Davos vs. Fribourg: Latest News Ahead of Game 1

Fribourg-Gottéron is set to face HC Davos in Game 1 of the National League playoff final on Friday, April 17, 2026, with Julien Sprunger’s career hanging in the balance as he aims for a first championship after 1175 games with the club.

The Fribourg captain, who turned 40 during the season, has been widely celebrated as a club legend, particularly after his overtime goal in Game 7 of the quarterfinals against Rapperswil-Jona kept his playoff hopes alive. Sprunger admitted he was much calmer in the semi-final series win over Servette than in the earlier, high-pressure quarterfinal battle.

Fribourg secured its fifth playoff final appearance by finishing second in the regular season behind Davos, a result that initially raised fears of an early exit under new Swedish coach Roger Rönnberg. Reaching the semi-finals quelled those concerns, setting up a final showdown with the Grisons side.

Davos enters the final having won the regular season title, including a decisive 5-2 victory over Fribourg earlier in the year that reinforced their position at the top of the league. The team has been consistent throughout the qualifying campaign, losing only one game during that stretch.

As Fribourg prepares to travel to Davos for Game 1, the focus remains on whether Sprunger can cap his storied career with a championship. His potential retirement has been a recurring theme in media coverage and fan tributes, with creative choreographies planned in anticipation of a possible final series.

The playoff final opens Friday at 2:45 PM UTC, with both teams aware that a win in Game 1 could set the tone for the best-of-seven series. Fribourg will look to defy the odds and deliver a fairytale ending to one of the National League’s most enduring figures.