EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kangaroos – the ÖEL has its dream final!

The Austrian Ice Hockey League has its dream final! EHC Lustenau – winner of the West Division – celebrated an 8-0 victory in the second semi-final game against HC Kufstein away in front of almost 1,000 fans, won the best-of-three series 2-0 and will face the East Division winner KSV Kängurus in the final series for the championship. The Styrians won 7-3 at SC Hohenems in the Hohenems ice stadium in front of almost 900 fans and also won 2-0 in the best-of-three series. The grand finale starts on Saturday, March 7th, 2026.

Semi-final 1 – Game 2: EHC Lustenau in the final after a huge win in Kufstein

The HC Kufstein met on Saturday in the semi-final home game in the Eisarena Kufstein in front of almost 1,000 fans EHC Lustenau. The Vorarlbergers, who led 1-0 in the best-of-three series after the 4-1 win in the Rheinhalle, got off to a dream start: After an energetic forecheck, Timo Demuth appeared in front of the Kufstein goal after a pass from Riku Tianinen, HCK goalie Thomas Pfarrmaier was still able to fend off Dominic Haberl’s rebound from close range to make it 1-0 for the Lions after exactly 71 He was powerless for seconds (2nd). Lustenau followed up: After a nice pass from David Slivnik, goalgetter Christopher D’Alvise drove quickly into the attacking third on the right side and gave Kufstein’s keeper Pfarrmaier no chance to make it 2-0 from close range (9th). The Lustenauers controlled the action on the ice with their two-goal lead. The Dragons fought doggedly to get into the match in terms of results, but were unable to convert the first power play into a goal.

Right at the beginning of the second period, the Tyroleans had another chance to score the next goal with numerical superiority. Once again the hosts failed to score. With each change, the Kufsteiners had to act more offensively and take more risks. The guests waited patiently for further chances: After a cross pass from Christopher D’Alvise, Martin Grabher Meier was able to shoot from the right into the wide open goal to make it 3-0 (28th). Almost two minutes later, it was Martin Grabher Meier again who, in Lustenau’s first majority, moved from behind the goal line in front of the Kufstein goal and made it 4-0 with a backhand (30th). Just 35 seconds later it was already 5-0 for Vorarlberg: After a nice combination, Robin Wüstner also scored with his backhand to make the preliminary decision before halftime of the game (30th). After the emotions were released during a scuffle, Lustenau followed up: Christopher D’Alvise was up and away again and made it 6-0 (35th) with a copy of his first goal. Kufstein now fell into pieces and the Lustenauers continued to play mercilessly. Chris D’Alvise scored from close range to make it 7-0 (37′). Vorarlberg didn’t have enough, Lucas Haberl made it 8-0 – also from close range and in the majority – (38th). In the last section, the Lustenau team played the result home dry, and in the end the emotions were once again in the foreground. In the end, EHC Lustenau clearly won 8-0 with a shutout from goalie Felix Beck, won the best-of-three series 2-0 and will face Division East winner KSV Kangurus in the final from Saturday, March 7th.

Semifinal 2 – Game 2: KSV Kangaroos prevail against SC Hohenems

The SC Hohenems fought against them on Saturday in the Hohenems ice stadium in front of almost 900 fans KSV Kangaroos to stay in the best-of-three series. The Styrians won 5-4 after a penalty shootout in Kapfenberg last weekend and had the chance to book their ticket to the final early with a win away in the Ländle. The guests started the game strongly: after a wonderful cross pass from Lukas Draschkowitz, defender Neal Unterluggauer scored to make it 1-0 for Kapfenberg (4th). With a double strike within 48 seconds, the Mürztal team quickly took a three-goal lead. Florian Hoppl intercepted a long pass from Lukas Telsnig as he fell, drove alone to HSC goalie Pascal Prugger and sank the goal beautifully to make it 2-0 (7th). Then Kevin Moderer had a burst of energy, played a Hohenems defender dizzy and scored from the slot to make it 3-0 (8th). The Capricorns then had their first majority, but were unable to capitalize on the first goal. Towards the end of the first period, the Kangaroos had an opportunity to outnumber the score, one phase of which even resulted in a 5:3 superiority. Lukas Draschkowitz stood at the right goal post and held out the paddle to make it 4-0 (20th).

