Deutsche Eishockey Liga

The Deutsche Eishockey Liga (German Ice Hockey League, shortname DEL) is a German professional ice hockey league that was founded in 1994. It was formed as a replacement for the Ice hockey Bundesliga and is now known as DEL - Die 1. Bundesliga. Unlike the old Bundesliga, the DEL is not under the administration of the German Ice Hockey Federation. The DEL currently has the highest number of American and Canadian players outside of North America.
==History==
The Eishockey-Bundesliga (English:Federal Ice Hockey League) was formed in 1957 as the elite hockey competition in the Federal Republic of Germany, replacing the Oberliga in this position. It was in turn replaced by the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), which now also carries the name 1st Bundesliga in its logo.
The DEL was founded in the 1994–95 season, consisting of teams from the Eishockey-Bundesliga's 1st and 2nd divisions. The condition of these earlier leagues had become intolerable. Many 1st and 2nd division teams were heavily in debt. The 2nd division attracted few sponsors and spectators. As a result, many clubs were forced to fold or withdraw to the lower leagues. Fans and corporate sponsors focused on the 1st Bundesliga teams, forcing the elite teams to invest heavily in players to avoid relegation. This increased budgets 25 percent over the previous two years.
In the final Bundesliga season, 1993–94, only 11 teams wanted to play in the 2nd Bundesliga. Furthermore, two teams folded during and after the season. Ice hockey's reputation in Germany was heavily tarnished. This made it difficult to attract serious sponsorship. In January 1994, 20 out of the remaining 21 1st and 2nd Bundesliga teams voted for creating a new entity, the DEL.
Upon founding, the "DEL Betriebsgesellschaft mbH" was the first German professional sports league managed by an organization whose members where incorporated as well. The goal behind the DEL was to create a league, based on the model of the North American NHL, in which teams could play consistently without relegation concerns and create a stable league. Clubs in the DEL were required to conform to rules, which were designed to ensure long-term viability. Twelve clubs from the old 1st Bundesliga, and six from the 2nd Bundesliga came together as founding members. The new league immediately attracted corporate sponsorship with the Krombacher Brewery, which was prominently featured on the new league logo.
The hope of avoiding the troubles of the old Bundesliga by stricter financial controls did not materialize. During DEL's initial season, on December 18, 1994, the Bundesliga's final champion, the renamed EC Hedos München, folded. This was controversial, as DEL's president Franz Hofherr had approved their license and certified their finances. Hofherr was Mad Dogs former president and it was alleged that he must have known about their desperate financial situation.
The Bosman ruling, a 1995 decision of the European Court of Justice regarding the movement of labor in soccer, had profound influence on the league. The old Bundesliga had national character with German clubs competing for the German title using mostly German players. After the ruling European Union players were excluded from the "foreign" player quota. In the 1995–96 season following the decision, the DEL teams employed 97 EU players. This lowered costs significantly, enabling smaller teams to compete more effectively. However, frequent player moves were not viewed positively by the fans, resulting in smaller attendance numbers.
Following an agreement with the DEB the league renamed itself as "DEL - Die 1. Bundesliga" in the 1999–2000 season, while reintroducing relegation and promotion to/from the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga.
The 2004–05 season was significant due to the NHL lockout. 26 NHL players came to play the season in the DEL, including Jamie Langenbrunner, Erik Cole, Stéphane Robidas, Doug Weight, Mike York and several German national team players -- Jochen Hecht, Olaf Kölzig, and Marco Sturm.
