ICE Hockey League

The ICE Hockey League (International Central European Hockey League, ICEHL), known as the win2day ICE Hockey League for sponsorship reasons,[2] is a Central European hockey league that also serves as the top-tier ice hockey league in Austria. It currently features additional teams from Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia. The league was known as the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL) from 2003 until 2020 and as the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League during the 2021–22 season.[3]

This article is about the Austrian league. For other leagues, see List of ice hockey leagues.
ICE Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 ICE Hockey League season
SportIce hockey
Founded1923 (1923)
CEOKarl Safron[1]
No. of teams13
CountryAustria (8 teams)
Italy (3 teams)
Hungary (1 team)
Slovenia (1 team)
Most recent
champion(s)		Red Bull Salzburg
(9th title)
Most titlesEC KAC (31)
TV partner(s)Puls 24
Official websitewww.ice.hockey/en

Until 2005–06, the league consisted solely of Austrian teams. Since then, the league has added teams from Slovenia (from 2006 to 2017 and from 2021 onwards), Hungary (starting 2007–08), Croatia (from 2009–10 through 2012–13, and again from 2017–18 through 2018–19), the Czech Republic (starting in 2011–12 through 2019–20 and again from 2021-22 onwards),[4] Italy (starting in 2013–14),[5] and Slovakia (starting in 2020–21 through the start of 2021–22).

The non-Austrian teams are competing for the "League Champion" title. Only Austrian teams in this league are additionally eligible for the "Austrian Champion" title. The league has had different sponsors, and the current naming rights have been held by win2day.at since 2022.

Teams from the ICEHL participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League). Going into the 2022–23 CHL season, the ICEHL was ranked the No. 6 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top three teams to compete in the CHL.

History

Foundation
HDD Olimpija vs EC KAC at Bežigrad Stadium during the 2012–13 Austrian Hockey League season

The roots of the league go back to 1923 and various Championships, whose winner is officially recognized as the Austrian Champion. There was no Austrian competition between 1939 and 1945. During World War II, a number of Austrian teams competed in the German Ice Hockey Championship, which is why the EK Engelmann Wien and Vienna EV list German Championships in their history.

1965–1990

The Bundesliga, as it was called, was incepted for the 1965-66 season by EC KAC from Klagenfurt, IEV from Innsbruck, WEVg from Vienna, and KEC from Kitzbühel. EC KAC won the championship 8 times in the 1970s.

When the Austrian national hockey team earned promotion into the Group B of the IIHF, it led to a boom in spectators. Three foreign players were allowed and first signs of financial hiccups came. SV Kapfenberg went bankrupt, and WAT Stadlau abstained from participating in the Bundesliga for financial reasons.

1990–2003

A first step in internationalization was undertaken as the clubs, in addition to the national championship, participated in the Alpenliga. The Alpenliga was formed with clubs from Italy and Slovenia. After making Ralph Krueger their manager in 1991 VEU Feldkirch won five championships from 1994 to 1998. Rising budgets caused more and more clubs to abstain from participation. In 1997 SV Kapfenberg went bankrupt during the season, and the championship was down to only four clubs. In 2000 VEU Feldkirch went bankrupt. The league was named after its sponsor, Uniqua.

2003–2020

In 2003 Erste Bank became sponsor and the league was named Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. In 2013–14, Italy's Bolzano Foxes became the first non-Austrian team to win the EBEL title when they beat the Salzburg Red Bulls 3 games to 2 in their best-of-five final series. Such success is not unheard of for an Italian outfit, but previous similar results took place in the Alpenliga and the Cup of the European Leagues, standalone competitions whose postseason tournaments were distinct from the Austrian playoffs. One year after rejoining the league from the Kontinental Hockey League, KHL Medveščak Zagreb once again withdrew from the EBEL, this time citing the difficult economic situation of the club.[6]

2020–present

In 2020, the league was renamed to ICE Hockey League. "ICE" refers to the league's locale – International Central European – and the surface of an ice hockey rink. At the same time, bet-at-home.com became the title sponsor of the league.[7] From the 2021-22 season onwards the league will expand to 14 teams, with reigning champions Olimpija Ljubljana and Pustertal Wölfe joining from the Alps Hockey League and Orli Znojmo returning after a one-year absence. Austrian online betting platform and casino win2day.at became the league's title sponsor in 2022.

