Liechtenstein Eishockey-Nationalliga

Last updated
Eishockey-Nationalliga
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2025;0 years ago (2025)
Administrator LEIV
No. of teams4
Country Liechtenstein
Most recent
champion(s)
Mauren Warriors
Most titlesMauren Warriors (1)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toNone

The Eishockey-Nationalliga (English: Ice Hockey-National League) is the top and only ice hockey league in Liechtenstein. It is administered by the Liechtenstein Ice Hockey Federation (LEIV), an associate member of the IIHF.

Contents

History

In October 2024, it was announced that Liechtenstein would create its first-ever ice hockey league which would begin play with four teams on 26 January 2025. The creation of the league was a step toward gaining full membership in the International Ice Hockey Federation following the country's successes in the IIHF Development Cup. [1] It was announced that games would be played in the nearby Swiss towns of Widnau and Grüsch as there is no indoor arena in Liechtenstein. [2] [3] Previously, the country's only club, EHC Vaduz-Schellenberg competed in the lower levels of Austrian and Swiss league systems. [4] After the first two matchdays, the Vaduz-Schellenberg Nobles held an early lead in the league standings with the final set to be played on 9 March. [5] The Mauren Warriors defeated the Balzers Lynxes 8–2 to win the league's inaugural title. Following a 3–3 score at the end of regulation, Vaduz-Schellenberg defeated the Triesen Hurricane Hobes on a penalty shootout to secure third place. [6]

Format

The league plays using a modified 3-on-3 format including three skaters and a goalie on each team. The rules and format were developed with and approved by the IIHF. In the process, Liechtenstein became the first country to play its national championship in this format. [2] [7]

Current teams

Eishockey-Nationalliga Teams: 2025 Season [7]
TeamMunicipalityJoined
league
Vaduz-Schellenberg Nobles Vaduz 2025
Mauren Warriors Mauren 2025
Balzers Lynxes Balzers 2025
Triesen Hurricane Hobes Triesen 2025

Season results

YearChampionsRunner-UpThirdFourth
2025 [8] Mauren WarriorsBalzers Lynxes Vaduz-Schellenberg Nobles Triesen Hurricane Hobes
2026

See also

References

  1. "Erste Eishockey-Nationalliga gestartet" (in German). Vaterland. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Liechtenstein startet eigene Hockeyliga" (in German). Brudiland. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  3. Kolb, Philipp. "Liechtenstein mit eigener Eishockeyliga" (in German). Vaterland. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  4. "Für mehr Popularität fehlt die Sportstätte" (in German). Vaterland. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  5. Gämperli, Karl Otto; Bernard, Silke. "Erste Eishockey-Nationalliga in Liechtenstein erfolgreich gestartet" (in German). Landes Spiegel. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  6. Meier, Georg. "Finale der Eishockey-Nationalliga Liechtenstein" (in German). Landes Spiegel. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 Berends, Hendrik; Tuniz, Davide. "Liechtenstein launched the first domestic league". Euro Hockey. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  8. Rindlisbacher, Philipp. "Liechtenstein sorgt für eine Weltneuheit" (in German). Tages Anzeiger. Retrieved 20 March 2025.