Looking forward to the tradi­tional clash against Germany / Three Graz players join the squad on Thursday

Against Germany, Head Coach Roger Bader will be without David Maier, who is carrying a minor knock and is expected to rejoin the national team next week. David Waschnig and Felix Koschek have also left the current squad. In their place, three players from win2day ICE Hockey League champions Moser Medical Graz99ers will join the squad on Thursday morning: Paul Stapelfeldt, Lenz Moosbrugger and Tim Harnisch.

"The three will train with the team on Thursday and Friday and play against Germany on Saturday. Paul Stapelfeldt has already played at two World Championships, while Lenz Moosbrugger and Tim Harnisch will look to take their chance," reveals Head Coach Roger Bader. The Swiss coach is also expecting Paul Huber for the final week of World Championship preparation in Klagenfurt.

While Austria were still heavily occupied with defending against Czechia last week, they intend to operate more frequently in the offensive zone against Germany. Their neighbours are currently still without the players from the two DEL finalists Adler Mannheim and Eisbären Berlin, as well as their NHL players. However, that should in no way diminish the squad, Head Coach Roger Bader: "They already have a good team, even though they are still missing several players who will be part of the World Championship squad. Nevertheless, they are a strong opponent, exactly what we need at this point. I want to see my team put into practice what we have worked on in training. Unlike against Czechia last week, we hope to create more offence again. Germany are a good team that plays with intensity, and that is a good thing. We want opponents like this, who will help us get used to the level that will be required at the World Championship."

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION

Austria vs. Germany
Thurs, 30 April 2026, 19:00, Zell am See
Live on ORF SPORT +, ÖEHV ticket shop

Germany vs. Austria
Sat, 2 May 2026, 17:00, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)
Live on ORF SPORT +

Further World Championship preparation
09.05, 16:20, Klagenfurt: Austria vs. Slovenia
ÖEHV ticket shop

Already played
Latvia vs. Austria 3:4 (0:1, 3:3, 0:0)
Wed, 8 April 2026, 18:30, Riga (LAT)
Austria goalscorers: Maximilian Rebernig (9th min.), Benjamin Nissner (21st min.), Luca Erne (29th min.), Lucas Thaler (39th min./PP)
Latvia goalscorers: Karlis Ozolins (30th min.), Glebs Prohorenkovs (33rd min./PP), Deniss Smirnovs (36th min.)
Game Sheet

Latvia vs. Austria 1:0 (0:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Thu, 9 April 2026, 18:30, Riga (LAT)
Latvia goalscorer: Oskars Lapinski (51st min.)
Game Sheet

Austria vs. Italy 3:2 (0:0, 2:1, 0:1, 1:0)
Thu, 16 April 2026, 19:00, Dornbirn
Austria goalscorers: Benjamin Nissner (27th min., 29th min./PP), Peter Schneider (65th min.)
Italy goalscorers: Bryce Misley (30th min.), Tommaso De Luca (55th min.)
Game Sheet

Austria vs. Czech Republic 1:5 (0:2, 1:1, 0:2)
Thu, 23 April 2026, 19:00, Steffl Arena Vienna
Austria goalscorer: Leon Kolarik (32nd min.)
Czech Republic goalscorers: Michael Spacek (5th min.), Dominik Kubalik (8th min.), Daniel Tomasek (31st min.), Filip Kral (43rd min.), Daniel Vozelinek (56th min.)
Game Sheet

Czechia vs. Austria 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Fri, 24 April 2026, 17:30, Jihlava (CZE)
Czechia goalscorers: David Tomasek (18 mins), Michael Spacek (28 mins, 46 mins/PP), Marcel Marcel (57 mins)

2026 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

15 May 2026 - 31 May 2026, Zurich and Fribourg (SUI)
Defending champions: USA
Group A, Zurich: USA, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain
Group B, Fribourg: Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, Italy

Schedule
Great Britain vs. Austria
Sat, 16 May 2026, 12:20, Swiss Life Arena

Austria vs. Hungary
Sun, 17 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena

Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 19 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena

Austria vs. Switzerland
Wed, 20 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena

Austria vs. Germany
Sat, 23 May 2026, 20:20, Swiss Life Arena

Finland vs. Austria
Sun, 24 May 2026, 20:20, Swiss Life Arena

USA vs. Austria
Tue, 26 May 2026, 16:20, Swiss Life Arena

Information on World Championship ticket sales at 2026.iihfworlds.com!
Link to World Championship tickets for Zurich and Fribourg (Ticketcorner.ch)
Link to individual Austria matches - (Ticketcorner.ch)
Link to World Championship packages including Austria matches - (Ticketcorner.ch)