==Teams==
Team 	City/Area 	Founded	Arena 	Capacity
Augsburger Panther 	Augsburg 	1878 	Curt Frenzel Stadium 	7,774
Eisbären Berlin 	Berlin 	1954 	Mercedes-Benz Arena 	14,200
Düsseldorfer EG 	Düsseldorf 	1935 	ISS Dome 	13,400
Fischtown Pinguins 	Bremerhaven 	1974 	Eisarena Bremerhaven 	4,254
ERC Ingolstadt 	Ingolstadt 	1964 	Saturn Arena 	4,815
Iserlohn Roosters 	Iserlohn 	1959 	Eissporthalle Iserlohn 	4,967
Kölner Haie 	Cologne 	1972 	Lanxess Arena 	18,500
Krefeld Pinguine 	Krefeld 	1936 	König Palast 	9,000
Adler Mannheim 	Mannheim 	1938 	SAP Arena 	13,600
EHC Red Bull München 	Munich 	1998 	Olympia Eishalle 	6,136
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers 	Nuremberg 	1980 	Arena Nürnberger Versicherung	9,400
Schwenninger Wild Wings	Schwenningen	1904 	Helios Arena 	6,215
Straubing Tigers 	Straubing 	1948 	Eisstadion am Pulverturm 	6,000
Grizzlys Wolfsburg 	Wolfsburg 	1975 	Eisarena Wolfsburg 	4,660
===Former teams===
* BSC Preussen Berlinlater BSchC Preussen, dissolved 2005refounded as Eissport & Schlittschuh Club 2007 Berlin
* Frankfurt Lions dissolved 5 July 2010 due to bankruptcy</small>
* Füchse Duisburg
* ESG Füchse Sachsen Weißwasser/Chemnitznow Lausitzer Füchse
* Hamburg Freezers ceased operations 24 May 2016</small></small>
* EC Hannovernow Hannover Indians
* Hannover Scorpions
* Kassel Huskiesdissolved 27 August 2010 due to bankruptcy</small>
* Kaufbeurer Adler
* EV Landshut
* Maddogs Münchendissolved 1994 due to bankruptcy
* Moskitos Essen
* Munich Baronsrelocated in 2002 to become Hamburg Freezers
* EC Ratingen "Die Löwen"relocated in 1997 to become Revierlöwen Oberhausen
* Revierlöwen Oberhausen
* Starbulls Rosenheim
* SC Riessersee
* Wölfe Freiburg
==League regulations==
The DEL is an independently run league, fully owned and operated by its 14 member teams. Each team must fulfill the DEL's basic requirements to remain in the league:
* A written application for membership;
* "On ice qualification" for new teams (championship in the 2nd Bundesliga);
* A stadium that meets DEL standards;
* Financial qualification;
* Formation of an ordinary company (the DEL consists of franchises);
* Development program for young players; and
* Purchase of a license (currently, the licensing fee is set at € 800,000.00)
The DEL can only admit one 2nd Bundesliga team per season to the league, unless the league strength falls below fourteen, in which case two clubs can be admitted. Since the 2006–07 season, no DEL team can be automatically relegated, a team can only lose its league status through non-compliance with the leagues regulations (see above).
From the 2008–09 season on, each DEL club will only be allowed to have ten non-EEC players under contract.
The ESBG guarantees to admit any DEL team wishing to step down to the lower 2nd Bundesliga or Oberliga. The team, however, has to purchase a license (licensing fees for the 2nd Bundesliga are currently set at € 100,000.00).
To regulate the relationship between the DEL, the DEB and the ESBG (2nd Bundesliga), a so called Kooperationsvertrag exists. This cooperation contract was signed in December 2005., and is valid until 2011. This contract ended years of dispute between the three organizations over competencies and financial issues.
In November 2007, the DEL announced another change in policy. The league expanded to allow 16 teams beginning in the 2008–09 season, resulting in direct promotion for the 2nd Bundesliga league champions, should they fulfill all requirements and be interested in joining the DEL. Should this not be the case, or a current DEL team resigns from the league, a selection process would determine the club, or clubs, who would be eligible to join in order required to archive 16 teams. (Note: Füchse Duisburg resigned before the 2009-2010 season and was not replaced until the following season.)
Additionally, a new format for the game schedule will limit the number of regular season games to 52 for each team. This is achieved by each team playing four games against eleven others and two games against the remaining four. To determine which teams play which, the final standings of the previous season are used.
