DEL2

Last updated
DEL2
Current season, competition or edition:
Hockey current event.svg 2023-24 DEL2 season
Deutsche Eishockey Liga2.svg
Formerly 2nd Bundesliga
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2013;11 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 will be 14 teams qualified as Bayreuth Tigers didn't receive a licence due to financial issues. [12]

Germany adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
DEL2 teams for the 2023–24 season.
DEL2 Teams: 2023–24 Season
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoined league
CityState
EC Bad Nauheim Bad Nauheim Flag of Hesse.svg Hesse Colonel Knight Stadion 4,50019822013
Bietigheim Steelers Bietigheim-Bissingen Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg Baden-Württemberg EgeTransArena 4,50019812023
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 Franz Siegel Stadion 5,80019842015
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 4,92719282023
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

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

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deutsche Eishockey Liga</span> Premier mens ice hockey league in Germany

The Deutsche Eishockey Liga or DEL, is a German professional ice hockey league and the highest division in German ice hockey. Founded in 1994, it was formed as a replacement for the Eishockey-Bundesliga and became the new top-tier league in Germany as a result. Unlike the old Bundesliga, the DEL is not under the administration of the German Ice Hockey Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oberliga (ice hockey)</span> Third-tier mens ice hockey league in Germany

The Oberliga is the third tier of ice hockey in Germany, below DEL2 and ahead of the Regionalliga. Since the 2015/16 season, the league has been split into two regionalised divisions, Nord (north) and Süd (south). The Oberliga was originally founded in 1948 and is administered by the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)</span> Second tier of Ice hockey in Germany

The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga was the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany until 2012/13 and has since been replaced by DEL2. Starting in 2002, the league was organized by the ESBG, to which the league organization was outsourced from the DEB, the German ice hockey federation. In the 2012–13 season, it featured 13 teams.

The Bavarian ice hockey leagues are part of the German ice hockey league system and form the tiers four to six of the league system in the state of Bavaria. The leagues are operated by the Bayrischer Eissport Verband, the Bavarian association for ice sports.

The DEL, 2nd Bundesliga and Oberliga are the first three levels of ice hockey in Germany. All three leagues operate nationwide. While the DEL is an independently operated league, the other two are run by the German ice hockey federation, the DEB, through the ESBG. The leagues below the Oberliga are operated by the state federations (German:Landesverbände) and don't run nationwide. The 2007–08 season for the three top leagues started on 6 September 2007 with the first round in the DEL and finished on 25 April 2008 with the fifth and last game of the 2nd Bundesliga finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EC Kassel Huskies</span> Ice hockey team in Kassel, Hessen

The EC Kassel Huskies are a professional ice hockey club based in Kassel, Hessen, Germany. The club currently competes in DEL2, the second level of ice hockey in Germany. The Huskies were founded in 1977 and have competed in the top five levels of the hockey in Germany since that time. Kassel's home barn is the Eissporthalle Kassel, which has a capacity of 6,100. The club's nickname is the Sled Dogs. Kassel has won two second level championships in 2008 and 2016 and have won one top level junior championship in 2004. The Huskies have finished runner-up in Germany's top league, DEL, in 1997 and have been beaten finalists in the Deutscher Eishockey-Pokal in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starbulls Rosenheim</span> Ice hockey team in Rosenheim, Oberbayern

Starbulls Rosenheim is a professional ice hockey team based in Rosenheim, Germany. The team competes in the DEL2, the second highest level of play in professional German ice hockey. They play their home games at the ROFA-Stadion. ROFA AG is also one of the two main sponsors of the Starbulls. The contract with ROFA is currently dated until 2029.

The 2013–14 DEL2 season was the first season of operation for the DEL2. Replacing the 2nd Bundesliga, this league represents the second-level of ice hockey in Germany, below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). The league operated with 12 teams during the 2013–14 season. The inaugural champions were the Fischtown Pinguins.

Kevin Gaudet is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, now working as a coach. He is currently serving as head coach of the Hannover Scorpions.

Rico Rossi is a Canadian-Italian professional ice hockey coach and a former player.