Teams
Teams currently participating in the ICEHL.


Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined ICEHL Left ICEHL
Current teams
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV Austria Villach Villacher Stadthalle 4,800 1923 1977–78
EC KAC Austria Klagenfurt Stadthalle Klagenfurt 5,500 1909 1923–24
EC Red Bull Salzburg Austria Salzburg Eisarena Salzburg 3,600 1977 2004–05
Fehérvár AV19 Hungary Székesfehérvár Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor Ice Hall 3,600 1960 2007–08
Graz 99ers Austria Graz Eisstadion Liebenau 4,050 1999 2000–01
HC Bozen–Bolzano Italy Bolzano Sparkasse Arena 7,220 1933 2013–14
HC Pustertal Wölfe Italy Bruneck Intercable Arena 3,100 1954 2021–22
Asiago Hockey 1935 Italy Asiago Pala Hodegart 3,000 1935 2022–23
HC TWK Innsbruck Austria Innsbruck TIWAG Arena 3.200 1994 2012–13
HK Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia Ljubljana Tivoli Hall 7,000 2004 2021–22
Steinbach Black Wings Linz Austria Linz Linz AG Eisarena 3,800 1992 2000–01
Vienna Capitals Austria Vienna Erste Bank Arena 7,022 2000 2001–02
Pioneers Voralberg Austria Feldkirch Vorarlberghalle 5,200 2022 2022–23
Former teams (since introduction of current league format)
Bratislava Capitals Slovakia Bratislava Ondrej Nepela Arena 10,055 2015 2020–21 2021–22
VEU Feldkirch Austria Feldkirch Vorarlberghalle 5,200 1945 1967–68 2003–04
HK Jesenice Slovenia Jesenice Podmežakla Hall 4,500 1948 2006–07 2011–12
HDD Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenia Ljubljana Tivoli Hall 7,000 1928 2007–08 2016–17
Medveščak Zagreb Croatia Zagreb Dom Sportova,
Arena Zagreb		 5,000
15,000		 1961 2009–10
2017–18		 2012–13
2018–19
Orli Znojmo Czech Republic Znojmo Nevoga Arena 5,500 1933 2011– 12
2021–22		 2019–20

2021-22

Dornbirn Bulldogs Austria Dornbirn Messestadion 4,270 1992 2012–13

2021–22

Playoffs
Main article: Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs

With their victory in the finals of the 2013–14 season, HC Bolzano became the first non-Austrian team to claim the league title. Formerly the best non-Austrian team result was when HDD Olimpija Ljubljana managed to get into the finals in the 2007–08 season, losing the championship to EC Red Bull Salzburg.

Winter Classics
Winter Classic Date Site Home team Away team Score Attendance
Klagenfurt 2015 2015-01-03[8] Wörthersee Stadion (football) KAC VSV 1–4 29,700
Šalata 2013 2013-02-01[9][10] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak Capitals 1–2 5,120
Šalata 2010 2010-01-31[11][12] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak Capitals 4–3 (OT) 4,600
Šalata 2010 2010-01-29[13][12] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak VSV 2–3 4,600
Pula 2012 2012-09-16[14] Pula Arena (amphitheatre) Medveščak Capitals 4–1 7,130
Pula 2012 2012-09-14[14] Pula Arena (amphitheatre) Medveščak Olimpija 1–2 7,022
Klagenfurt 2010 2010-01-09[15] Wörthersee Stadion (football) KAC VSV 1–3 30,500