The hosts got off to a better start in the second third. Eric Ockert initially failed from the slot, but the German took advantage of his second chance a few seconds later and reduced the score to 1:4 for Hohenems with a powerful wrist shot (22′). The Vorarlbergers now had a strong phase and pressed for the second goal. The Kapfenberg team stood well defensively with keeper Felix Nußbacher and initially maintained their three-goal lead. Things got even better for the Styrians: the Kangaroos pulled away with a double strike within 25 seconds. Pierre Graf deflected a shot to make it 5-1 (33′), then Manuel Trost made it 6-1 (33′). The Ems team didn’t give up and were able to shorten the score in the second third: Patrick Spannring made the 2-6 lead after entering the attack zone from the left face-off circle (36′). Afterwards there was an exchange of a few pleasantries, but the cracks quickly calmed down again. The skating club had to be more offensive in the final third to get back into the match, but the visitors played extremely cleverly in the first few minutes and managed their four-goal lead cleverly. Almost eleven minutes before the end, the Ems fans began to feel a little hope: After a long heave and carelessness in the Kapfenberg defense, Ricards Purins was suddenly alone in front of goalie Nußbacher and made it 3:6 (50th). In the end, the Hohenems team pulled their goalkeeper for a sixth field player, Luca Fasching scored the 7:3 for the Kangaroos into the empty goal (59th). The Styrians won 7-3 at SC Hohenems and also won 2-0 in the best-of-three series. The grand final against the winner of the West Division EHC Lustenau starts on Saturday, March 7th, 2026.

Ö Ice Hockey League 2025/2026 – Playoff – Semifinals

Game 2:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau 0:8 (0:2.0:6.0:0)
Sat., February 28, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Kufstein Ice Arena
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Dominic Haberl (01:11 min.), Christopher D’Alvise (08:30 min., 34:00 min., 36:14 min./PP1), Martin Grabher Meier (27:24 min., 29:19 min./PP1), Robin Wüstner (29:54 min.), Lucas Haberl (37:37 min./PP1)

Final standings in the best-of-three series: 0:2

SC Hohenems vs. KSV Kangaroos 3:7 (0:4.2:2.1:1)
Sat., February 28, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Hohenems Ice Stadium
Goal scorers SC Hohenems: Eric Ockert (21:43 mins), Patrick Spannring (35:43 mins/PP1), Ricards Purins (49:13 mins)
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Neal Unterluggauer (03:18 mins), Florian Hoppl (06:55 mins), Kevin Moderer (07:43 mins), Lukas Draschkowitz (19:28 mins/PP2), Pierre Graf (32:00 mins), Manuel Trost (32:25 mins), Luca Fasching (58:58 mins/EN)

Final standings in the best-of-three series: 0:2

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein 4:1 (0:1.3:0.1:0)
Sat., February 21, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Christopher D’Alvise (24:41 mins, 33:10 mins), Adem Kandemir (26:45 mins), Riku Tiainen (49:57 mins)
Goalscorer HC Kufstein: Christian Pittl (15:16 mins)

KSV Kangaroos vs. SC Hohenems 5:4 nP (0:2.1:1.3:1.0:0.1:0)
Sat., February 21, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Kapfenberg town hall
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Manuel Trost (34:01 mins), Lukas Draschkowitz (54:01 mins/PP2), Pierre Graf (57:34 mins), Neal Unterluggauer (58:34 mins), Florian Hoppl (65:00 mins/decisive penalty)
Goal scorers SC Hohenems: Patrick Spannring (02:22 mins), Fabian Mandlburger (12:21 mins), Eric Ockert (30:21 mins, 50:29 mins)

Ö Ice Hockey League 2025/2026 – Playoff – Final

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat. March 7, 2026

Game 2:

KSV Kangaroos vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat. March 14, 2026

Game 3 (If necessary):

EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat. March 21, 2026

www.eishockey.at, Pic: KSV/Randeu