

Dornbirner Eishockey Club vs. EHC Lustenau 0:7 (0:1,0:4,0:2)
Wed, 06 November 2024, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn
EHC Lustenau scorers: Jonas Kutzer (at 00:25), Martin Grabher Meier (at 23:03), Christopher D’Alvise (at 31:40, at 58:57), Dominic Haberl (at 36:11), Philipp Koczera (at 36:35), Stefan Hrdina (at 53:45/PP1)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein

Sat, 09 November 2024, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat, 09 November 2024, 19:30, Messestadion Dornbirn

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 09 November 2024, 18:30, MUKI Eisarena Gmunden

HDK Maribor vs. ATSE Graz

Sat, 09 November 2024, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

Kapfenberger SV have a bye

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