Graz 99ers: Change of squad for the 2025/26 season - who stays, who goes?

Graz 99ers: Change of squad for the 2025/26 season - who stays, who goes?

Graz, Österreich - The Graz99ers announced the first personnel decisions for the coming season 2025/26 of the Win2day Ice Hockey League on March 24, 2025. The association has already set important course for the team composition to optimally prepare for the new challenge.

A central aspect of the squad planning is the contract extension of Michael Schiechl. The 36-year-old forward will remain part of the team by the end of the 2026/27 season. This shows not only the trust of the association in its skills, but also the intention of relying on experienced players in order to promote team stability.

departures and realignment

At the same time, the Graz99ers also have to cope with six departures. Sam Antonitsch, Jacob Pfeffer, Michael Kernberger, Ràmon Schnetzer, Rok Tičar and Stephen Harper leave the club. Sports director Philipp Pinter expressed his regret about these departures, but was satisfied with the existing squad and the planned changes.

Pinter plans to strengthen the squad through additional Austrian players and three to five import players in key positions. This strategy could be crucial to ensure the necessary depth and competitiveness of the team, especially in a highly dynamic league, in which speed and robustness are required.

team identity and further development

head coach Harry Lange emphasizes the importance of clearly define the team identity and further develop the team. He sees the changes necessary to achieve more speed and robustness in the game. These aspects are crucial in ice hockey to be successful in an intensive game.

ice hockey is characterized by a variety of statistics that help fans and trainers grasp the dynamics and the course of a game. Basic statistics such as goals and assists show the success of individual players in the attack. Advanced statistics, such as Corsi and Fenwick, offer deeper insights into the attempts to shoot a team or player, which is of great importance for coaches to adapt strategies and maximize opportunities.

The analysis of goalkeeper statistics, such as Save Percentage and Goals Against Average, is also crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of the team. In combination with information about Power Play (PP) and Penalty Kill (PK) Efficiency, this data offers a comprehensive picture of team performance and help to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the team.

Overall, the Graz99ers of the new season look forward to tension. The combination of experienced players, strategic newcomers and a clear focus on the development of team identity and dynamics promises exciting developments for the coming season.