The DEL would also reintroduce promotion once more. The first- and second-lowest ranked teams will play a best-of-seven series to determine which team faces the 2nd Bundesliga champion for a place in the league. There is, however, an ongoing dispute about those games as second division teams may only have five foreign players on contract, and therefore face a handicap in comparison to the DEL teams with twelve import players each. For now, the ESBG has declared that no team from the 2nd Bundesliga would take part in these matches and therefore no promotion/relegation with the DEL will take place.
==DEL seasons==
===Past champions===
* 2023–24 Eisbären Berlin
* 2022–23 EHC München
* 2021–22 Eisbären Berlin
* 2020–21 Eisbären Berlin
* 2019–20 EHC München (RS)
* 2018–19 Adler Mannheim
* 2017–18 EHC München
* 2016–17 EHC München
* 2015–16 EHC München
* 2014–15 Adler Mannheim
* 2013–14 ERC Ingolstadt
* 2012–13 Eisbären Berlin
* 2011–12 Eisbären Berlin
* 2010–11 Eisbären Berlin
* 2009–10 Hannover Scorpions
* 2008–09 Eisbären Berlin
* 2007–08 Eisbären Berlin
* 2006–07 Adler Mannheim
* 2005–06 Eisbären Berlin
* 2004–05 Eisbären Berlin
* 2003–04 Frankfurt Lions
* 2002–03 Krefeld Pinguine
* 2001–02 Kölner Haie
* 2000–01 Adler Mannheim
* 1999–00 Munich Barons
* 1998–99 Adler Mannheim
* 1997–98 Adler Mannheim
* 1996–97 Adler Mannheim
* 1995–96 Düsseldorfer EG
* 1994–95 Kölner Haie
===All-time standings===
33 clubs have played in the DEL since founding, with 14 currently playing. The 1994 standing represents the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
Club 	No.	94 	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	207	218	22	23	24
Eisbären Berlin 	28 	1BL	17	17	4 	1 	2 	13	13	7 	1 	1 	2 	1 	9 	2 	1 	1 	3 	1 	4 	8 	9 	2 	8 	2 	9 	4 	3 	1 	11	1
Fischtown Pinguins 	5 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10	9 	7 	6 	4 	6 	8 	2
Straubing Tigers 	15 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12	14	13	13	13	6 	9 	12	13	9 	9 	13	8 	3 	8 	4 	5 	3
EHC München5 	11 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8 	11	12	7 	2 	1 	1 	1 	2 	1 	2 	2 	1 	4
Grizzlys Wolfsburg 	15 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13	 	 	13	7 	3 	1 	3 	10	6 	7 	4 	5 	7 	12	9 	6 	3 	4 	5
Schwenninger Wild Wings	18 	1BL	9 	5 	10	9 	10	11	12	16	14	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13	14	14	12	10	14	14 	10 	14	12	6
Adler Mannheim 	28 	1BL	3 	6 	1 	4 	3 	5 	1 	2 	4 	6 	6 	10	1 	6 	4 	9 	7 	4 	1 	4 	1 	10	2 	5 	1 	2 	1 	5 	3 	7
ERC Ingolstadt 	19 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12	7 	5 	2 	4 	10	12	7 	6 	2 	6 	9 	3 	8 	7 	4 	5 	7 	5 	7 	2 	8
Kölner Haie 	28 	1BL	6 	1 	2 	3 	5 	1 	2 	6 	2 	4 	4 	5 	5 	3 	15	10	9 	9 	2 	5 	11	7 	4 	6 	4 	11 	12 	10	6 	9
Nürnberg Ice Tigers 	27 	2BL	12	11	15	12	1 	10	5 	4 	5 	2 	3 	4 	3 	1 	5 	5 	10	13	7 	3 	8 	6 	3 	3 	10	8 	13 	8 	9 	10
Düsseldorfer EG 6 	26 	1BL	5 	3 	9 	5 	 	 	11	9 	3 	8 	10	3 	2 	9 	3 	6 	2 	7 	14	14	5 	5 	11	11	6 	5 	9 	9 	7 	11
Löwen Frankfurt 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	10	12
Iserlohn Roosters 1 	21 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15	12	9 	12	11	11	11	5 	11	11	12	10	13	10	6 	3 	13	8 	13	13 	7 	12	13	13
Augsburger Panther 	27 	2BL	13	12	11	13	8 	8 	14	8 	11	9 	7 	12	13	12	10	8 	14	8 	8 	11	12	12	6 	12	3 	10 	11 	11	14	14
Bietigheim Steelers 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	13	15	
Krefeld Pinguine 	28 	1BL	4 	7 	8 	11	7 	3 	9 	3 	6 	10	9 	8 	10	11	6 	12	4 	12	3 	2 	10	13	14	14	11	12 	14 	15	 	
