DEL2

Last updated
DEL2
Current season, competition or edition:
Hockey current event.svg 2024-25 DEL2 season
Deutsche Eishockey Liga2.svg
Formerly 2nd Bundesliga
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2013;12 years ago (2013)
CEO René Rudorisch
Administrator DEB
Motto"Carried by passion, at home in ice hockey" [1]
No. of teams14
Country Germany
Most recent
champion(s)		 Ravensburg Towerstars
(2nd title)
Most titles Bietigheim Steelers
(3 titles)
TV partner(s)Sprade TV
eoTV
Level on pyramid Level 2
Promotion to DEL (2020–21 onward)
Relegation to Oberliga
Official website del-2.org

DEL2 (also known as Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2 or DEL II) is the second tier ice hockey league in Germany, below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and ahead of the Oberliga . Founded in 2013 to replace the defunct 2nd Bundesliga , DEL2 is administered by ESBG, under licence from DEB.

Contents

History

The DEL2 league was founded on 2 May 2013 by Eishockeyliga Betriebsgesellschaft mbH. The foundation of the league was controversial as it was preceded by a long standing dispute between the operator of the second division, Eishockeyspielbetriebsgesellschaft mbH (ESBG), and the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB). [2]

In 2011, ESBG refused to sign a cooperation agreement between DEB and DEL citing unacceptable conditions. As a result, DEB withdrew their support of ESBG and promotion and relegation between the DEL and 2nd division was removed. [3] On 18 April 2013, the Eishockeyliga Betriebsgesellschaft mbH was established by Ernst Rupp, CEO of Heilbronn Falcons. [2] The new company was founded with the goal of reforming a new second division league. The new company quickly aligned with DEL and officially founded the new league on 2 May 2013. The DEB responded by labelling the new league an unsanctioned breakaway competition. ESBG subsequently filed an injunction against DEB in the Munich Regional Court. On 17 July 2013, the DEB, second division clubs and ESBG came to an out of court settlement on the matter. The settlement agreement between ESBG and DEB stipulated the status-quo of ESBG running the second division operations until 2018. Post 2018, the league would then be separated and self-run. [4]

In 2014, the league expanded to include fourteen teams, the same number as the DEL. DEL2 had started with just twelve teams in the 2013/14 season. [5]

In April 2015, DEB altered its statutes so clubs associated with DEL and DEL2 could become members of the DEB again. [6] This decision by DEB led to a new agreement being reached between DEL and DEL2 in September 2015 to re-enable promotion and relegation between the two leagues. This system implemented was based on sporting achievement but came with specified condition caveats on the DEL2 team wishing to obtain promotion. [7]

At the conclusion of the 2015/16 season, DEL2 was recognised as the best-supported second-tier hockey league in Europe. DEL2 had average spectator attendances of 2,688 per match. [8]

1 July 2016, the DEL2 club Fischtown Pinguins became the first club from DEL2 to be ‘unofficially’ promoted to DEL. The Pinguins were not promoted through the DEL/DEL2 promotion system but instead applied for a vacated licence in DEL, following the withdrawal of the Hamburg Freezers who ceased operations on 24 May 2016. [9]

In 2017, the DEL2 and Oberliga (German third division) reached agreement for the introduction of promotion and relegation between the two divisions. The first ever DEL2 relegation occurred at the end of the season with Starbulls Rosenheim relegated to Oberliga. [5]

As of 2018, no DEL2 team had been able to meet the conditions for promotion to DEL. This led to new negotiations between the two leagues and in July 2018 a new agreement was reached to introduce automatic promotion and relegation between the two divisions, starting in the 2020/21 season, ten years after it was taken away. [10]

Current teams

The league had 12 teams participating in the 2013–14 season, before expanding to 14 teams from the 2014–15 season. [11] In season 2023–24 there were 14 teams qualified out of a possible 15 as the Bayreuth Tigers didn't receive a licence due to financial issues. [12] The league continues to feature 14 teams.

