Release from 27.08.2026

Thirteen Preseason games this weekend | Graz hosts Energie Steiermark Trophy

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From Friday to Sunday, a total of thirteen preseason games involving win2day ICE Hockey League teams are on the schedule. Graz will host the Energie Steiermark Trophy, where the reigning champions will face two top-class opponents in HC Sparta Prague and HC Slovan Bratislava. Meanwhile, the final games of the WellCard Trophy will take place in Klagenfurt, while the Südtirol Summer Classic will be held in Bolzano. In addition to the three invitational tournaments, six further preseason games are scheduled.

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After spending five days in Kitzbühel, where they played two preseason games against Adler Mannheim, followed by another test on the road against Czech side Mountfield HK, the Graz99ers now face a busy schedule on home ice. Before the league season gets underway on September 18, they will first compete in the traditional Energie Steiermark Trophy, followed by two home games in the Champions Hockey League against Fribourg-Gottéron (Sept. 3) and Bordeaux (Sept. 5).

After winning the Trophy on home ice for the first time last year, the Graz99ers will face two high-profile opponents this time around, taking on HC Sparta Prague on Friday and HC Slovan Bratislava on Sunday.

WellCard Trophy features two all-league matchups
Meanwhile, the final three games of the WellCard Trophy are coming up in Klagenfurt, where one game has been played each day since Tuesday. On Friday, hosts EC-KAC will face the Vienna Capitals in an all-ICE Hockey League matchup. One day later, the Capitals will take on league newcomers Milano Hockey Club from Italy’s fashion capital. The new preseason tournament concludes on Sunday with EC-KAC facing the University of Saskatchewan from Canada.

Südtirol Summer Classic by Sparkasse in Bolzano
On Saturday, HCB Südtirol Alperia will play their first preseason game on home ice. As part of the Südtirol Summer Classic, the Foxes will face reigning French runners-up and five-time champions Brûleurs de Loups de Grenoble. In the second semifinal, Red Bull München will take on Lausanne HC.

The placement games will follow on Sunday. The two semifinal losers will meet in the third-place game at 4:00 pm, while the two winners will battle for the Südtirol Summer Classic title at 8:00 pm.

Six additional preseason games
In addition to the three invitational tournaments, six further preseason games are on the schedule. On Friday, Steinbach Black Wings Linz host the Straubing Tigers at the LINZ AG Eisarena. Two days later, the two teams will meet again, this time in Straubing.

Also on Friday, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV host EV Landshut. On Sunday, the Eagles will be back on home ice against the Starbulls Rosenheim, meaning VSV will face two DEL2 teams this weekend.
On Sunday, Olimpija Ljubljana will also face EV Landshut, two days after the German side’s game against VSV. In addition, HC TIWAG Innsbruck will visit EK Die Zeller Eisbären on Saturday.

>> PRESEASON SCHEDULE <<