The Graz99ers compete in the top-tier ICE Hockey League (ICE HL) combining teams from Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary. Founded in 1999, the team was created to restore elite hockey in the Styrian capital after the earlier club EHC Graz folded closed operations. The club quickly established itself as a stable presence in Austrian hockey and has remained in the top division since the 2000/01 season.

The franchise began its life in the Austrian Nationalliga (second tier) during the 1999/2000 season and immediately won the championship, earning promotion to the top league. Since then, the 99ers have built a reputation as a competitive team in the ICE HL. While they have not yet won a national championship, they have enjoyed several strong campaigns, including regular-season success in the late 2010s that earned them international exposure in the Champions Hockey League.

Their first, and so far only, season in the Champions Hockey League was in 2019/20 and saw the Austrians compete in a tough group featuring both eventual Finalists Mountfield HK and Frölunda Gothenburg. They started the season with a spectacular 6-5 win over eventual champions Frölunda and played a close game in the Merkur Eisstadion on Game Day 5 against Mountfield, losing 2-1. 

The club plays its home games at the Merkur Eisstadion, a venue with a capacity of just over 4,000 spectators. Known for their black-and-orange colors and the nickname “99ers,” the team draws support from the wider Styria region. Over the years, a number of notable players have worn the jersey, including Austrian NHL forward Thomas Vanek during his early career.

In recent seasons, Graz has typically been competitive in the ICE HL standings, often qualifying for the playoffs but struggling to advance deep into the post-season. For example, the club finished fifth in the 2024/25 regular season before exiting in the quarter-finals. Despite the absence of a league championship, the Graz99ers remain an important part of Austria’s professional hockey landscape, valued for their development of local talent and consistent presence in the country’s top competition.