It's over: Korbinian Holzer has ended his career. © Graz99ers

After winning the Graz championship: The big star retires

Two weeks ago, the Graz99ers were crowned champions of the ICE Hockey League for the first time in Bruneck. It was also the last match for their star player.

04 May 2026

From: pm/det

After two seasons and 91 games as captain of the Moser Medical Graz99ers, and with his first and only championship title, Korbinian "Korbi" Holzer (38) is ending his outstanding ice hockey career. The decision was made before the start of the playoffs, and the timing "couldn't be better," says Holzer.

When Korbinian Holzer's name first surfaced in connection with the Graz99ers two summers ago, it was initially dismissed as the stuff of hockey rumors and the "silly season," as transfer gossip is often called. Soon after, it became one of the most spectacular transfers in league history. This was because he was quickly convinced that "something was happening" in Graz and that he was "interested in being a part of it and contributing," as Holzer said at the time.

"Korbi" Holzer led the 99ers to the title. © APA / EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER

Less than two years later, the success story was complete, a story that can rightfully be called an ice hockey fairytale. "It's my first championship. No matter which league, I can't even describe what this title with Graz means to me," said Holzer. In his career, the Bavarian played 231 NHL games and nearly 1.000 games across the NHL, AHL, DEL, and Germany's national team. It's a remarkable ice hockey career that has come to an end.

Düsseldorf and Rosenheim are not topics

Holzer had already decided to end his active career before the start of this year's playoffs – he even missed the quarterfinal sweep against VSV due to pneumonia. "Not so much for physical reasons," says Holzer, despite being 38 years old. "It was a decision made with both my gut and my head." And that, ultimately, it "felt right."

Holzer is already preparing for his next step: coaching certification. He had contact with Düsseldorf, "mainly because of Harry" (Lange, ed.). "But it quickly became clear that I'd rather quit," Holzer says. He was recently linked to Rosenheim and their Starbulls, probably because he's practically at home there. There was never any contact or even discussions.