After the promising start last weekend, match day two in the Austrian Ice Hockey League delivers highlight games throughout: In the West Division, the first district derby takes place between EHC Kundl and HC Kufstein. There is also high tension ahead of the first Ländle derby between Dornbirner EC and SC Hohenems. League leaders EHC Lustenau meet the Wattens Penguins. In the East Division, ATSE Graz challenges defending champions Sharks Gmunden at their home opener. WEV meets the KSV Kangaroos in their first home game.
EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., October 11, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Eisarena Kundl
He scores on the second matchday EHC customer in the West Division on Saturday in the Eisarena Kundl against the eternal local rivals HC Kufstein. The explosive district derby has been an absolute highlight match since the Austrian Ice Hockey League was founded. Kundl will be celebrating Oktoberfest from Saturday in the marquee in the parking lot of the ice arena, a perfect setting for the first derby of the season against the Dragons.
Both teams started last weekend with narrow defeats: EHC Kundl held their own against Lustenau and ultimately had to accept a narrow 1:3, while the Festungsstädter team also narrowly lost their home opener against Hohenems 2:3. This creates an exciting situation where one of the two teams will celebrate their first win of the season in the derby.
Kundl chairman Stefan Rainer can hardly wait for the home opener with the duel against the local rivals and promises a tough fight: “It’s finally starting again in the Kundler Ice arena. And right at the start comes our eternal derby opponent, Kufstein, it couldn’t be better. The hall is on fire! After a strong performance in Lustenau, where we were only slightly inferior, we saw that we could keep up and even set the pace at times. The short preparation cost us a bit of rhythm and substance, plus two injuries and a suspension, but we are excited for this derby. The Kufsteiners are under pressure after their opening defeat against the finalists and we will make life difficult for them until the last second. Our goal is to get the first three points and then the two-day Oktoberfest can begin!”
Andreas Luchner, Head Coach of HC Kufsteinis confidently going into the first derby of the season with his team: “We analyzed the narrow defeat against Hohenems and know what we need to do better away in Kundl. We’re working on these things this week. And on Saturday we’ll get the three points in the local derby, I’m convinced of that!”
EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sat., October 11, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau
He is playing his second home game in a row EHC Lustenau against the WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins. The Lions from Vorarlberg showed against Kundl that winning points for away teams in the Reinhalle in the regular season will once again not be an easy task. In the attack, the Lustenau team had not yet adjusted their sights optimally, and the Tyroleans were also in conjunction with keeper Jakub Kostelny good on defense, but overall Vorarlberg presented itself as strong and ripped off as usual.
Lustenau Head Coach Daniel Fekete warns his team and hopes to make better use of their chances: “The Penguins from Wattens will try everything to avenge their first-round defeat in order to get their first points of the season. We are on the lookout and will try to force our game on them from the start. It will be important that we convert the opportunities that arise into goals in order to quickly clear things up.”
The Wattens Penguins gave the Bulldogs a match worth seeing on Sunday and were down 2-1 after taking the lead at halftime in Dornbirn. Head coach Fabian Hechenberger’s team was able to equalize twice in a row, but conceded the decisive goal eight seconds before the end to make it 3:4.
Wattens head coach Fabian Hechenberger sees his team as outsiders, but hopes for the first points: “We are going to the country as underdogs, have nothing to lose, they bring an incredible amount of routine and game intelligence, which makes them one of the most dangerous teams in the league. The way we played against Dornbirn gives us a lot of self-confidence for the game against Lustenau. The game starts at 0-0 – we will do everything we can to win in the end To start the journey home with the first points in our luggage.”
Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., October 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m., Dornbirn Exhibition Stadium
The first Vorarlberg derby of the new season in the West Division will take place on Saturday in the Dornbirn exhibition stadium Dornbirner EC Bulldogs on the SC Samina Hohenems hits. As with Kundl against Kufstein, the duel is a district derby, which will be a real hit thanks to the opening victories of the two teams. The Bulldogs narrowly beat Wattens 4-3 on Sunday and the Steinbocks celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 win away against Kufstein.
Last year the two local rivals only met for the first time at the beginning of December, when the Bulldogs won with one goal Matheo Sottopietra after a thriller 13 seconds before the end of overtime. There will be at least one excuse for the Capricorns this weekend: “Müde bus legs“ – the ice arenas of the two opponents are only seven kilometers apart by car.