Hamburg Freezers 2 	14 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8 	3 	8 	6 	7 	7 	8 	14	11	5 	5 	1 	4 	11	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Frankfurt Lions 	16 	2BL	10	8 	12	2 	4 	7 	10	11	13	5 	1 	9 	8 	4 	9 	2 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Hannover Scorpions 	17 	 	 	 	14	7 	11	9 	7 	10	10	13	12	7 	6 	8 	2 	4 	5 	14	11	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Kassel Huskies 	14 	2BL	7 	9 	3 	10	9 	4 	4 	5 	7 	11	14	13	 	 	14	15	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
EV Duisburg 	4 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	14	14	15	16	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wölfe Freiburg 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	14	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Revierlöwen Oberhausen 	5 	 	 	 	 	14	14	14	6 	13	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Moskitos Essen 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15	16	14	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Preussen Berlin 	8 	1BL	1 	2 	5 	8 	13	6 	8 	15	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Munich Barons 2 3 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2 	3 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Starbulls Rosenheim 1 	6 	1BL	8 	13	6 	15	12	12	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Landshut Cannibals 3 	5 	1BL	2 	4 	7 	6 	6 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Ratinger Löwen 	3 	1BL	16	10	16	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
ESV Kaufbeuren 	3 	1BL	11	15	13	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
SC Riessersee 	1 	 	 	14	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Hannover Indians 	2 	2BL	14	16	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Lausitzer Füchse 	2 	2BL	15	18	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Maddogs München 4 	1 	1BL	18	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Color code	Result
Gold 	Play-off champion
Silver 	Play-off finalist
Green 	Semi-finalist
Blue 	1st round
Purple 	Preliminary round
White 	Did not qualify for play-offs
Red 	Relegated to DEL2 or folded mid-season
Bold 	Regular season champion
Italics 	Play-offs not conducted
No. 	Number of seasons in league (as of 2020–21)
* 1 In 2001, the Star Bulls Rosenheim sold their DEL licence to the Iserlohn Roosters.
* 2 In 2002, the München Barons relocated to become the Hamburg Freezers.
* 3 In 1999, the Landshut Cannibals sold their DEL licence to the München Barons.
* 4 In 1995, the Mad Dogs München folded during the regular season.
* 5 In 2012, the EHC München changed their name to EHC Red Bull München.
* 6 In 2012, the DEG Metro Stars changed their name to Düsseldorfer EG.
* In the 1995 and 1996 season, 16 clubs were qualified for the play-offs.
* In the 1998 season, 14 clubs were qualified for the play-offs.
* 7 The 2020 season was ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which caused the cancellation of the play-offs. The teams are listed by their placement in the regular season.
* 8 The 2021 playoffs were conducted under a reduced format, with no preliminary round and only eight playoff teams.
==See also==
* German champions
* 2nd Bundesliga
* Oberliga
==References==
==External links==
* Meltzer, Bill. "Three European Champs, Three Different Paths to the Top" at NHL.com Retrieved 08-18-06.
* Official DEL website (in German)
* Official Website of the German Ice Hockey-Federation - DEB
* Official DEB-MySpace-Website
* Hockeyarenas - DEL Arenas
* Internet Hockey Database - standings and statistics
* Hockey Archives - International ice hockey website with tables and results (in French)
Category:Ice hockey leagues