Release from 21.04.2026

Graz with first chance to clinch premiere title on Wednesday

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The Moser Medical Graz99ers lead the win2day ICE Hockey League Final Series against HC Falkensteiner Pustertal 3–0 and could secure their first-ever championship already on Wednesday. The Styrians are still unbeaten in the playoffs and would become only the third team ever to win the title without a single playoff defeat. Overall, they are now on a 15-game winning streak – the third-longest single-season run in league history. Sporteurope.tv will broadcast Game 4 from Bruneck live from 19:45.

Since the 2021 playoffs, the win2day ICE Hockey League has awarded the Playoffs MVP to the best player of the postseason. New this year, the trophy is named in honor of former league president Dr. Karl Safron, who passed away a few months ago.

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Scores of 5:1, 5:1 and 5:2 – those are the results of the first three games in favour of Graz, who remain unbeaten in the 2026 playoffs. Only Salzburg (2022) and Vienna (2017) have ever managed to become champions without a single playoff loss. A Finals sweep has happened five times in league history, most recently last season when Salzburg defeated KAC 4–0.

Graz has taken the lead in all three Finals games so far, including the opener in Bruneck. Despite numerous chances for the home side, Pustertal ultimately suffered a clear 1:5 defeat. It marked the third heavy home loss against the Styrians this season, after 1:7 and 0:4 defeats in the regular season.

Graz on third-longest winning streak within a single season
The 99ers are now unbeaten in 15 games – the third-longest single-season winning streak in league history. Their last defeat dates back to 20 February, a 0:4 loss in Bolzano. The record for most consecutive wins in one season belongs to KAC with 17 victories (2010), followed by Feldkirch with 16 (2002). The longest overall winning streak across seasons belongs to the Vienna Capitals, who went 25 games unbeaten between February and October 2017.

New: Playoffs MVP trophy in honor of Dr. Karl Safron
Since the 2021 playoffs, the Playoffs MVP has been awarded annually to the best player of the postseason. Last season, Salzburg goaltender Atte Tolvanen received the honour for the third time. If the Final Series ends on Wednesday, the trophy will be handed over immediately after the game to the player selected by hockey journalists.

This year also brings a new name for the trophy: it is dedicated to former league president Dr. Karl Safron, one of the founders of today’s ICE Hockey League and a driving force behind the multinational project. He served as league president from 2009 to 2013 and later as vice president. Safron passed away on 30 January 2026 after a long and serious illness, aged 76.

Salzburg would secure CHL spot as third team
If Graz are crowned champions, EC Red Bull Salzburg would qualify as the third ICE Hockey League team for the 2026/27 Champions Hockey League. The Red Bulls finished the regular season in third place. The top two teams from the regular season plus the champion receive a spot – however, since Graz already secured a berth as regular season winner, the third ticket would go to Salzburg.

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Wed, 22.04.2026:
19:45: HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: HUBER A., OFNER, Nothegger, Puff | LIVE on Sporteurope.tv
Standings in der best-of-7 final series: 0:3