ÖEL: Kufstein calls for Leader Lustenau and Gmunden welcomes the WEV!

No breather in the Austrian Ice Hockey League: The Kufsteiners are challenging league leaders EHC Lustenau on Saturday. The Wattens Penguins are looking for revenge at home against SC Hohenems. On Sunday the Dornbirn Bulldogs will play against EHC Kundl at the end of the round. In the East Division, Leader Sharks Gmunden meets WEV. The ATSE Graz awaits the HDK Maribor for the Styrian derby of the twin cities.

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., November 29, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Eisarena Kufstein

Immediately after the addendum against Wattens, the Eisarena Kufstein experienced their next hit in the West Division on Saturday: The HC Kufstein – new third in the table after the shootout victory in the derby against Kundl – challenges the league leader, who has so far acted confidently EHC Lustenau.

The Vorarlbergers won their only duel of the season so far in mid-October away from home in the fortress city 5-3. The match was a real thriller: The Dragons turned a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 lead. The Lions managed to secure a narrow victory with a brilliant final spurt with three goals in the last three and a half minutes.

Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner is hoping for a lot of fans in the two games and also for points against the leader: “The game on Saturday at home against league leaders Lustenau will certainly be of a completely different caliber. Everything really has to come together for us so that we can take points. However, the team has made a huge step forward in the last few rounds. We are therefore very positive about the two games this week and hope that the fans come to the Kufstein Arena in just as many numbers as against Kundl.”

Dániel Fekete, coach of EHC Lustenauhopes to win another point in Tyrol: “The games in Kufstein are usually hard-fought. This makes it all the more important that we impose our game on the opponent. In attack, we have to convert the opportunities presented to us into goals and deliver a solid performance in defense. The team is well prepared for the task ahead and I hope to return to the country with a further increase in points!”

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., November 29, 2025, 7:30 p.m., Alpine Stadium Wattens

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins expect after the supplementary game against Kufstein in the West Division on Saturday SC Samina Hohenems to the duel between the open-air clubs in the Alpine Stadium. In the first meeting in mid-October, the Penguins were ahead twice in the Herrenried Stadium, but in the end had to accept a narrow 4:5 defeat against the Steinbocks. Now the Tyroleans, who only celebrated a win against Dornbirn this season, want revenge on their own ice.

Penguins head coach Fabian Hechenberger is confident for the home game against Vorarlberg: “For the home game against Hohenems we want to show our fans our true colors. We know that Hohenems is a top opponent, but we have the energy and support at home to put a strong performance on the ice. We are ready to throw everything into it!”

Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. EHC Kundl
Sun., November 30, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Dornbirn Exhibition Stadium

They play on Sunday Dornbirn Bulldogs at the end of the round in the West Division in the Messestadion against EHC customer. In the only matchup of the season so far in mid-October, the Bulldogs challenged the Tyroleans on the road, led 1-0 early on, scored the next goal when they were 3-1 down, before Kundl secured the narrow 4-2 victory with a late power play goal.

The Lower Inntalers could take a big step towards the playoffs with an away win in Dornbirn; their lead in the table is currently six points. Conversely, with three points after 60 minutes, the race for a place in the quarter-finals would be open again for the Bulldogs.

Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger is now calling for the well-known Bulldogs virtues after the clear derby defeat against Hohenems: “After the sobering double against Hohenems, we now have to get back on track. In the next game against Kundl, our virtues will clearly be called upon again. We have to bring our tempo back into the game and fight for every goal. But we are clearly ready to do everything we can to finally score points against Kundl again!”

Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer does not expect an easy task against Dornbirn: “In the last two games we played very fast and good ice hockey and were able to largely impose our game on the opponent. Nevertheless, we left important points because we were too careless in counterattacks and our evaluation of chances was not consistent enough. In these two games we basically beat ourselves. Away in Ländle with the Bulldogs, there is definitely no easier evening ahead. It will be a high-speed game in which we will be fully there from the first second must, concentrate, uncompromisingly and with ice-cold evaluation of opportunities!”

East Division:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Vienna Ice Skating Club
Sat., November 29, 2025, 6:30 p.m., muki Arena, Gmunden

leader UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden meets on Saturday in the East Division in the muki Arena Vienna Ice Skating Club. After the narrow 1:2 home defeat at the end of October in the Steffl Arena Hall 3 against the defending champions, the Viennese are looking for revenge.

The Haie vom Traunsee have presented themselves very strongly so far, winning all six games – one of them against ATSE Graz in overtime after the late equalizer half a minute before the end of regular time. The WEV hasn’t really found its way yet, most recently there was a 2:3 home defeat against the ATSE after a penalty shootout.

Gregor Baumgartner, head coach of the Sharks Gmundenand his team expect an extremely intense game against the federal capital team: “We are looking forward to getting back into the action after the break. The WEV is always a big challenge for us because our style of play is very similar. We are expecting a highly intense game in which I expect my team to be very prepared in the duels!”

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., November 29, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Graz Merkur Ice Stadium (Hall A)

The ATSE Graz expects the East Division on Saturday HDK Maribor to the Styrian derby of the twin cities. The first meeting almost a month ago was an emotional thriller with a narrow 2-1 home win for the Füchse. With the final siren, fists flew after the exciting and nerve-wracking game in the Ledna dvorana Maribor. The final tally included a total of 191 penalty minutes.

The Graz team, who already have more points in their account with eight points after eight games than in the entire 2024/2025 season (7), could clearly distance themselves from the Slovenians with a complete success after 60 minutes. The third place in the table is currently five points ahead of the current bottom team.

Markus Losch, head coach of ATSE Grazwants to take revenge with his team for the narrow away defeat: “After the win in Vienna, we are going into the game on Saturday in Graz against Maribor positively. The Füchse’s results were all very close, but we are very motivated to take revenge for the defeat in Maribor. If we follow our game plan and score the goals, we will leave the ice as winners on Saturday. We are expecting a very physically intense game again and will of course win the fight against Maribor accept!”

Maribor’s head coach Jure Verlič knows where his team has to apply the leverage: “In the last few games we have often been close, but we have lost all of them by just one goal. I think we have shown that we can keep up with any team. We usually fail because of our own mistakes. We have to work hard to score goals, but we constantly give the opponent the chance to score easily. We have to play more responsibly if we want to win!”

Ö Ice Hockey League – Division West:

Ö Ice Hockey League – Division EAST:

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. Vienna Ice Skating Club
Sat., November 29, 2025, 6:30 p.m., muki Arena, Gmunden – >> to the live stream

ATSE Graz vs. HDK Maribor
Sat., November 29, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Graz Merkur Ice Stadium (Hall A) – >> to the live stream

KSV Kangaroos free of play.

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