Release from 26.02.2026
The regular season of the win2day ICE Hockey League is approaching its final showdown at full speed. On Friday, the penultimate round is on the schedule. League leaders EC-KAC travel to face fourth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia in the top game of the round. The Moser Medical Graz99ers, who trail KAC by just one point, host EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. In the battle for the Top 10, ninth-placed Steinbach Black Wings Linz face a difficult road game against eleventh-placed FTC-Telekom. The two teams are separated by only three points. In addition, tenth-placed Hydro Fehérvár AV19 visit seventh-placed Vienna Capitals. The Hungarians are also under heavy pressure in the fight for the Top 10, currently holding just a one-point advantage over eleventh place. Furthermore, HC Falkensteiner Pustertal host Olimpija Ljubljana in a direct duel for fifth place. The South Tyroleans trail the Slovenians by only two points, with this being Ljubljana’s final game of the regular season. In the West Derby, HC TIWAG Innsbruck face the Pioneers Vorarlberg.
League leaders EC-KAC face a tough road challenge against fourth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia in the penultimate round. They currently hold a one-point lead over second-placed Graz, while Bolzano could draw level on points with free from play third-placed Salzburg with a regulation-time win, though they cannot overtake them. They lost the direct duel with the Red Bulls 1:3. Against KAC, they have won two of the three meetings this season so far. On Wednesday, the Foxes were beaten 3:4 in a shootout in Ljubljana, while KAC celebrated a clear 7:2 home win against Innsbruck to secure their CHL qualification. A victory in Bolzano will be a difficult task, however, as the South Tyroleans have won their last five home games and never conceded more than two goals in those matches. KAC, on the other hand, are the league’s strongest away team, with 16 wins from 23 road games so far.
Linz facing a decisive away game in Budapest
Steinbach Black Wings Linz are set for a crucial away game at FTC-Telekom. Currently ninth in the standings, they hold a three-point advantage over eleventh-placed Budapest. Two of the three previous meetings were won by Linz at home (5:1, 3:1). In Hungary, FTC claimed a narrow 3:2 victory. This means that even with a narrow defeat, Linz would win the head-to-head comparison and stay ahead of FTC if both teams finish level on points. Should the Black Wings win – whether in regulation time or in overtime/shootout – they would secure their Pre-Playoff spot and avoid a nerve-racking final home game against Graz. FTC, meanwhile, will conclude the regular season with an away local derby against Fehérvár.
Fehérvár fighting for the Pre-Playoffs in Vienna
And they, too, are deeply involved in the Pre-Playoff battle. Sitting in tenth place, Hydro Fehérvár AV19 currently hold just a one-point lead over FTC. A major showdown on the final matchday is therefore looming, but Fehérvár can take a big step toward the Pre-Playoffs with an away win at the Vienna Capitals on Friday. The Capitals, in seventh place, already enjoy a five-point cushion over ninth and are therefore in a strong position to secure home-ice advantage in the Pre-Playoffs. On Wednesday, they suffered a 2:5 home defeat against Graz, their first home loss after four straight wins. At the same time, Fehérvár lost 2:6 at home to Salzburg, marking their third consecutive defeat and their eleventh loss in the last thirteen games. Against the Capitals, they won the most recent meeting in late December 2:1, while the other two encounters went to Vienna (3:1, 6:3).
Graz want to keep the pressure on KAC
The Moser Medical Graz99ers achieved their first seasonal objective on Wednesday by securing Champions Hockey League qualification with a 5:2 away win in Vienna. First place after the regular season remains within reach, as the Styrians trail leaders KAC by only one point, with KAC facing a difficult away game in Bolzano. Graz host EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV at home. The Villach side are eighth, have already secured their Pre-Playoff spot and currently hold home-ice advantage there. They did not play on Wednesday, but before that recorded two consecutive wins and four victories in their last five games. Against Graz, they won the first meeting in Graz (4:3), while both encounters in Villach went clearly to the 99ers (6:1, 4:1).
Battle for fifth place between Pustertal and Ljubljana
Another exciting clash is expected in Brunico when sixth-placed HC Falkensteiner Pustertal meet fifth-placed Olimpija Ljubljana. The two teams are separated by just two points, with Ljubljana playing their final regular season game on Friday. Both teams were victorious on Wednesday: Olimpija beat Bolzano 4:3 in a shootout and Pustertal won 4:3 at the Pioneers. For both sides, it was one of three wins from their last five matches. In the head-to-head record, Pustertal currently have the edge, with two wins from three games (5:3, 4:1, 3:6).
West Derby in Innsbruck
For bottom-placed HC TIWAG Innsbruck and twelfth-placed Pioneers Vorarlberg, there is nothing left to play for in sporting terms – but pride and prestige are on the line. On Friday, the two teams meet for the fourth West Derby of the season. So far this season, Innsbruck have won two of the derby games (3:2, 4:3). The most recent meeting went to the Pioneers (6:4).
win2day ICE Hockey League:
Fri, 27.02.2026:
18:30: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: FICHTNER, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Riecken
18:30: FTC-Telekom – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: REZEK, SMETANA, Durmis, Konc
19:15: Vienna Capitals – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: HRONSKY, NIKOLIC M., Bedynek, Jedlicka
19:15: HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: GROZNIK, SCHAUER, Jeram, Seewald
19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Pardatscher, Puff
19:45: HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: KAINBERGER, PIRAGIC, Fleischmann, Mantovani
Watch all games live on Sporteurope.tv.