SHC Givisiez Skater 95 Crowned 2026 IISHF Men Challenge Cup Champions on Home Soil

The 2026 Men Challenge Cup delivered three days of fast-paced inline skater hockey action from 3–5 July 2026 at the Centre Sportif Chandolan in Givisiez, Switzerland. Hosted by SHC Givisiez Skater 95, ten clubs from across Europe battled through an intense group stage before an exciting knockout tournament crowned the hosts as champions.

Group Stage Sets the Tone

Group A belonged to SHC Buix, who finished unbeaten with three wins and one draw, scoring an impressive 20 goals while conceding just 10. Close behind were the Düsseldorf Rams, whose strong defensive play saw them allow only five goals during the group stage.

Group A Standings

1. SHC Buix – 7 points

2. Düsseldorf Rams – 6 points

3. SHC Courroux Wolfies – 4 points

4. ATSE Graz – 2 points

5. Northern Wasps – 1 point

Group B proved equally competitive. IHC Malcantone topped the table with three wins and a draw, while hosts SHC Givisiez Skater 95 secured second place thanks to two victories and two draws. Rødovre Red Devils claimed third after a solid campaign.

Group B Standings

1. IHC Malcantone – 7 points

2. SHC Givisiez Skater 95 – 6 points

3. Rødovre Red Devils – 5 points

4. IHC Atting – 1 point

5. SHC Léchelles Coyotes – 1 point

Knockout Drama

The qualification round saw IHC Atting defeat Northern Wasps 6–2, while SHC Léchelles Coyotes edged ATSE Graz 3–2.

The quarter-finals produced four entertaining contests:

• SHC Buix defeated IHC Atting 4–3.

• IHC Malcantone beat SHC Léchelles Coyotes 5–2.

• SHC Givisiez Skater 95 narrowly overcame SHC Courroux Wolfies 2–1.

• Düsseldorf Rams defeated Rødovre Red Devils 3–1.

The semi-finals delivered the biggest surprises of the tournament. The hosts produced a stunning attacking display to defeat previously unbeaten SHC Buix 6–4, while IHC Malcantone comfortably dispatched Düsseldorf Rams 5–1 to book a place in the championship game.

A Championship Final to Remember

The gold medal match featured two of the tournament's strongest teams as SHC Givisiez Skater 95 faced IHC Malcantone. In front of the home crowd, Givisiez edged an exciting contest 4–3, securing the 2026 Men Challenge Cup title.

Malcantone earned a well-deserved silver medal after an outstanding tournament, while SHC Buix claimed bronze by defeating Düsseldorf Rams 4–3 in the third-place game.

Final Tournament Placings

1. 🥇 SHC Givisiez Skater 95

2. 🥈 IHC Malcantone

3. 🥉 SHC Buix

4. Düsseldorf Rams

5. SHC Courroux Wolfies

6. Rødovre Red Devils

7. IHC Atting

8. SHC Léchelles Coyotes

9. ATSE Graz

10. Northern Wasps

Top Individual Performers

Several players stood out throughout the tournament:

• Pierric Pouilly (SHC Buix) led all scorers with 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists).

• Christian Schmidt (Düsseldorf Rams) finished second with 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists).

• Franco Briccola (IHC Malcantone) scored a tournament-leading 8 goals, finishing with 10 total points.

  
  

Tournament Recap

The 2026 Men Challenge Cup showcased the growing strength of European inline skater hockey. Fans witnessed high-scoring group matches, closely contested knockout games, and an unforgettable championship performance from host club SHC Givisiez Skater 95, who capped a memorable weekend by lifting the trophy in front of their home supporters after a thrilling 4–3 victory over IHC Malcantone.