Austrian Hockey League

The Austrian Hockey League (known as the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League for sponsorship reasons)[2] is the top-tier ice hockey league in Austria, although it currently features additional teams from Czechia, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia. The league was known as the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL) from 2003 until 2020.

Austrian Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
2019–20 Austrian Hockey League season
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
SportIce hockey
Founded1923 (1923)
CEOKarl Safron[1]
No. of teams12
Country Austria (8 teams)
 Czech Republic (1 team)
 Hungary (1 team)
 Italy (1 team)
 Slovakia (1 team)
Most recent
champion(s)		EC KAC
(31st title)
Most titlesEC KAC (31)
TV partner(s)ServusTV
Official websiteICE Hockey League (ICE)

Until 2005–06, the league consisted solely of Austrian teams. Since then, the league has added teams from Slovenia (from 2006 to 2017), Hungary (starting 2007–08), Croatia (from 2009–10 through 2012–13, and again from 2017–18 through 2018–19), Czechia (starting in 2011–12),[3] and Italy (starting in 2013–14).[4]

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 bet-at-home.com since 2020.

History

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

The roots of the EBEL 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.

1965–1970, first seasons

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.

1970–1980, dominance of EC KAC

EC KAC won the championship 8 times in the 1970s.

1980–1990, boom and first financial hiccups

When the Austrian national hockey team earned promotion into the Group B of the IIHF, it led to a boom in spectators. 3 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.

1990–2000, dominance of VEU Feldkirch, internationalization, and crash

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 5 championships from 1994-1998. 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.

2000–2010, league named after a sponsor, expansion

The league was named after its sponsor, Uniqua. In 2003 Erste Bank became sponsor and the league was named EBEL.

Since 2010: European hockey, signs of financial inequalities

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[5].

Teams
Teams currently participating in the EBEL.
Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined EBEL Left EBEL
Current Teams
Dornbirn Bulldogs Dornbirn Messestadion 4,270 1992 2012–13
Graz 99ers Graz Eisstadion Liebenau 4,050 1999 2000–01
HC TWK Innsbruck Innsbruck OlympiaWorld Innsbruck 7,212 1994 2012–13
EC KAC Klagenfurt Stadthalle Klagenfurt 5,500 1909 1923–24
EHC Black Wings Linz Linz Donauhalle 3,800 1992 2000–01
EC Red Bull Salzburg Salzburg Eisarena Salzburg 3,600 1977 2004–05
Vienna Capitals Vienna Albert Schultz Eishalle 7,022 2000 2001–02
EC Panaceo VSV Villach Villacher Stadthalle 4,800 1923 1977–78
Fehérvár AV19 Székesfehérvár Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor 3,600 1960 2007–08
Orli Znojmo Znojmo Nevoga Arena 5,500 1933 2011–12
HC Bolzano Bolzano PalaOnda 7,220 1933 2013–14
Bratislava Capitals Bratislava Ondrej Nepela Arena 10,550 2015 2020–21
Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)
VEU Feldkirch Feldkirch Vorarlberghalle 5,200 1945 1967–68 2003–04
Jesenice Jesenice Podmežakla Hall 4,500 1948 2006–07 2011–12
Olimpija Ljubljana Tivoli Hall 7,000 1928 2007–08 2016–17
Medveščak Zagreb Zagreb Dom Sportova,
Arena Zagreb		 5,000
15,000		 1961 2009–10
2017–18		 2012–13
2018–19

Playoffs
Main article: Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs

With their victory in the finals of the 2013/2014 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 2007/2008 season, losing the EBEL championship to EC Red Bull Salzburg.

Winter Classics
Winter Classic Date Site Home Team Away Team Score Attendance
Klagenfurt 2015 2015-01-03[6] Wörthersee Stadion (football) KAC VSV 1–4 29,700
Šalata 2013 2013-02-01[7][8] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak Capitals 1–2 5,120
Šalata 2010 2010-01-31[9][10] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak Capitals 4–3 (OT) 4,600
Šalata 2010 2010-01-29[11][10] Šalata (hockey) Medveščak VSV 2–3 4,600
Pula 2012 2012-09-16[12] Pula Arena (amphitheatre) Medveščak Capitals 4–1 7,130
Pula 2012 2012-09-14[12] Pula Arena (amphitheatre) Medveščak Olimpija 1–2 7,022
Klagenfurt 2010 2010-01-09[13] 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
Club Winners Winning Years
EC KAC
31
 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
Wiener EV / EG
17
 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1962
VEU Feldkirch
9
 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Red Bull Salzburg
8
 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014[*], 2015, 2016, 2018[*]
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 EBEL title

See also

References
  1. "sport.ORF.at". Sport.ORF.at. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  2. https://www.ice.hockey/en/news-en/?id/10736/108615
  3. "Znojmo to join Austrian EBEL". Eurohockey.com. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  4. "12 teams - 5 countries - HC Bozen affiliated". archive.is. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  5. "End of season for Medvescak Zagreb". Eurohockey.com. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  6. "VSV-Sieg in rasantem "Winter Classic"". Sport.ORF.at. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  7. "KHL MedvÅ¡Ä?ak Winter Classic". Croatiansports.com. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  8. "Spiel Details". 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  9. "Spiel Details". 22 December 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  10. Šalata Winter Classic 2010., Croatian Wikipedia.
  11. "Spiel Details". archive.is. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. "Spiel Details". 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012.
  13. "VSV gewann Open-Air-Spektakel gegen KAC - oesterreich.ORF.at". Ktnv1.orf.at. Retrieved 2017-03-05.

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