Bolded teams denote winners

Austrian Champions
See also: List of Austrian ice hockey champions
  • 1923 Wiener EV
  • 1924 Wiener EV
  • 1925 Wiener EV
  • 1926 Wiener EV
  • 1927 Wiener EV
  • 1928 Wiener EV
  • 1929 Wiener EV
  • 1930 Wiener EV
  • 1931 Wiener EV
  • 1932 Pötzleinsdorfer SK
  • 1933 Wiener EV
  • 1934 Klagenfurter
  • 1935 EC KAC Klagenfurter
  • 1936 EK Engelmann
  • 1937 Wiener EV
  • 1938 EK Engelmann
  • 1939 Not played due to World War II
  • 1940 Not played due to World War II
  • 1941 Not played due to World War II
  • 1942 Not played due to World War II
  • 1943 Not played due to World War II
  • 1944 Not played due to World War II
  • 1945 Not played due to World War II
  • 1946 EK Engelmann
  • 1947 Wiener EV
  • 1948 Wiener EV
  • 1949 Wiener EG
  • 1950 Wiener EG
  • 1951 Wiener EG
  • 1952 EC KAC Klagenfurter
  • 1953 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1954 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1955 EC KAC Klagenfurter
  • 1956 EK Engelmann
  • 1957 EK Engelmann
  • 1958 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1959 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1960 EC KAC
  • 1961 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1962 Wiener EV
  • 1963 Innsbrucker EV
  • 1964 EC KAC
  • 1965 EC KAC
  • 1966 EC KAC
  • 1967 EC KAC
  • 1968 EC KAC
  • 1969 EC KAC
  • 1970 EC KAC
  • 1971 EC KAC
  • 1972 EC KAC
  • 1973 EC KAC
  • 1974 EC KAC
  • 1975 ATSE Graz
  • 1976 EC KAC
  • 1977 EC KAC
  • 1978 ATSE Graz
  • 1979 EC KAC
  • 1980 EC KAC
  • 1981 Villacher SV
  • 1982 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1983 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1984 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1985 EC KAC
  • 1986 EC KAC
  • 1987 EC KAC
  • 1988 EC KAC
  • 1989 GEV Innsbruck
  • 1990 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1991 EC KAC
  • 1992 Villacher SV
  • 1993 Villacher SV
  • 1994 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1995 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1996 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1997 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1998 VEU Feldkirch
  • 1999 Villacher SV
  • 2000 EC KAC
  • 2001 EC KAC
  • 2002 Villacher SV
  • 2003 Black Wings Linz
  • 2004 EC KAC
  • 2005 Vienna Capitals
  • 2006 Villacher SV
  • 2007 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2008 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2009 EC KAC
  • 2010 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2011 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2012 Black Wings Linz
  • 2013 EC KAC
  • 2014 Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL title winner HC Bozen–Bolzano)
  • 2015 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2016 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2017 Vienna Capitals
  • 2018 Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL title winner HC Bozen–Bolzano)
  • 2019 EC KAC
  • 2020 N/A
  • 2021 EC KAC
  • 2022 Red Bull Salzburg
  • 2023 Red Bull Salzburg
Club Winners Winning years
EC KAC
32
 1934, 1935, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2019, 2021
Wiener EV / EG
17
 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1962
Red Bull Salzburg
10
 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014[*], 2015, 2016, 2018[*], 2022, 2023
VEU Feldkirch
9
 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Innsbrucker EV (also known as GEV Innsbruck)
7
 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1989
Villacher SV
6
 1981, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2006
EK Engelmann (earlier known as Pötzleinsdorfer SK)
6
 1932, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1956, 1957
ATSE Graz
2
 1975, 1978
Black Wings Linz
2
 2003, 2012
Vienna Capitals
2
 2005, 2017

 bold – seasons in which league had teams outside Austria

 [*] – seasons in which the Austrian Champion didn't win the ICEHL title

See also

References
  1. "sport.ORF.at". Sport.ORF.at. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  2. "win2day ICE Hockey League". www.ice.hockey. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  3. "A NEW ERA IS BEGINNING: BET-AT-HOME ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE". ICE Hockey League. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. "Znojmo to join Austrian EBEL". Eurohockey.com. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  5. "12 teams - 5 countries - HC Bozen affiliated". archive.is. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. "End of season for Medvescak Zagreb". Eurohockey.com. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  7. "A NEW ERA IS BEGINNING: BET-AT-HOME ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE". ICE Hockey League. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  8. "VSV-Sieg in rasantem "Winter Classic"". Sport.ORF.at. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  9. "KHL MedvÅ¡Ä?ak Winter Classic". Croatiansports.com. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  10. "Spiel Details". 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  11. "Spiel Details". 22 December 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. Šalata Winter Classic 2010., Croatian Wikipedia.
  13. "Spiel Details". archive.is. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  14. "Spiel Details". 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012.
  15. "VSV gewann Open-Air-Spektakel gegen KAC - oesterreich.ORF.at". Ktnv1.orf.at. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
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