The Austrian Hockey League (German: Österreichische Eishockey-Liga), called the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (English: Erste Bank Hockey League) for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Austria.
[edit] History
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 Austian competition in 1936, and 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.
The league exists in today's form since the 1965-66 season.
Until 2005-06 the league consisted solely of Austrian teams. Since then the league has added teams from Slovenia (starting 2006-07 and 2007-08), Hungary (starting 2007-08), Croatia (starting 2009-10 season), and the Czech Republic (starting in 2011-12)[2]. The non-Austian teams are competing for the "EBEL Champion" title. Only Austrian teams in this league are additionally eligible for the "Austrian Champion" title[citation needed]. The league has had different sponsors, and the current naming rights have been held by "Sparkasse Bank" and its Erste Bank brand since the 2003-04 season.
| Team |
City/Area |
Arena |
Capacity |
Founded |
Joined EBEL |
| Current Teams |
| Graz 99ers |
 Graz |
Eisstadion Graz Liebenau |
4,050 |
1999 |
2000/01 |
| EC KAC |
Klagenfurt |
Stadthalle Klagenfurt |
5,500 |
1909 |
1923/24 |
| Black Wings Linz |
Linz |
Keine Sorgen Eisarena Linz |
3,800 |
1992 |
2000/01 |
| Red Bull Salzburg |
Salzburg |
Eisarena Salzburg |
3,600 |
1977 |
2004/05 |
| Vienna Capitals |
Vienna |
Albert Schultz Eishalle |
7,022 |
2000 |
2001/02 |
| Villacher SV |
Villach |
Villacher Stadthalle |
4,800 |
1923 |
1977/78 |
| Acroni Jesenice |
 Jesenice |
Dvorana Podmežakla |
4,200 |
1948 |
2006/07 |
| Olimpija Ljubljana |
Ljubljana |
Dvorana Tivoli |
4,500 |
1929 |
2007/08 |
| SAPA Fehérvár AV 19 |
 Székesfehérvár |
Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor Ice Hall |
3,600 |
1960 |
2007/08 |
| KHL Medveščak Zagreb |
 Zagreb |
Dom Sportova / Arena Zagreb |
6,400 / 15,024 |
1961 |
2009/10 |
| Orli Znojmo |
 Znojmo |
Hostan Arena |
5,500 |
1933 |
2011/12 |
| Notable Former Teams |
| HC TWK Innsbruck |
Innsbruck |
Olympiahalle Innsbruck |
7,212 |
1994 |
|
| VEU Feldkirch |
Feldkirch |
Vorarlberghalle |
5,200 |
1945 |
|
| Expansion Teams |
| ŠHK 37 Piešťany |
 Piestany |
EASTON Arena |
5,100 |
1937 |
2012/13 |
| DAB-Docler |
Dunaújváros |
Ice Hall of Dunaújváros |
4,500 |
1977 |
???? |
Teams currently participating in the Erste Bank Eishockey League
[edit] EBEL Playoffs
All Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs have been won by Austrian teams. The best non-Austrian team result is the HDD Olimpija Ljubljana managing to get into the finals in 2007-08 season, losing the EBEL championship to EC Red Bull Salzburg.
[edit] Austrian 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 Klagenfurter
- 1936 Not Played
- 1937 Wiener EV
- 1938 EK Engelmann
- 1939-1945 Not played
- 1946 EK Engelmann
- 1947 Wiener EV
- 1948 Wiener EV
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| Club |
Winners |
Winning Years |
| EC KAC |
29
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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 |
| Wiener EV / EG |
17
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1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1962 |
| VEU Feldkirch |
9
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1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Innsbrucker EV |
7
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1953, 1954,1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1989 |
| Villacher SV |
6
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1981, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2006 |
| EK Engelmann |
4
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1938, 1946, 1956, 1957 |
| Red Bull Salzburg |
4
|
2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 |
| ATSE Graz |
2
|
1975, 1978 |
| Vienna Capitals |
1
|
2005 |
| Black Wings Linz |
1
|
2003 |
| Pötzleinsdorfer SK |
1
|
1932 |
bold - seasons in which league had teams outside Austria
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Karl Safron neuer EBEL-Präsident
- ^ http://www.eurohockey.com/article/628-znojmo-to-join-austrian-ebel.html
[edit] External links
 Erste Bank Eishockey Liga |
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| Defunct leagues |
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2011–12 Austrian Hockey League season
Austria (6 teams)
Slovenia (2 teams)
Hungary (1 team)
Croatia (1 team)
Czech Republic (1 team)
