ÖEL: KSV and Hohenems move into the semi-finals in the playoff!

The semi-finalists of the Austrian Ice Hockey League have been determined since Wednesday: Kapfenberg defeated EHC Kundl 5-2 at home in the town hall in front of almost 1,000 fans and prevailed 2-1 in the best-of-three series. The Styrians will meet SC Hohenems in the semi-finals. The Steinbocks celebrated a 6-1 win against WEV in the all-important duel in front of over 700 fans in the Rheinhalle Lustenau and booked their last semi-final ticket with a 2-1 win in the best-of-three series. The second semi-final is EHC Lustenau against HC Kufstein. Both semi-final series start on Saturday.

Quarterfinal 2 – Game 3: KSV Kangaroos after victory against EHC Kundl in the semifinals

The KSV Kangaroos met in the Austrian Ice Hockey League on Wednesday in the all-important quarter-final game in the Kapfenberg town hall in front of almost 1,000 fans EHC customer. After two games, the best-of-three series was tied 1-1, with both teams winning their away game.

The Styrians started the showdown at full speed, shooting from all positions in the first few minutes. Kundl’s goalie Jakub Kostnely had to be wide awake right from the start. The Tyroleans found it difficult to break free from Kapfenberg’s grip in the first few minutes; the Mürztalers were clearly superior offensively.

In complete contrast to the course of the game, the guests were suddenly ahead: Maximilian Mackner surprised KSV keeper Felix Nußbacher, who was unable to tame the goal, with the first serious shot on goal from the right face-off circle, making it 1-0 for Kundl (9th). A little later, Kapfenberger had their first power play, and for a short period they even had a 5:3 advantage. When there was a commotion in front of the goal, Pierre Graf was the last to reach the goal and made it 1-1 (12th). After that the game was more open until the first siren. Kundl still had the majority towards the end and took most of the numerical superiority with him into the middle section.

With their remaining majority at the start of the second third, the Tyroleans were unable to score a goal. The Kapfenbergers did much better in another power play: The Mürztalers waited patiently for the perfect chance, which Pierre Graf converted from the slot to make it 2-1 (24th). Just after halftime of the game, Kundl showed how important special teams are in the playoffs: One second before the numerical advantage expired, Lukas Thaler surprised KSV keeper Nußbacher with a long shot from the right side to equalize 2-2 (32′).

The match became more and more intense and exciting. The Kangaroos took the lead again in the second period: Luca Fasching scored from the slot with a wonderful shot just under three minutes before the second siren to make it 3-2 (38th). At the beginning of the final third, the Kapfenbergers restricted Kundler in their defensive zone and wanted to create a two-goal lead. Since the Mürztalers couldn’t score a quick goal, the match remained a thriller. Just under six minutes before the end, Florian Hoppl started an energetic run down the right side, curved behind the goal and passed to Lukas Telsnig, who shot from the left face-off circle and scored to make it 4-2 for Kapfenberg (54th).

In the end, Kundl pulled his goalie Jakub Kostelny a total of three times, and the Lower Inntal team was no longer able to score. On the contrary: Phileas Lyssy hit the empty goal exactly one second before the final siren to make the final score 5-2 (60th). The KSV Kangaroos won the best-of-three series against EHC Kundl 2-1 and will meet SC Samina Hohenems in the semi-finals from Saturday. It is the fifth playoff series between the two teams in the Austrian Ice Hockey League against each other.

Quarterfinal 4 – Game 3: SC Hohenems prevails against WEV

The SC Samina Hohenems expected on Wednesday Vienna Ice Skating Club in the Lustenau Rheinhalle – the match was moved indoors due to the weather conditions – in front of over 700 fans for the duel for a place in the semi-finals. Both teams won their quarterfinal home game in the best-of-three series.

In the all-important duel, the Steinbocks got off to a lightning start: After winning a face-off on the left side in the attacking third, Ricards Purins took off and scored to make it 1-0 after exactly 54 seconds, WEV keeper Moritz Merkader’s view was blocked (1st).

Both teams fought an intense playoff fight in the first few minutes, in which the hosts extended their lead with their first majority: Once again it was Ricards Purins who put a rebound into the net from close range after being defended by WEV goalie Moritz Merkader to make it 2-0 (11th). After that, Vorarlberg tried to keep the game under control. The Viennese fought doggedly to finally reach the showdown in terms of results.

At the beginning of the second period, the WEV had its first power play, which the federal capital team completed without scoring. In the immediate shift that followed, there were chances on both sides, and the pace of the match became a bit faster. Then SC Hohenems had a 5:3 advantage, waited patiently and Ricards Purins completed their hat trick from close range with a 3:0 (26th minute).

13 seconds after halftime of the game, the WEV was on the scoreboard: After a faceoff on the left side in the attack zone, the disc came over several stations to Xaver Emslander, who shortened the score to 1:3 with his backhand from close range (31st). Suddenly the duel for a place in the semi-finals was exciting again. The man of the game – Ricards Purins – scored after a quick attack from the left with a powerful shot from the left face-off circle to make it 4-1, the Latvian goal getter’s fourth direct hit (37th).

In the final section, the WEV could no longer turn the match around, on the contrary: Dominik Hron shot from just behind the blue line and made it 5-1 for the Ems team (49th). Despite the clear deficit, the WEV outnumbered goalie Merkader, Sandro Schadl hit the empty goal with a long shot to make it 6-1 (56th). SC Hohenems beat WEV 2-1 in the best-of-three series and will face Kapfenberg in the semi-finals.

