Cambridge Narwhals win the Stahlpokal cup 2026

The Cambridge Narwhals travelled to Linz, Austria for their annual shot at the Stahlpokal Cup in April hoping to avenge the narrow defeat in last year’s final. 

An early first game against home side EHC Tornados Linz saw the Narwhals take the lead from the opening face-off, with brothers Jakub and Radim Bryol reuniting in some style. Unfortunately, Narwhal veteran Andy Stephenson took an knock in the first period which had him watching from the side lines for the rest of the weekend. Although the Tornadoes battled to get back into the game, Narwhals took the win 3-1. 

Narwhals’ second game of the opening day had them face EC Cannibals Graz. The Cambridge side hit top speed from the off, and the final score of 6-1 evidenced how effective Narwhals can be on their annual trip to the banks of the Danube. 

The travelling team didn’t hit the ice again until the evening of the second day but appeared to have lost none of their thirst for the game. German side Nightwolves Passau were on the receiving end of a 6-0 drubbing, with Cambridge netminder, Jaroslav Mikysa putting on a man-of-the-match performance. 

The tournament’s final day saw the Cambridge side skating first against another German team, the EHC Crazy Capricorns. Final score in this game was 4-1 Narwhals - putting the visitors into the tournament semi-final. 

Local side, EHC Grizzlies Klagenfurt were to be the foes in this tussle, and it proved to be a classic!  Neither side could break a 1-1 deadlock at the end of the game, putting the Cambridge boys into a sudden-death shoot-out. Mikysa showed his international pedigree again, shutting out the Grizzlies with Jakub Bryol’s goal putting the Narwhals through to the final! 

And what a final it was…Carinthian side Tarco Wolves proved to be more than a match for the Narwhals with the game poised at 2-2 at the final whistle!  In another tense sudden-death finish, it looked as though the Cup could go to either team, but Mikysa just would not quit and proved to be the hero in his second shoot-out of the tournament, with the Cambridge team winning the Stalhpokal Cup for the third time! 

Narwhals’ player of the tournament was Jaroslav Mikysa, with Jakub Bryol and Radim Bryol coming in close runners-up.  The Cambridge side will travel to Linz again in 2027, hoping to return as champions for the fourth time in the tournament’s history!