Reviewed by you: European hockey

Reviewed by you was a feature we used a little bit lasts season, but not regularly. This season we will be doing one every Tuesday where we look at topics and ask for your opinion. The best comments are posted on our next reviewed by you the following Tuesday. This week, our first topic of the season: European hockey...

 

Ice hockey in the UK is enjoyed and played by many people, but what is Hockey like in other countries? As we have seen in the CHL a few weeks back, it's a lot harder than in the UK and proof of this is shown as Nottingham Panthers are ranked 44 out of 44 in this competition despite all their success! I will confess, I don't have the best European hockey knowledge but I'll try my best! Let's look at some countries top flight ice hockey leagues and the links they have had with EIHL teams!

Leagues in Europe

Germany: The DEL

The DEL is Germanys top ice hockey league, which was launched in 1994.The teams from the first and second divisions were moved to this league. Berlin were the first league champions, and since then has become one of Europes best ice hockey teams! The highest attendance team is Kolner Hale with a 18,500 capacity. Kolner were also the first team to win the DEL playoffs.

 

 Last seasons league champions were Hamburg Freezers who are in group K of the CHL with Nottingham Panthers. The two teams face for the first time next month (Setpember 23rd).

 

Fourteen teams currently play in the DEL, which has been like this since 2007, three more than in the debut season in 1994 which was eleven.

Italy: Serie A

Sponsored by top hockey equipment brand, Reebok, the Serie A is Italy's top flight ice hockey league and the oldest in Europe, which started up in 1924!

 

 Twelve teams currently play in the league including Asiago hockey, who have played EIHL opposition many times. They faced a very famous double header with Nottingham Panthers in September 2012, when Panthers goalie Craig Kowalski scored a goal! They went on to win the Aladin cup the next day and eliminated Nottingham from the Continental cup last season. They faced Dundee Stars and Braehead Clan last month too!

 

 Playing format in Serie A is quite clever as it's divided into three parts. The first part each team plays each other four times, before being split into two groups to decide playoff teams. After that, the playoffs kick off, with quarters, semi and a best of 7 final! The play out!

Sweden: The SHL

Like the EIHL, SHL games are broadcasted on Premier sports sometimes, and are a brilliant example of hard fought ice hockey! Twelve teams currently compete, but plans for two more teams being added will go ahead in 2015-16 season.

 

Playoff format is the same as the NHL, with best of 7 knockout rounds and was once the 4th best hockey league in the world! It debuted in 1975, and holds Lulea hockey, the team that hammered Nottingham Panthers 10-1 yesterday (Sunday 24th August 2014).

 

 The SHL is the only league in Europe to host an outdoor game ever year, just like the NHL, except the NHL can have multiple games outside as to the SHL having one in December. This tradition has gone on since 2009!

Spain: Liga Nacional hockey hielo

It's not recognised much, as hockey is sunny Spain isn't that popular, but the Liga Nacional hockey hielo is Spains top tier ice hockey league. Launched in 1972, the league only has six teams with small attendances of maximum 1,456. The smallest attended club, max: 500 attendance, won the playoffs last season which was Escor Bakh!

Latvia: LHL

The Latvian hockey league (LHL) currently holds six teams, which may not be a lot, but it is a competitive league which holds some great names and teams!

European fans

Like in the EIHL, European hockey fans are party animal. Cheering on your team can be done in so many different ways! Mad mascots, huge flags, dance routines, and much more! Watch this Youtube video of how European and NHL fans are the best supporters in sport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKBGIvCvokw 

Bringing European hockey together

Clubs

European hockey is certainly entertaining, and even better when teams from different countries meet each other making interesting games of hockey. First of all, teams can simply meet teams from across the globe by just arranging a pre-season friendly(s) or being involved in major European tournaments.

 

 

League champions from certain leagues play in the Continental cup every year, including the UK, this year, of course, the Belfast Giants in a different tournament to most in any sport. You have up to three group stages before a super final in January.

Whilst the Continental cup has slightly lower teams at around EIHL level, the new CHL, has quickly become the most competitive tournament in European hockey history, with forty four top teams from around the world playing action packed ice hockey. It showed how brilliant it is by Lulea hockey smashing successful Nottingham Panthers 10-1!

 

International

Not only do clubs within countries play tournaments against others from around the world, but of course, the best players from around the country are all put into one mega team to represent their country Internationally! European clubs play in the IIHFWC (International ice hockey federation world championships) where European countries play each other.  

Then of course, the biggest stage in all of ice hockey: the winter Olympics. Ice hockeys world cup equivalent! All countries, not only Europe, but the entire globe play the biggest tournament of them all, every four years, with NHL names everywhere too. Canada normally come out victorious, as they are the best hockey country!

Over to you!

So, what's your opinion on European ice hockey? Tell us in the comments...