Ö Ice Hockey League 2025/2026 – Playoff – Quarterfinals

Game 3:

KSV Kangaroos vs. EHC Kundl 5:2 (1:1.2:1.2:0)
Wed., February 18, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Kapfenberg town hall
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Pierre Graf (11:16 mins/PP2, 23:23 mins/PP1), Luca Fasching (37:08 mins), Lukas Telsnig (53:58 mins)
Goal scorers EHC Kundl: Maximilian Mackner (08:12 mins), Lukas Thaler (31:16 mins/PP1)

Final standings in the best-of-three series: 2:1

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Vienna Ice Skating Club 6:1 (2:0,2:1,2:0)
Wed., February 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goal scorers SC Hohenems: Ricards Purins (00:54 mins, 10:29 mins/PP1, 25:27 mins/PP2, 36:40 mins), Dominik Hron (48:32 mins), Sandro Schadl (55:50 mins/SH1/EN)
Goalscorer Vienna Ice Skating Club: Xaver Emslander (30:13 mins)

Final standings in the best-of-three series: 2:1

Game 2:

ATSE Graz vs. EHC Lustenau 1:4 (0:1,0:0,1:3)
Sat., February 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Graz Merkur Ice Stadium (Hall A)
Goalscorer ATSE Graz: Filip Matijević (43:49 mins)
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Lucas Haberl (02:14 mins), Martin Grabher Meier (40:38 mins) Robin Wüstner (47:51 mins), Christopher D’Alvise (58:58 mins/SH1/EN)

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

EHC Kundl vs. KSV Kangaroos 0:6 (0:3.0:3.0:0)
Sat., February 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Eisarena Kundl
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Kevin Moderer (09:19 mins), Pierre Graf (10:24 mins/PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (13:26 mins, 28:30 mins), Stefan Trost (33:10 mins), Phileas Lyssy (38:18 mins/PP1)

HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 4:3 nP (2:2.0:0.1:1.0:0.1:0)
Sat., February 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Kufstein Ice Arena
Goal scorers HC Kufstein: Stefan Reiter (12:30 min., 41:22 min.), Aleksi Airaksinen (19:31 min.), Clemens Paulweber (65:00 min./decisive penalty)
Goal scorers Sharks Gmunden: Moritz Neurauter (02:24 min.), 09:53 Hubert Berger (09:53 min.), Jonas Kail (52:57 min./PP1)

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

Vienna Ice Skating Club vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:2 (1:1,1:0,1:1)
Sat., February 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m., WEV Arena Heumarkt
Goalscorers Vienna Ice Skating Club: Patrick Bolterle (17:05 mins), Rupert Fichtinger (29:11 mins/PP1), Richard Gruber (45:21 mins)
Goal scorers SC Hohenems: Christian Haidinger (02:55 mins), Marcel Wolf (57:51 mins/PP1)

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz 7:2 (2:0.2:0.3:2)
Sat., February 7, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Christopher D’Alvise (12:22 mins, 32:25 mins, 50:14 mins), David Slivnik (12:53 mins), Daniel Stefan (33:42 mins), Manuel Metzler (52:50 mins/PP1), Ricardo Bell (59:14 mins)
Goal scorers ATSE Graz: Cody Wickstrom (43:42 mins), Mathias Werkl (47:46 mins)

KSV Kangaroos vs. EHC Kundl 1:2 nP (1:0.0:0.0:1.0:0.0:1)
Sat., February 7, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Kapfenberg town hall
Goalscorer KSV Kangaroos: Lukas Telsnig (17:58 mins/PP1)
Goal scorers EHC Kundl: Sebastian Schild (51:48 mins), Michal Kluka (65:00 mins/decisive penalty)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein 3:4 nV (2:1.0:1.1:1.0:1)
Sat., February 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m., muki Arena
Goal scorers Sharks Gmunden: Lukas Stöttner (03:40 mins), Fabian Richter (19:36 mins), Paul Pirklbauer (50:51 mins/PP1)
Goal scorers HC Kufstein: Markus Prock (06:24 min./PP1, 44:00 min./PP1), Clemens Paulweber (35:01 min./SH1, 60:50 min.)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Vienna Ice Skating Club 5:1 (1:0,2:1,2:0)
Sat., February 7, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Hohenems Ice Stadium
Goal scorers SC Hohenems: Marcel Wolf (03:52 mins), Patrick Spannring (20:23 mins, 57:36 mins/EN), Christian Haidinger (34:57 mins), Benjamin Kyllönen (52:15 mins)
Goalscorer Vienna Ice Skating Club: Lukas Kaider (23:02 mins)

Ö Ice Hockey League 2025/2026 – Playoff – Semifinals

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., February 21, 2026, Rheinhalle Lustenau

KSV Kangaroos vs. SC Hohenems
Sat., February 21, 2026, Kapfenberg town hall

Game 2:

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., February 28, 2026, Kustein Ice Arena

SC Hohenems vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat., February 28, 2026, Hohenems Ice Stadium

Game 3 (If necessary):

EHC Lustenau vs. HC Kufstein
Wed., March 4, 2026, Rheinhalle Lustenau

KSV Kangaroos vs. SC Hohenems
Wed., March 4, 2026, Kapfenberg town hall

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