With about 130,000 inhabitants, the capital of Tyrol is one of the largest cities in Austria. Innsbruck is located close to the Brenner Pass and is therefore a popular destination for vacationers on their way to Italy. Due to the Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck is also considered a real university city. It is only about 160 kilometers to Munich - so a small "derby" awaits us.
The surprise team of the ICE Hockey League
HC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck, founded in 1994, has been playing in Austria's top league for ten years now. The past season was the most successful season in the club's history so far. The Haie surprisingly shook up the ICE and finished third in the table after a consistent main round with 31 wins from 48 games (94 points). This ensured a commanding spot in the playoffs.
The performances at home in the Tiroler Wasserkraft Arena (capacity: 3,000 spectators) were strong, while away from home they scored even better. With 186 goals, Innsbruck provided the best attack in the league. In addition, the power play was by far the best in the ICE with a success rate of 26.3 percent. In the playoff quarterfinals, however, came the end. The Vienna Capitals prevailed 4:2 in the best-of-seven series.
Before that, Innsbruck last played in the finals in 2017 and 2018. In this respect, the past season can be chalked up as a great success. As a reward for a great year, the team qualified for the Champions League for the first time by beating EC Red Bull Salzburg and HC Bozen in the final.