Graz99ers vs Sparta Prague

Sparta controlled the first period without finding the net until the 18th minute. Devin Shore, positioned with his back to goal, hooked a backhand shot under the top bar past Graz goaltender Wieser to make it 1–0. The goal was set up by Michal Řepík and Pavel Kousal, who combined on the rush.

The second period followed a similar pattern. Sparta killed off an early Graz power play, and shortly after returning to full strength, they doubled the lead. At 32:00, Michal Řepík redirected the puck between Wieser's pads from close range after a quick passing move involving Michael Špaček and Kousal. Graz pushed late in the period but could not beat Sparta goaltender Josef Kořenář before the second intermission.

The hosts came out with renewed energy in the third period and pulled one back at 43:01. N. Feldner converted from the slot off a feed from Conley and Stapelfeldt, cutting the deficit to 2–1 and briefly lifting the home crowd.

But Sparta struck back immediately. At 45:00 — just two minutes later — Michael Špaček unleashed a one-timer from the left circle on the power play after Jakub Krejčík fed him the puck, restoring the two-goal lead. The goal came during a Graz penalty, and the timing deflated the home side's momentum.

At 51:00, Blümel got his first of the night, finishing from the left side after Špaček and Michálek worked the puck across the offensive zone. The scoreline reached its final margin at 58:00 when Blümel added a short-handed breakaway goal, deking Wieser out of position and sliding the puck into an open net.

Feldner's 43rd-minute goal gave Graz a lifeline heading into the final stretch of the game. Sparta's response was immediate and decisive. A tripping penalty against Graz put the hosts down a man, and Špaček's power-play cannon shot 120 seconds later killed the home side's momentum entirely. Graz never recovered.

Matěj Blümel (Sparta Prague) — Two goals, including a highlight-reel short-handed breakaway. His speed and finish were a constant threat on the counter-attack, and the short-handed goal in the 58th minute was the exclamation point on a complete team performance.

Michael Špaček (Sparta Prague) — One goal and one assist. His power-play one-timer at 45:00 was the decisive blow, and he orchestrated several dangerous attacks from the right half-wall.

Michal Řepík (Sparta Prague) — One goal and one assist. The veteran forward crashed the net for the 2–0 marker and drew defenders throughout his shifts, creating space for linemates.

Devin Shore (Sparta Prague) — Scored the opening goal with a backhand finish from a near-impossible angle. Set the tone for Sparta's control of the first period.

Josef Kořenář (Sparta Prague) — Solid in net with timely saves, including a key stop on a Graz rush in the first period and another on a Blümel chance in the second. Finished with a strong save percentage in the clean performance.

Player of the Match: Matěj Blümel (Sparta Prague) — 2 goals

The period scores (0-1, 0-1, 1-3) tell the story of a game that Sparta controlled wire-to-wire. Sparta's penalty kill was perfect, and they added a shorthanded goal — the team's fifth of the pre-season. Graz managed only a single goal despite playing at home on their own ice in front of their own fans. The penalty count (10 minutes for Graz, 5 for Sparta per the official report) reflects a disciplined Sparta side that drew the hosts into chasing the game and then capitalised on the resulting power plays.

This was the opening game of the three-team Energie Steiermark Trophy, a pre-season tournament hosted by Graz99ers at Merkur Eisstadion. Sparta Prague face HC Slovan Bratislava on Saturday (29 August, 17:00 local), while Graz99ers take on Slovan on Sunday (30 August, 18:00 local). For Graz, the result snaps any pre-season momentum after their impressive championship run last season. For Sparta, it extends an encouraging pre-season under new head coach Patrik Augusta — following wins over Litoměřice (4-2) and two consecutive 3-0 shutouts of Vítkovice earlier in August.

Sparta also face CHL commitments in September. Graz open their CHL campaign at home against Fribourg-Gottéron on 3 September.

A statement performance from Sparta Prague, who outclassed the reigning ICEHL champions from start to finish. Graz99ers could not match the pace or structure of the Czech side and were fortunate to escape with only a four-goal defeat. Blümel's two-goal showing suggests he will be a key offensive weapon for Sparta in the coming season.