Release from 29.03.2026

Home wins for Graz and Pustertal to open semifinals

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The Moser Medical Graz99ers and HC Falkensteiner Pustertal opened the semifinals of the win2day ICE Hockey League with home victories. While the Styrians edged Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3–2 in a tightly contested game, the South Tyroleans secured a 3–0 win over Olimpija Ljubljana. Game 2 of the best-of-seven semifinal series will follow on Tuesday.

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The Moser Medical Graz99ers celebrated a 3–2 home win over Hydro Fehérvár AV19 in Game 1 of the semifinals. Playing in front of a sold-out Merkur Eisstadion on Sunday afternoon, the Styrians took the lead three times and remain unbeaten in the 2026 win2day ICE Hockey League playoffs.

Graz controlled the opening period and grabbed an early lead through Paul Huber, before Trevor Cheek tied the game on the power play in the 16th minute. The pace remained high in the middle frame. Nick Swaney restored the 99ers’ lead, but a turnover in the defensive zone allowed Gerlach to even the score again. Fehérvár took control as the period progressed, but the score remained tied 2–2 after 40 minutes.

Both teams played cautiously early in the third period before Graz pushed for the go-ahead goal. Michael Schiechl delivered in the 55th minute, forcing the puck across the line for the decisive tally. Fehérvár pressed late, but the 99ers defended smartly and took a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Pustertal capitalizes on home ice
HC Falkensteiner Pustertal celebrated a win in front of more than 3,100 fans at Intercable Arena in Bruneck to open their semifinal series in the win2day ICE Hockey League.

Ljubljana had slightly more of the play in the opening period, but HCP goaltender Eddy Pasquale — like his counterpart — kept the game scoreless. The hosts improved significantly in the second period. In the 35th minute, Cole Bardreau tipped a shot by Adam Alquist on the power play to make it 1–0.

Pustertal struck again on the man advantage in the final period. After a strong setup from Austin Rueschhoff, Henry Bolwby fed Rok Ticar cross-ice for the 2–0 and what proved to be the game-winning goal. Ljubljana took too many penalties down the stretch to mount a comeback. The Slovenian side pulled the goalie early but eventually fell 3–0 following an empty-net goal. Pasquale recorded his first shutout of the postseason in his fifth playoff appearance.

win2day ICE Hockey League
Sun, 29.03.2026, Semifinals #1:

Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3:2 (1:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Durmis, Riecken
Series: 1–0
Goals G99: Huber (4.), Swaney (22.), Schiechl (55.)
Goals AVS: Cheek (16./pp1), Gerlach (28.)

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Olimpija Ljubljana 3:0 (0:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: HUBER A., NIKOLIC M., Mantovani, Nothegger
Series: 1–0
Goals HCP: Bardreau (35./pp1), Ticar (52./pp1), Lauridsen (58./en.)



Foto ©Foppa Iwan - HC Pustertal