Graz 99ers open Champions Hockey League against Fribourg

According to ORF, the Graz 99ers begin their new ice hockey season on Thursday evening with a home game against Swiss champions Fribourg-Gottéron in the Champions Hockey League. The Austrian champions are aiming to make an impact internationally.

With their home fans behind them at the Liebenau arena, the 99ers have the chance to make a strong start against a team packed with top players.

Graz forward Nico Feldner said Fribourg’s squad “speaks for itself,” adding: “There are many great top players. It will certainly be a really exciting game, from which we can learn a lot ourselves.”

The 99ers faced European top teams during their summer preparation, including Adler Mannheim and Sparta Prague. Those matches gave the Austrian champions important insight into the demands of the competition.

“We were able to take away that ice hockey has to be faster at this level. It is simply faster and more physical, and I think we raised our level another step during preparation,” said Kilian Zündel ahead of the opening game.

The match will be broadcast from 6.25pm on ORF Sport+.