The Austrian Ice Hockey League continued with three games on Saturday: The new league leaders Kapfenberg won the East Division away against defending champions Sharks Gmunden 5-1 and extended their lead to four points. WEV celebrated a 3-0 win away at HDK Maribor and cemented third place in the table. In the West Division, leader EHC Lustenau clearly won against the Dornbirn Bulldogs in the district derby with… The game between SC Hohenems and EHC Kundl on Saturday had to be canceled due to the weather – a new date will follow.
Defending champions fought for the third time in the current season UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden on Saturday in the East Division against the KSV Kangaroos. After the 6:4 win against ATSE Graz, the Styrians came to the big Schager on Lake Traunsee as the new league leaders.
The match began with a moment of shock for the hosts. Goalie Luka Gračnar had to go off injured after just under two and a half minutes, and Tobias Windhofer came in to replace him. With the league lead behind them, the Kangaroos acted confidently and were ahead 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kevin Moderer (13th). Less than three minutes later, the Mürztal team followed up: Phileas Lyssy made it 2-0 for Kapfenberg (16th).
At the beginning of the second period, the guests were unable to take advantage of their first power play opportunity, but shortly afterwards they extended their lead: Manuel Trost increased the score to 3-0 for KSV (27th). The Haie were finally able to score with a majority, Hubert Berger shortened the score to 1:3 (37th).
However, Kapfenberger gave the Upper Austrian fans no hope of catching up: Manuel Trost restored the three-goal lead with his second direct goal to make it 4-1 just 28 seconds later (37th). In the last section the guests left nothing to be desired, on the contrary: Florian Hoppl made it 5-1 and the decision (53′).
Kapfenberg celebrated a convincing victory and extended their lead in the table to four points. The Sharks Gmunden continue on Sunday with a home game against HDK Maribor.
WEV leaves no stone unturned at HDK Maribor
For the fourth time this season they crossed on Saturday HDK Maribor and the Vienna Ice Skating Club the thugs. From the start, both teams fought an intense fight, with chances on both sides. The Viennese gained more and more offensive advantages as the first period continued, and in an urgent phase the WEV managed to take the lead. Patrick Bolterle beautifully lifted the disc into the net with his backhand to make it 1-0 (16th).
Right at the beginning of the middle period, the Foxes failed to convert their first majority into a goal. The defense of the federal capital team, together with keeper Moritz Merkader, was strong and did not allow a goal in this phase. In another power play shortly after half-time, the Slovenians exerted a lot of pressure and laid siege to the WEV goal, but again the hosts failed to score. Because Maribor couldn’t use the third power play, the Viennese remained with a narrow one-goal lead after 40 minutes.
In the final third, WEV was extremely efficient on offense. The Maribor defense was opened up with just two passes and Rupert Fichtinger made it 2-0 (43′). The hosts were unable to overcome the Viennese defense in the fourth power play, and the fans in the Ledna dvorana Maribor had their screams for goal stuck in their throats several times.
The WEV presented itself completely differently: After a wonderful combination, Lukas Kaider scored from the slot to make it 3-0 (51st). Because Maribor could no longer turn the match around and WEV goalie Moritz Merkader celebrated a shutout, the announced Teddy Bear Toss took place with the final siren.
West Division:
EHC Lustenau gives Dornbirner Bulldogs no chance
The Dornbirner EC Bulldogs expected on Saturday in the West Division EHC Lustenau in the exhibition stadium for the third district derby. The hosts started the duel with their local rivals, who will finish first in the West group, with a short line up of only 12 field players. After a quick attack from the right, Sven Vugrinec hit the far corner to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead (5th).
The Lustenau team, who had slowly settled in, soon equalized: Martin Grabher Meier scored from the slot to make it 1-1 (8th). Lustenau could not take advantage of the first majority. Afterwards, the Lions occasionally used a power play at five-on-five on the ice, and Cosmo Reichhalter in the Dornbirn goal couldn’t complain about the lack of work.
Late in the first third, the league leaders were ahead for the first time: Robin Wüstner was quickest to overcome a confusing situation and make it 2-1 (19th).
Little changed in the character of the game in the second third, Lustenau was still clearly superior, Dornbirn held on as best they could. After an attack from the right, Timo Demuth scored after a rebound to make it 3-1 (26th). Riku Tiainen made it 4-1 from the slot (34th), then goalgetter Chris D’Alvise appeared in front of the Dornbirn goal after a nice combination and made it 5-1 (37th).
In the final period, after just under five minutes, D’Alvise used a cross pass from Manuel Metzler while kneeling to make it 6-1 (45th). The guests continued to play well, Luca Künz increased the score to 7:1 with a shot from half distance (53′). Timo Demuth scored the final point with 8:1 from close range (59th).
SC Hohenems against EHC Kundl
The game SC Hohenems against EHC customer On Saturday it had to be canceled due to the weather – a new date will follow.
Ö Ice Hockey League – Division EAST:
UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. KSV Kangaroos 1:5 (0:2.1:2.0:1)
Sat., January 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m., muki Arena
Goalscorer Sharks Gmunden: Hubert Berger (36:13 mins/PP1)
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Kevin Moderer (12:42 mins), Phileas Lyssy (15:21 mins), Manuel Trost (26:36 mins, 36:41 mins), Florian Hoppl (52:36 mins/PP1)
HDK Maribor vs. Vienna Ice Skating Club 0:3 (0:1,0:0,0:2)
Sat., January 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Ledna dvorana Maribor
Goalscorers Vienna Ice Skating Club: Patrick Bolterle (15:17 mins), Rupert Fichtinger (42:58 mins), Lukas Kaider (50:22 mins)
UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HDK Maribor
Sun., January 11, 2026, 6:30 p.m., muki Arena – >> to the live stream
KSV Kangaroos vs. ATSE Graz 6:4 (4:2.0:0.2:2)
Fri., January 9, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Kapfenberg town hall
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Michael Malle (06:44 mins), Kevin Moderer (11:45 mins, 15:07 mins), Stefan Trost (13:09 mins), Florian Hoppl (50:08 mins/PP1), Pierre Graf (59:56 mins/EN)
Goal scorers ATSE Graz: Kilian Schwarz (03:36 mins, 54:38 mins), Filip Matijević (09:16 mins), Maximilian Schwarz (59:09 mins)
Ö Ice Hockey League – Division West:
Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Lustenau 1:8 (1:2,0:3,0:3)
Sat., January 10, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Dornbirn Exhibition Stadium
Goal scorers Dornbirner EC: Sven Vugrinec (04:20 mins)
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Martin Grabher Meier (07:20 mins), Robin Wüstner (18:09 mins), Timo Demuth (25:07 mins, 58:48 mins), Riku Tiainen (33:16 mins), Christopher D’Alvise (36:23 mins, 44:55 mins), Luca Künz (52:04 mins)
SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Kundl canceled – new date to follow!
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 2:6 (0:4.2:1.0:1)
Fri., January 9, 2026, 7:30 p.m., Alpine Stadium Wattens
Goalscorers Wattens Penguins: Fabian Nußbaumer (22:17 mins), Patrick Huber (39:06 mins/PP1)
Goal scorers HC Kufstein: Aleksi Airaksinen (00:11 mins), Tomáš Vildumetz (01:12 mins), Valentin Hammerle (13:13 mins, 15:58 mins, 57:53 mins/SH1/EN), Stefan Reiter (24:09 mins)
www.eishockey.at, Pic: Peter Sommer Fotopress
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