Dornbirn chairman Christof Schwendinger is looking forward to the derby against Hohenems after the opening win: “We started the season very well and did what we can. It’s clear that we still have to improve a lot in order to be more consistently successful in the league. The start of the season couldn’t have started better for us than with a win. The next tough challenge awaits us on Saturday and with the Capricorns the runner-up comes to us in Dornbirn. The The ibexes from Hohenems are clearly the favorites, but we will still arrive at home with a broad chest and self-confidence!”
Martin Mallingerhead coach of SC Hohenemsdemands the attitude from the opening match in Kufstein in the first derby: “After the preparatory game two weeks ago, we know very well what to expect in Dornbirn. What will be crucial is that we go into the game with the same attitude and intensity as we did last against Kufstein and consistently implement our game plan!”
Ö Ice Hockey League – Division East:
Vienna Ice Skating Club vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat., October 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Steffl Arena Hall 3
The Vienna Ice Skating Club awaits on Saturday in the East Division KSV Kangaroos for the home opener in the Steffl Arena Hall 3. The Viennese suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat on the ice against HDK Maribor last weekend. However, the match was verified 5-0 for the WEV because Maribor had used a suspended player without authorization.
WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich was not satisfied with the sporting performance in Slovenia and is calling for an improvement in performance against the Kangaroos: “Unfortunately, our first game in Maribor was not at all what we had planned. We were not present in the duels and presented ourselves very poorly both defensively and in playing with the puck. If we think we can perform like that against anyone in our league, we will have no chance. I know that my boys can do better and that They have to prove it against Kapfenberg on Saturday!”
The start of the season didn’t go well for Kapfenberger. In the early home match against ATSE Graz at the end of September, the Mürztal team suffered a 1-2 defeat after extra time. Last Saturday there was a 0-3 defeat against the reigning champions Sharks Gmunden. The result does not reflect the hotly contested game because, on the one hand, the Styrians were unable to take advantage of their numerous chances and, on the other hand, the decisive second goal for the Upper Austrians came late, the third goal was a goal Emptynetter as a bonus.
Kapfenberg’s player-coach Kristof Reinthaler explains the good development of the Austrian Ice Hockey League and is confident that his team will soon get going: “We now know all the teams very well, at least in our division. The WEV has achieved good results in recent years through fighting strength. We simply have to make sure that we find our strength, no matter which team we are playing against from our division now. I think that the strength in our East Division has grown a lot, I I think the teams have moved closer together. Faster ice hockey is played, more physically intense ice hockey is played. We just have to make sure we get back to our scoring efficiency. The way things are going at the moment with one goal in two games and no power play goals, that has to change drastically. We have to work on it very quickly. It will probably be up to individual leading players
ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., October 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Merkur Ice Stadium (Hall A)
The ATSE Graz will face the defending champions in the East Division on Saturday at the home opener in the Merkur Eisstadion Hall A UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. Hit because the Styrians started the new season with a surprising 2-1 away win in overtime against Kapfenberg and thus immediately set an exclamation mark. Last weekend, head coach Markus Losch’s team had no games, which made the Graz team even more eager for their first home game in the bunker.
ATSE head coach Markus Losch wants to confirm the positive start to the league at home: “After the successful start against Kapfenberger SV, the champions from Gmunden are now coming to Graz. We will also try to annoy the favorites in this game. The team spirit and the mood in the team are of course great after the win against the Kangaroos. But now the team has to focus and do their jobs. The squad of Gmundner is of course very strong, but we will try to stick to our game plan. Maybe with a little luck and the spectators behind you, another surprise will be possible!”
The Haie from Traunsee had a befitting start to the new season. The reigning champions of the Austrian Ice Hockey League once again showed their home strength in the match against Kapfenberg and celebrated a late 3-0 victory in the hotly contested duel with the Mürztal team.
Gregor Baumgartner, head coach of the Sharks Gmunden would like to see an improved exploitation of opportunities in Graz: “After the good start to the season at home against Kapfenberg, it is important to show a consistent performance in the next game in Graz. There are still a few points in our game where we need to improve. We were too careless with our chances, especially on offense!”
Ö Ice Hockey League – Division West:
EHC Kundl vs. HC Kufstein
Sat., October 11, 2025, 5:00 p.m., Eisarena Kundl – >> to the live stream
EHC Lustenau vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins
Sat., October 11, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau – >> to the live stream
Dornbirner EC Bulldogs vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., October 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m., Dornbirn Exhibition Stadium – >> to the live stream
Ö Ice Hockey League – East Division:
Vienna Ice Skating Club vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat., October 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Steffl Arena Hall 3 – >> to the live stream
ATSE Graz vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat., October 11, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Merkur Ice Stadium (Hall A) – >> to the live stream
HDK Maribor free of play.
www.eishockey.at, Pic: Matteo Achleitner