The 2015–16 DEL2 season was the third season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

The 2018–19 DEL2 season was the sixth season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The season ran from 14 September 2018 till 28 April 2019. Löwen Frankfurt was crowned league premiers by finishing top of the regular season standings. Ravensburg Towerstars caused an upset by claiming the championship title by defeating Löwen Frankfurt 4-2 in the final series. Promoted team, Deggendorfer SC, was unable to survive in DEL2 and was relegated after losing the relegation playoffs final 3-4 against Wölfe Freiburg.

The 2017–18 DEL2 season was the fifth season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The season ran from 15 September 2017 till 22 April 2018. SC Riessersee was crowned league premiers by finishing top of the regular season standings. Bietigheim Steelers claimed the championship title by defeating SC Riessersee 4-1 in the final series. Bayreuth Tigers lost the relegation playoffs 4-1 against promoted team Tölzer Löwen, however they were saved from relegation from DEL2 to Oberliga due to SC Riessersee not being granted a DEL2 licence in the summer of 2018.

The 2016–17 DEL2 season was the fourth season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The season ran from 10 September 2016 till 25 April 2017. Bietigheim Steelers was crowned league premiers by finishing top of the regular season standings. Löwen Frankfurt claimed the championship title by defeating Bietigheim Steelers 4–2 in the final series. Starbulls Rosenheim lost the relegation playoffs 2–4 against ETC Crimmitschau and were relegated from DEL2 to Oberliga.

The 2019–20 DEL2 season was the seventh season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The season began on 13 September 2019 and prematurely ended on 10 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Löwen Frankfurt was named winner of the regular season, but no season champion was declared with the championship play-offs called off. In addition, the relegation play-offs were also cancelled so the league decided there would be no relegation for the season.

The 2013/14 Oberliga season was the 55th season of the Oberliga, the third-tier of German ice hockey. For the fourth time in history, the Oberliga was split into four regional leagues. 39 teams competed in the season that spanned from 4 October 2013 till 21 April 2014. There was no Oberliga champion in 2013/14, due to an expanded DEL2 promotion stage replacing the Oberliga Championship playoffs. Löwen Frankfurt and EC Kassel Huskies secured promotion to DEL2. Schweinfurt Mighty Dogs was the only team relegated to Regionalliga.

The 2019/20 Oberliga season was the 61st season of the Oberliga, the third-tier of German ice hockey. The Oberliga operated with two regional leagues, North and South. 24 teams competed in the season that spanned from 28 September 2019 till 11 March 2020. The regular season and championship playoff qualifiers was completed, but the season was then cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the remainder of the Oberliga season was cancelled by DEB. The championship playoffs were not contested so no Oberliga champion was named. There was also no sporting promotion or relegation, with ERC Sonthofen the only team to be relegated due to the club entering insolvency. Tilburg Trappers were crowned Oberliga North premiers, while Eisbären Regensburg were crowned Oberliga South premiers.

The 2018–19 Oberliga season was the 60th season of the Oberliga, the third tier of German ice hockey. The Oberliga operated with two regional leagues, North and South. 25 teams competed in the season that lasted from 21 September 2018 till 30 April 2019. The Tilburg Trappers and EC Peiting won the North and South premierships respectively. EV Landshut was crowned Oberliga champion for winning the playoffs, and by doing so they also secured promotion to DEL2. EHC Waldkraiburg, EC Harzer Falken, and ECC Preussen Berlin were all relegated to the Regionalliga.

The 2020–21 DEL2 season was the eighth season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). The season began on a delayed start date of 6 November 2020 after being rescheduled from 2 October 2020, and concluded with the end of the playoffs on 22 May 2021. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, DEL2 along with DEL and DEB agreed to a set of health rules and guidelines to ensure a safe and consistent work environment for everyone involved with hockey in Germany. Fans were excluded from attending matches. The DEL2 board agreed to suspend relegation to the Oberliga for the season, resulting in no relegation play-offs being contested. The season also marked the first time the league implemented promotion to DEL.

The 2021–22 DEL2 season was the ninth season since the founding of the DEL2, the second tier of German ice hockey, set below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

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). www.kicker.de. 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.de (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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.