Zeltweg Murtal Lions chal­lenge Kapfen­berg in derby – Feld­kirch v Kufstein is the West's head­line clash

Kapfenberger SV vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

Sat., 21 October 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

As the fixture list would have it, the major Upper Styria derby between Kapfenberger SV and EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions takes place as early as the second matchday in the East Division. The Kängurus showed in their emphatic 5:0 away win over ATSE Graz that they are once again among the title contenders in the Ö Eishockey Liga.

Kapfenberg goalscorer Florian Hoppl, who netted four goals in the very first game, is hoping for a well-attended Stadthalle Kapfenberg: "It will be an extremely important game and we are really looking forward to it. We hope lots of people come to the arena."

And player-coach Kris Reinthaler was already focused on the upcoming classic immediately after the opening win: "In the derby, we will focus on ourselves rather than on what the others are doing. But we expect Zeltweg, like ATSE, to adopt a more defensive approach."

Zeltweg Murtal Lions chairman Christian Mayerl was proud of his team following the emotional and dramatic comeback against WEV, in which the Viennese ultimately claimed a narrow 4:3 overtime win, and knows how the Lions can compete with the league leaders: "We have had an emotional evening, in which our boys, with only thirteen players, came back from 0:3 against Vienna and showed an intensity rarely seen in Zeltweg. We will need exactly that intensity against KSV, although you can never completely stop this team. Kapfenberg are well-drilled, play clever, very smart hockey and have added enormous quality in Daniel Oberkofler; they have a solution for every situation. We simply have to try to give them too little time to find those solutions, and to do that you have to skate, check and be ready to push beyond your limits. Otherwise, the Kängurus will put you in their pouch and hop home with the three points. But it is a new game, a new opportunity, and we want to seize it with all our strength and present ourselves "as good as possible"!"

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz

Sat., 21 October 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden celebrate their home opener on Saturday when ATSE Graz make their visit to the Shark Tank on the northern shore of Lake Traun. The Upper Austrians, who are hosting a Ladies Night – all female fans receive free admission – began the season with a 5:2 win at UHT Dukes Graz.

New head coach Gregor Baumgartner brings fresh impetus to the Sharks, but also knows that there is still plenty of work ahead for both him and his team: "We can be satisfied with the start and the result, but we still need to improve considerably in terms of our play over the coming weeks. We will need to raise our performance straight away in Saturday's home opener. Our aim is to improve week by week!"

ATSE Graz suffered a 0:5 defeat to Kapfenberger SV at the start of the new season. ATSE head coach Rupert Strohmeier does not see the battle for the play-offs as being against the Kängurus, but rather in games such as those against the Sharks: "The away game in Gmunden will be a real challenge for us. The Upper Austrians strengthened their squad over the summer and will definitely be different from last season. Their first game last week already showed the potential in their team. It will show where we really stand. Even though the first league game against Kapfenberg last week was clearly lost, the game must not be overestimated, as the match-ups with the other four teams in the group in particular will be decisive for the play-offs."

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat., 21 October 2023, 19:15, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall B)

The UHT Dukes Graz face the Wiener Eislauf-Verein in their second game of the new season. WEV won 4:3 in overtime in their opener at the Zeltweg Murtal Lions, after leading 3:0 and withstanding a Zeltweg comeback. 

Graz lost their home opener against the Sharks from Gmunden 2:5 after leading 1:0, but according to head coach Jurica Bednjanec they are aiming for their first win of the season: "We want to show against Vienna that we are a dangerous team this year. We want to put WEV under pressure with our speed and win the game through disciplined positional play!"

WEV experienced a rollercoaster ride of a hockey game in Styria last weekend. The Vienna side initially pulled away to 3:0, before the Murtal Lions levelled at 3:3 in an emotional contest. Stefan Nador secured the win for Vienna after 38 seconds of overtime. 

Head coach Mario Kubeczka and his team are not travelling to the Styrian capital for sightseeing: "UHT Dukes Graz are even more difficult to assess this year than they were last year. However, I think the opening win against Zeltweg has given us confidence. We will approach this game with complete focus and motivation. We will prepare well for this encounter and make a few tactical changes compared with the game against Zeltweg. We are very much looking forward to facing Graz and to the next challenge."

Two games in Division West

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC

Fri., 20 October 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

Division West resumes on Friday. EHC Crocodiles Kundl host league newcomers Dornbirner EC. One thing is already certain ahead of this game: one of the two teams will claim their first win of the current season to open the weekend. 

The Crocodiles had little answer to title contenders SC Hohenems' offensive firepower in their first home game, but then showed character in the local derby against HC Kufstein after falling 0:4 behind. Head Coach Manfred Mühllechner's team fought back to 3:4 and made the game exciting before the Western Conference leaders ultimately prevailed 5:3. 

Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier can take more than just positives from the comeback against the Dragons: "We are also taking positives from the heavy opening defeat against Hohenems. We know that our team needs time with eleven new players and we have complete faith in our team. However, we want to get on the board next Friday – we are motivated and optimistic!"

The Dornbirn Bulldogs began the new season with a 2:7 defeat against HC Kufstein and a painful 3:10 loss in the atmospheric derby against VEU Feldkirch at the Vorarlberghalle. 

The young team led by Head Coach Pavel Takac still need to find their feet in the new league: "Both teams are looking for their first win of the season. Our squad consists mainly of young players, many of whom are playing their first season of senior ice hockey. We are struggling with some mistakes that are punished ruthlessly at this level. But we can keep up in terms of skating and are creating good chances. Although we are considered underdogs in Kundl, we are highly motivated and will give everything for 60 minutes."

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein

Sun, 22 October 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

For the second time in the still young season, VEU Feldkirch and HC Kufstein will cross sticks. The Dragons won the opening game of the new Ö Eishockey Liga season at the beginning of October 4:1, and now the team from Vorarlberg have the chance to avenge their opening defeat. 

The team coached by Danish Head Coach Lars Foder recently celebrated a convincing 10:3 win in the derby against Dornbirn in front of an atmospheric crowd at the Vorarlberghalle.

The Tyroleans made a perfect start to the new season. They have recorded three wins from three games after 60 minutes, putting Head Coach Ivo Novotny's side top of the Division West table. 

Kufstein sporting director Willi Lanz is tempering the euphoria ahead of the clash with Feldkirch: "With three wins from three games, we have of course made the perfect start to the season on paper. Nevertheless, we have seen that there is still a lot of work ahead of us. There are some phases we cannot be satisfied with. We need to improve on that, especially with the games against Feldkirch and Hohenems in mind. If we learn from this and manage to play our game with focus for 60 minutes, then I am confident that we will pick up points."

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. ATSE Graz

Sat, 21 October 2023, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden

Kapfenberger SV vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions

Sat, 21 October 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein

Sat, 21 October 2023, 19:15, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Dornbirner EC

Fri, 20 October 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein

Sun, 22 October 2023, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

All tables, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Game Centre

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!