The Moser Medical Graz99ers are an Austrian professional ice hockey team from Graz, Styria. The club was founded in 1999 after the previous club, EHC Graz, folded prior to the 1998–99 season due to financial difficulties. The Graz99ers started in the 1999–2000 season in the Austrian National League, Austria's second division, where they were crowned instant champions. Since the 2000–01 season they have been playing in the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL).

Moser Medical Graz99ers
CityGraz, Styria, Austria
LeagueAustrian National League
1999–2000
ICE Hockey League
2000–present
Founded1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Home arenaEisstadion Graz Liebenau
(Capacity: 4,050)
Colors   
Owner(s)Jochen Pildner-Steinburg
Head coachJohan Pennerborn
CaptainVacant
Website99ers.at
Franchise history
1999–2010Graz 99ers
2010–2020Moser Medical Graz 99ers
2020–presentMoser Medical Graz99ers

History

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Hockey was played at Premier League level in Graz mainly from two predecessor clubs. The Hockey department of the ATSE Graz (Workers' Gymnastics and Sports Association Eggenberg) was founded in 1947 and won to date the only Graz Hockey club title at the top Austrian League level in the 1974–75 and 1977-78 season. The club was merged early nineties with the UEC Graz, shortly after the EC Graz emerged. In 2008, the Hockey section of was ATSE Graz reactivated on the league level. The new goalie was Ben Bowns.

The EC Graz (also called "the elephant") experienced under President Hannes Kartnig its heyday, finishing three times the runner-up title in the seasons 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 despite running at a high financial cost. After the departure of Hannes Kartnig, the football club SK Sturm Graz changed, they tried to rescue the EC Graz. When this plan failed, the EHC Graz was established in 1998, only to become bankrupt the same year.

Establishment and promotion to the Bundesliga

In 1999 Jochen Pildner-Steinburg founded the Graz 99ers as the successor club of the EC Graz to offer Hockey League back in the Styrian capital. The team premiered in the second division, the Austrian National League, finishing after 28 rounds played, in first place in the table. In the semifinals, the team continued after opening game defeat to persevere to a 3: 1 series win against the EHC Lustenau to meet EK Zell am See in the final. The series was decided in four games with Graz taking advantage of the opportunity for promotion to the Austrian Hockey League.

Players

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Current roster

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Updated 7 September 2024.

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
6   Nick Albano D R 28 2024 Beverly, Massachusetts, United States
76   Sam Antonitsch LW L 28 2022 Vienna, Austria
25   Casey Bailey RW R 33 2024 Anchorage, Alaska, United States
20   Nico Brunner D L 32 2024 Villach, Austria
17   Manuel Ganahl RW L 34 2024 Bludenz, Austria
77   Trevor Gooch C L 30 2024 Mantua, New Jersey, United States
37   Jonas Gunnarsson G L 32 2024 Eksjö, Sweden
8   Markus Hanl F R 21 2022 Judenburg, Austria
40   Tim Harnisch C L 23 2024 Wiener Neustadt, Austria
21   Lukas Haudum C L 27 2024 Linz, Austria
4   Korbinian Holzer D R 36 2024 Munich, Germany
3   Frank Hora D R 28 2024 Cheektowaga, New York, United States
52   Paul Huber F L 24 2024 Graz, Austria
19   Lukas Kainz C L 29 2024 Mödling, Austria
65   Michael Kernberger D L 27 2021 Klagenfurt, Austria
89   Clemens Krainz F R 23 2018 Zell am See, Austria
28   Lenz Moosbrugger F L 20 2024 Lustenau, Austria
5   Jacob Pfeffer D L 23 2020 Vienna, Austria
82   Paul Reiner D R 18 2022 Graz, Austria
23   Kevin Roy C L 31 2024 Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
13   Michael Schiechl (A) C L 35 2020 Judenburg, Austria
24   Rok Tičar C L 35 2024 Jesenice, Slovenia
12   Marcus Vela C R 27 2024 Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
30   Nicolas Wieser G L 27 2022 Villach, Austria
14   Kilian Zündel D R 23 2024 Dornbirn, Austria

Notable alumni

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References

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