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Captain Raphael Andergassen (center) wears his disappointment on his face. © Iwan Foppa / HCP
Heroic Puster Valley team defeated: Graz is champion!
HC Falkensteiner HC Pustertal has generated a huge buzz in local ice hockey in recent weeks. But the ultimate prize eluded them: On Wednesday, their title dreams were dashed.
April 22, 2026
From the Intercable Arena
From:
Thomas Debelyak
It was simply impressive how much euphoria HC Pustertal generated in recent weeks. Throughout South Tyrol, their heroic entry into the ICE Hockey League final was a sensation. THE Sport became the talk of the town, and Bruneck itself became the epicenter of the euphoria. Shops, bars, corner stores – they all shone in black and yellow during those days. But now the fairytale is over – and the final crowning moment, the happy ending, failed to materialize.
The seemingly invincible Graz99ers won the fourth final game on Wednesday, securing the best-of-seven series. The final score was 6-2 in the packed Intercable Arena. Twelve playoff games, twelve wins, and scoring at least five goals in each of the four final games – Graz are well-deserved champions.
Graz celebrates at the Intercable Arena: The Styrians are champions. © APA / EXPA/ JOHANN GRODER
A champion who, for the first time in club history, gets to lift the Karl Nedwed Trophy. The roughly 200 traveling fans in orange were ecstatic, while a few tears were likely shed by the Puster Valley supporters. The dream of the club's first title has been shattered for HCP.
Even without a title, a historic season
Nevertheless, it won't be long before the disappointment and sadness give way to pride. Underdog Pustertal caused one of the biggest upsets in league history in the quarterfinals, sweeping aside serial winners Salzburg. In the semifinals, Tommy Purdeller and his teammates blasted past Olimpija Ljubljana and advanced to the final for the first time. But against Graz, there was no chance of success from the very beginning.
The decisive Final Four game in Bruneck mirrored this final series. Pustertal was by no means inferior; on the contrary, the passionately fighting Wolves gave their all on the ice, battling for every inch and remaining evenly matched in terms of skill for a long time.
But in one crucial detail, Graz was simply better, even more cynical, than HCP: scoring goals. While Pustertal squandered too many opportunities – some of them high-quality – the Styrians converted even their half-chances into goals. This ultimately broke HCP's back, who had held the score at 2-2 and remained in the game until the final period.
The dramaturgy of the final
| The star guest | Even before the game starts, it's clear: this is a very special ice hockey match. None other than pop star Andreas Gabalier is in the stands: the ardent Graz fan is cheering on his team. Luge Olympic champion Emanuel Rieder performs the symbolic puck drop. |
| Oh dear, Almquist | A blunder by Pustertal defenseman Almquist gifted Graz the lead. The HCP defenseman carelessly lost the puck in front of his own net, Roy gratefully accepted the gift and scored to make it 1-0 (8th minute). |
| Pusterer Fire | The 3.104 fans in the arena witnessed a passionate, tireless, heroic HCP who turned the game around! First, veteran Ticar was given too much space and outmaneuvered goalie Wieser (11th minute), then Frycklund was in the right place at the right time for a rebound – and made the arena erupt with the 2-1 goal (15th minute). |
| Graz masterpiece | While Pustertal was too careless with its chances (Bowlby and Andergassen, among others, missed clear-cut opportunities), the Styrians were simply more cynical. Koch's pass shot was deflected into the net (31st minute), then Conley forced the puck over the line in a scramble (42nd minute) – 3-2! |
| No chance anymore | Pustertal tried hard, but it wasn't to be. And so Graz inflated the score. |
HC Pustertal – Graz99ers 2:6
HCP: Pasquale (Rabanser); Zanatta-Osmanski, Almquist-Blum, Lauridsen-DiTomaso, Glira; Ierullo-Ticar-Purdeller, Bowlby-Bardreau-Rueschhoff, Saracino-Frycklund-Lipon, Mantinger-Andergassen-Deluca, LobisCoach: Jaspers
G99: Wieser (Grascher); Kotkansalo-Holzer, Brunner-Bailen, Koch-Hora, Stapelfeldt; Roy-Vela-Currie, Huber-Haudum-Swaney, Ganahl-Schiechl-Conley, Harnisch-Moosbrugger-Feldner, Lippitsch
Coach: Lacroix
Gates: 0:1 Kevin Roy (7.44), 1:1 Rok Ticar (10.20), 2:1 Mikael Frycklund (14.11), 2:2 Anders Koch (30.32), 2:3 Kevin Conley (41.45), 2:4 Josh Currie (48.12), 2:5 Lenz Moosbrugger (53.01), 2:6 Michael Schiechl (59.14)
Viewers: 3.104
Final standings in the series: 0:4
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