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Graz, January 8, 2026 – The Moser Medical Graz99ers are set to face HC Bozen Südtirol tomorrow, Friday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Merkur Ice Stadium. The Graz99ers are currently battling a viral outbreak within the team, potentially impacting their lineup. They will then host the Vienna Capitals on Sunday at 5:30 p.m., with the game broadcast live on ORF Sport+.
Team Updates and Challenges
Table of Contents
Head coach Dan Lacroix acknowledged the recent 2-5 loss to Fehérvár, emphasizing the need to minimize inconsistent play to secure victories.The current viral outbreak presents a importent challenge, limiting training participation to as few as 13-14 players and requiring a careful balance between recovery and preparation. “Something is changing very quickly at the moment. Tomorrow is a new day and only then will we see who can be there against Bozen,” Lacroix stated.
Opponent Profile: HC Bozen Südtirol
HC Bozen has undergone significant changes as their last encounter with Graz in November. Doug Shedden, a 64-year-old Canadian coach with an remarkable international resume – including a World Cup bronze medal with finland in 2008 and a Spengler Cup win with Canada – has taken the helm, replacing Kurt Kleinendorst. Bozen has also bolstered their roster with key additions.
Recent acquisitions include Finnish goaltender Christopher Gibson, a former NHL player with the New York Islanders, to back up the injured Gianluca Vallini.Canadian-Slovenian defenseman Matt Cairns has been brought in to fill the void left by the injured Mark Barberio, and matteo Gennaro, a prolific scorer with 41 goals and 90 points in his previous two seasons with Asiago, has rejoined the league.
Statistical Overview
Here’s a comparison of key statistics between the Graz99ers and HC Bozen:
- Power Play: Graz99ers 25.23% (2nd in the league), HC Bozen 22.58% (5th)
- Penalty Killing: Graz99ers 84.62% (1st), HC Bozen 83.33% (2nd)
- Shots on Goal: Graz99ers 1,273 (1st), HC Bozen 1,149 (3rd)
- Shot Efficiency: Graz99ers 8.8% (10th), HC Bozen 10.27% (6th)
- Goals For: Graz99ers 112 (6th), HC Bozen 118 (3rd)
- Goals against: Graz99ers 75 (2nd), HC Bozen 80 (3rd)
- Save Percentage: Graz99ers 91.34% (3rd), HC bozen 90.84% (4th)
- Top scorers: Collins (Graz99ers) 15 goals, McClure (Graz99ers) 20 goals; Gennaro (Bozen) 41 goals (previous season)
- Top Assists: Bailen (Graz99ers) 35 assists, Schneider (Graz99ers) 25 assists
- Penalty Minutes: Holzer (Graz99ers) 34 minutes, Digiacinto (Bozen) 39 minutes
- Goaltending: Lagacé (Graz99ers) 92.04%, Wieser (Graz99ers) 90.95%, Harvey (Graz99ers) 91.08%, Gibson (Bozen) 100.00%
Coach’s Statement
Dan Lacroix,Head Coach: “Bolzano is a top team and a really hard-playing,physically very strong team. But we can also play physically strong, can play fast. The last game in Hungary wasn’t so good for us. We played well for some time, but then also really badly. If you wont to win in this league, you have to have as few bad phases as possible.”
Game Details
win2day ICE Hockey League 2025|26, round 38: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. HC Bozen Südtirol Alperia (Friday,January 9,2026 | 6:30 p.m. | Merkur Ice Stadium, Graz-Liebenau).
Round 39: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. Vienna Capitals (Sunday, January 11th | 5:30 p.m. | ORF Sport+ live)
Head-to-Head Record (2025|26)
4:3 SO A (Graz99ers goals: Huber, Kainz, Schiechl, Haudum), 6:3 H (Schiechl, Currie, Roy, Collins, Huber, Holzer)
Injury Report
Currently Unavailable: Hora, Swaney (Out Indefinitely), Koch (Week To Week)
Live Stream: sporteurope.tv/moser-medical-graz99ers