After 196 days of break, the Ö Ice Hockey League starts again. On Friday there is day of truth for the first two clubs after the summer preparation. The KSV kangaroos Start with the early home game, which was actually planned for December 28th, against the Atse Graz into the new season and, as always, are one of the title favorites.
In the last season there were two new experiences for the Mürztaler: On the one hand, the kangaroos had to be left to the Vienna Eislauf club in the east, in contrast to the three seasons before, and secondly, the champion of 2024 was already in the playoff after the quarter-finals with a defeat against Hohenems.
Reason enough for the team of Head Coach and player coach Kristof Reinthalerto attack again: “The goals for this year are clearly defined. We are in our 10th anniversary, have a lot going on in the coming years and want to play a solid season this year that goes to the final and, of course, ends positively for us there.”
Reinthaler knows that his team has a lot of making up for a year ago after the false start and calls for a more mixed last test against the Grizzlies Linz: “We want to perform a much better performance against the Atse Graz and make up for our season start from last season, so we started the season catastrophically. This should no longer happen this year, we really want to play constant ice hockey and we really want to play this year. can show, and the foundation stone must be laid in the first game. “
At the Kapfenbergers acted Ex-ÖEHV defender Dominique Heinrich After his end of his career as a new general manager and, above all, sees the prelude with a derby very positive: “The fact that we have the Steirer derby right at the start is great. The goal is to start the season with a win and then win the basic round because our big goal is the championship. But now the focus of the first game and the team is looking forward to it.”
The Grazer did not get into the playoff last season with just two wins in 16 games after they were still in the semi -finals in 2023/2024 and were reluctant to seek the later champions and now Kapfenberg. The match against the consistently strong Kapfenberger becomes a first location. In preparation, there were two test games against the kangaroos at the Gösser Cup, which both games (5: 1 and 4: 2) were able to win.
Markus Losch, Head Coach from Ase Grazhopes for a close away game: “I am really looking forward to the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, since the last season was not entirely as desired, we hope that this year’s games will become more constant. The players have a year more experience in adult ice hockey and have matured in many matters. The process of the ‘squad rejuvenation’ will definitely take one or two seasons. Important indicator for the development is the KSV a very good team and the young players of the Atse can learn a lot from this routine.
Ö Ice Hockey League – Division Ost:
KSV kangaroos vs. Atse Graz
Fri., September 26, 2025, 8:00 p.m. >> to LiveStream from Red+
Ö Ice Hockey League mode 2025/2026
The mode of the Ö Ice Hockey League will have a change in the two divisions West with six teams and east in the two divisions in phase 1. In the coming season there will be a two and a half first half of the season in the Ost division, which results in 20 games per team. As in the previous season, two round and second half of the season are played in the West division, which also results in 20 games per team.
After phase 1 there is again a national playoff that begins on February 7, 2026 with the quarter -finals. Even in the coming season, a playoff pick will provide additional tension after the basic round. The best-placed team of the West and East Division may select its quarter-finals from the third or fourth place in the other division. The Playoff duelle starting with the quarter-finals over semi-finals up to the finale will be decided in a best-of-thread series (h/a/h) from the coming season.