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DEL2 teams for the 2024–25 season.
DEL2 Teams: 2024–25 Season
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoined league
CityState
EC Bad Nauheim Bad Nauheim Flag of Hesse.svg Hesse Colonel Knight Stadion 4,50019822013
Blue Devils Weiden  [ de ] Weiden Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Hans-Schröpf-Arena  [ de ]2,56019852024
Eispiraten Crimmitschau Crimmitschau Flag of Saxony.svg Saxony Eisstadion im Sahnpark 5,22219902013
Dresdner Eislöwen Dresden Flag of Saxony.svg Saxony EnergieVerbund Arena 4,20019902013
EHC Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Baden-Württemberg Echte Helden Arena 3,50019842015
EC Kassel Huskies Kassel Flag of Hesse.svg Hesse Eissporthalle Kassel 6,10019772014
ESV Kaufbeuren Kaufbeuren Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Erdgas Schwaben Arena 3,10019462013
Krefeld Pinguine Krefeld Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg North Rhine-Westphalia Yayla-Arena 8,02919362022
EV Landshut Landshut Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Fanatec Arena 4,44819482019
Lausitzer Füchse Weißwasser Flag of Saxony.svg Saxony Eisstadion Weißwasser 3,05019322013
Ravensburg Towerstars Ravensburg Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Baden-Württemberg Eissporthalle Ravensburg 3,30018812013
Eisbären Regensburg Regensburg Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Donau-Arena 4,96119622022
Starbulls Rosenheim Rosenheim Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria ROFA-Stadion 5,02219282023
Selber Wölfe Selb Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria NETZSCH Arena 3,98319532021

Former teams

Former DEL2 Teams
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoined leagueLeft league
CityState
Deggendorfer SC Deggendorf Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Eisstadion Deggendorf 2,790199620182019
Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven Flag of Bremen.svg Bremen Eisarena Bremerhaven 4,674197420132016
Löwen Frankfurt Frankfurt Flag of Hesse.svg Hesse Eissporthalle Frankfurt 6,990201020142022
Heilbronner Falken Heilbronn Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Baden-Württemberg Kolbenschmidt Arena 4,000198020132023
SC Riessersee Garmisch-Partenkirchen Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Olympia-Eissport-Zentrum 6,929192320132018
Tölzer Löwen Bad Tölz Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Hacker-Pschorr-Arena 4,115192820172022
Bayreuth Tigers Bayreuth Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg Bavaria Kunsteisstadion 4,555200620162023
Bietigheim Steelers Bietigheim-Bissingen Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Baden-Württemberg EgeTransArena 4,50019812023

Timeline of clubs in DEL2

Timeline of clubs in DEL2
13/1414/1515/1616/1717/1818/1919/2020/2121/2222/2323/2424/25
EC Bad Nauheim
Tölzer Löwen
EHC Bayreuth
Bietigheim SteelersSCB
Fischtown
Eispiraten Crimmitschau
DSC
Dresdner Eislöwen
Löwen Frankfurt
EHC Freiburg
SC Riessersee
Heilbronner Falken
Kassel Huskies
ESV Kaufbeuren
Krefeld
EVL EV Landshut
Ravensburg Towerstars
Regensburg
Starbulls Rosenheim SBR
VER Selb
Weiden
Lausitzer Füchse

Champions

The champions, runners-up and regular season premiers of the league standings: [13]

DEL2 season-by-season results
SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffsTop scorerPromoted teamRelegated team
PremiersPtsChampionsResultRunners-upG1G2G3G4G5G6G7PlayerPts
2013–14 Fischtown Pinguins 104 Fischtown Pinguins 4:1 Bietigheim Steelers 4:32:34:34:23:2-- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Harrison Reed90--
2014–15 Bietigheim Steelers 114 Bietigheim Steelers 4:2 Fischtown Pinguins 4:33:44:34:31:64:3- Flag of the United States.svg Mike Collins81--
2015–16 Bietigheim Steelers 111 EC Kassel Huskies 4:0 Bietigheim Steelers 1:03:23:25:2--- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Justin Kelly85 Fischtown Pinguins -
2016–17 Bietigheim Steelers 109 Löwen Frankfurt 4:2 Bietigheim Steelers 7:54:04:22:31:25:2- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt McKnight72- Starbulls Rosenheim
2017–18 SC Riessersee 103 Bietigheim Steelers 4:1 SC Riessersee 3:13:52:16:32:0-- Flag of Germany.svg Richard Mueller80- SC Riessersee
2018–19 Löwen Frankfurt 97 Ravensburg Towerstars 4:2 Löwen Frankfurt 5:31:36:57:41:35:1- Flag of Finland.svg Roope Ranta79- Deggendorfer SC
2019–20 Löwen Frankfurt 94Play-offs cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dylan Wruck88--
2020–21 Kassel Huskies 112 Bietigheim Steelers 3:2 Kassel Huskies 1:21:43:25:45:2-- Flag of Germany.svg Marco Pfleger86 Bietigheim Steelers -
2021–22 Löwen Frankfurt 112 Löwen Frankfurt 4:0 Ravensburg Towerstars 7:03:11:02:1--- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Peter Quenneville80 Löwen Frankfurt Tölzer Löwen
2022–23 Kassel Huskies 131 Ravensburg Towerstars 4:1 EC Bad Nauheim 4:20:35:23:17:3-- Flag of Germany.svg Marcel Müller70- Heilbronner Falken
2023–24  [ de ] Kassel Huskies 100 Eisbären Regensburg 4:2 Kassel Huskies 1:2(OT)5:11:34:25:24:2- Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Yogan 80- Bietigheim Steelers

