The Graz 99ers and HCP will not face off for the first time until next week.

Football is to blame: That's why HC Pustertal has to wait.

After their fourth semi-final victory against Ljubljana, the entire Puster Valley is dreaming of the championship title. Euphoria in Bruneck has been running high since Tuesday evening. But now the Wolves must exercise patience – and for longer than initially expected.

April 08, 2026

By: Alexander Foppa

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal has secured its place in the ICE Hockey League final with the fourth victory against Olimpija Ljubljana Perfectly executed. For the first time ever, Bruneck has reached the final playoff round in this league. If it were up to them, it could start today rather than tomorrow. Their motto is to carry their momentum forward.

But now, of all times, it's a waiting game. The final series against the other final debutants, the Graz99ers, doesn't begin until Wednesday, April 15th. The Wolves will therefore have to be patient for eight days, while the 99ers won't have played a game for ten days before the finals start. According to the schedule, the upcoming Sunday would have been the first day of the finals.

"It is not possible to bring forward the final series due to official regulations." Statement ICE Hockey League

But what is the reason for the unexpected break? "Rescheduling the final series to begin this coming Sunday is not possible due to official regulations," the ICE Hockey League announced late Tuesday evening. In short: All final games in Graz would have been scheduled at the same time as home games of the Austrian Bundesliga football club Sturm Graz. The footballers, who currently lead the Austrian league, also play their home games in the Liebenau district, just a stone's throw from the ice arena.

The Graz ice arena is located in the immediate vicinity of the stadium of the football clubs Sturm and GAK.

"Due to the fixed football schedule, the 99ers are thus faced with an unavailability of the arena through no fault of their own," the league continued. What is not mentioned: The TV broadcaster ORF1 The broadcaster had reportedly planned a live broadcast of the opening match in Graz next Sunday afternoon, scheduling it for 3:30 p.m., the same time as Sturm Graz's home game against Hartberg (2:30 p.m.). Now, plans have to be changed.

However, one player could benefit from this whole scheduling mess: Maxime Lagacé. The exceptional goalkeeper for the Graz 99ers, who has played in the world's best leagues, was injured in the third semi-final match against Fehérvár and hasn't played since. He now has a few more days to recover from his injury. He is expected to be available again by Wednesday.



The ICE Hockey League final dates: April 15, 17, 19, 22, possibly April 24, 26, 29