Road to lifting the cup

Ternitz played host to some of the finest skater hockey in Europe this weekend, as six teams battled across three days for the Women's European Cup 2026 title. By the time the final buzzer sounded on Sunday, it was Rollmöpse Altenberg — the "Dragons" — lifting the trophy after a hard-fought campaign that saw them go the distance against a stacked field.

The tournament opened on Friday with group-stage action that set the tone for what was to come: fast, physical, and rarely short of goals. Bockumer Bulldogs endured an early wobble, dropping their opener to IHC Biel-Bienne, before responding with a run of form that would define their weekend — reeling off consecutive wins over Dragons, Oxford Blues, and Pulheim Vipers to establish themselves as the team to beat.

By Saturday, the group stage had sharpened into a genuine title race. Rollmöpse Altenberg matched the Bulldogs win for win, and when the dust settled on the group phase, the two sides were locked together on points at the summit of the table — separated only by goal difference. Pulheim Vipers and IHC Biel-Bienne rounded out a competitive top four, while Oxford Blues and Torpedo Gfrasta contested the placement games for fifth and sixth.

Sunday's medal day lived up to the billing. In the semifinals, Rollmöpse Altenberg dispatched Biel-Bienne 5-2 to book their spot in the final, while Bockumer Bulldogs shut out Pulheim Vipers 3-0 to set up a repeat of one of the tournament's tightest group games. Vipers regrouped to claim bronze with a commanding 6-2 win over Biel-Bienne, while Oxford Blues edged a two-legged affair with Torpedo Gfrasta to secure fifth place.

The final itself proved a fitting climax. Rollmöpse Altenberg came out the better side, running out 5-2 winners to claim the Women's European Cup 2026 title and send the Bulldogs home with silver — a heavy blow for a side that had looked, for much of the weekend, like the team to beat.

Individually, the tournament's leading scorer was Bockumer Bulldogs' Sarah Bramer, whose 15 points (7 goals, 8 assists) across seven games topped the charts despite her side falling just short of gold. She was closely followed by Dragons forward Verena Haselsteeiner, whose 10 goals and 13 points underlined why her side went all the way, and Oxford Blues' Victoria O'Connor, who also finished on 13 points in a fifth-place campaign.

All Star Team

Final Placements