League player records

The following are the top five all-time leaders in five different statistical categories: matches played; goals; assists; points; penalty minutes [14]

All-time appearances
#NamePosMP
1 Flag of Germany.svg Henry MartensD307
2 Flag of Germany.svg Marco MüllerD304
3 Flag of Germany.svg Benjamin HüfnerD303
4 Flag of Germany.svg René SchoofsF302
5 Flag of Germany.svg Adriano CarciolaF296
All-time goals
#NamePosGol
1 Flag of Germany.svg Richard MuellerF166
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt McKnightF133
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyler McNeelyF123
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marc SommerfeldF110
5 Flag of Germany.svg Adriano CarciolaF105
All-time assists
#NamePosA
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt McKnightF257
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marc SommerfeldF216
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyler McNeelyF215
4 Flag of the United States.svg Shawn WellerF194
5 Flag of Slovenia.svg Robin JustF171
All-time points
#NamePosPts
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Matt McKnightF390
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyler McNeelyF338
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marc SommerfeldF326
4 Flag of Germany.svg Richard MuellerF295
5 Flag of the United States.svg Shawn WellerF292
All-time PIM
#NamePosPIM
1 Flag of Germany.svg Josef FrankD483
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carter ProftF447
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew McPhersonF412
4 Flag of Germany.svg Marco MüllerD403
5 Flag of Germany.svg Henry MartensD401

See also

References

  1. ↑ "DEL2 startet mit neuem Claim: Von Herzblut getragen. Im Eishockey zuhause" (in German). www.eishockeynews.de. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  2. 1 2 Welck, Tobias (2013-05-03). "DEL II-GmbH ist gegründet: Trennung vom DEB kaum mehr zu verhindern - Rupp: "Herr Harnos hat uns verarscht"" (in German). www.eishockeynews.de. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  3. ↑ "Kooperationsvertrag bis 2018: Kein Auf- und Abstieg – DEB und DEL einigen sich" (in German). Kicker. 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  4. ↑ "DEB contra ESBG: Ralph Bader in der Rolle des Mediators" (in German). www.merkur.de. 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  5. 1 2 Kruchen, Vincent (2018-04-03). "Das Märchen vom funktionierenden Auf- und Abstieg". www.shorthandednews.de. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  6. ↑ "DEB-Präsident Reindl setzt Reformen durch" (in German). www.faz.net. 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  7. ↑ DEL: Rückkehr zu Auf- und Abstieg? Fahrplan steht! (in German) kicker.de , published: 8 September 2015, accessed: 22 September 2015
  8. ↑ "EUROPEAN ATTENDANCE RANKING PUBLISHED". iihf.com. International Ice Hockey Federation . Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Bremerhaven wird DEL-Standort" [Bremerhaven joins the DEL]. Kicker (in German). Kicker (sports magazine). 1 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Merk, Martin (2018-07-27). "Promotion returns to Germany". www.iihf.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  11. ↑ "DEL II is official". Eurohockey.com. 2013-07-13.
  12. ↑ "Bayreuth Tigers erhalten keine Lizenz für die DEL2" [Bayreuth Tigers don't receive licence for DEL2] (in German). DEL2. 2023-06-30.
  13. ↑ DEL 2 (in German) kicker.de , accessed: 22 September 2015
  14. ↑ "DEL2 - All Time Regular Season Player Stats". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
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