2007–08 German ice hockey league season

The DEL, 2nd Bundesliga and Oberliga are the first three levels of ice hockey in Germany. All three leagues operate nationwide. While the DEL is an independently operated league, the other two are run by the German ice hockey federation, the DEB, through the ESBG. The leagues below the Oberliga are operated by the state federations (German:Landesverbände) and don't run nationwide. The 2007–08 season for the three top leagues started on 6 September 2007 with the first round in the DEL and finished on 25 April 2008 with the fifth and last game of the 2nd Bundesliga finals.

German ice hockey season 2007–08
Nation
 Germany
Levels
DEL
2nd Bundesliga
Oberliga
Number of leagues
3
Number of teams
48
Champions
Eisbären Berlin

Champions

  • DEL: Eisbären Berlin
  • 2nd Bundesliga: Kassel Huskies
  • Oberliga: Dresdner Eislöwen

Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the DEL

For main article, see Deutsche Eishockey Liga

The DEL is the highest tier of German ice hockey. The league was played with 15 clubs in the 2007–08 season, one more than the previous season, because the 2006–07 2nd Bundesliga champion EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams had joined the league. The modus however remained the same. Each club played the others four times, resulting in 56 regular season games per club. The top six clubs at the end of the regular season qualified for the first round of the play-offs. The clubs seven to ten played a preliminary round to determine the last two places for the first round. For the teams placed eleven to fifteen, the season has ended. No club was relegated from the DEL this season. The league will however expand and admit a sixteenth team for next season.[1]

The league was won, for a third time in four years, by the Eisbären Berlin.

Final table

The final table operates under the following points system: Three points for a win, two for a win after overtime or penalties, one for a loss after overtime or penalties and no points for an outright loss.

PositionNamePWonOTWPWOTLPLLostGFGAPoints
1Sinupret Ice Tigers5633133511206144115
2Eisbären Berlin5633233114231165113
3Kölner Haie5628634312192146109
4Frankfurt Lions562453451518817297
5Iserlohn Roosters562544411820819696
6Adler Mannheim (C)562435222018017492
7Hamburg Freezers562314172019417187
8Hannover Scorpions562043391717117186
9DEG Metro Stars562323332216917385
10ERC Ingolstadt561974312218019083
11Krefeld Pinguine562221352319119380
12Augsburger Panther561634322815818767
13EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams (N)561423213415220255
14Straubing Tigers561204423413219750
15EV Duisburg561032323614221345
  • Abbreviations: P = Games played, OTW = Overtime win, PW = Win after penalty shootout, OTL = Overtime loss, PL = Loss after penalty shoutout, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, (C) = Defending champion, (N) = New club
  • Source:"Del 2007–08". DEL website. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2008.

Play-offs

The four rounds of the 2007–08 play-offs were played under the following system:

  • Preliminary round: Best-of-three
  • First round: Best-of-seven
  • Semifinals: Best-of-five
  • Finals: Best-of-five

Unlike the regular season, in the play-offs games will not be decided by penalty shoot-outs but in overtime (OT) sudden-death. In all play-off rounds the higher placed team from the regular season has home advantage in the uneven numbered games (Game 1, 3, 5, 7) and the other team in the even numbered games (Game 2, 4, 6).

Preliminary round

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3
Hamburg FreezersERC Ingolstadt3–55–4 OT4–3
Hannover ScorpionsDEG Metro Stars4–32–41–2 OT

First round

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Sinupret Ice TigersDEG Metro Stars3–21–31–23–62–3
Eisbären BerlinHamburg Freezers2–47–46–16–14–3 OT
Kölner HaieAdler Mannheim4–31–25–4 OT4–3 OT4–1
Frankfurt LionsIserlohn Roosters4–3 OT2–3 OT3–4 OT1–54–24–04–3

Semi finals

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5
Eisbären BerlinDEG Metro Stars4–13–44–3 OT1–53–1
Kölner HaieFrankfurt Lions7–14–5 OT2–1 OT3–43–2

Finals

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5
Eisbären BerlinKölner Haie3–2 OT1–24–32–1 OT

Play-off tree

First roundSemi finalFinal
         
1Sinupret Ice Tigers1
9DEG Metro Stars4
2Eisbären Berlin3
9DEG Metro Stars2
2Eisbären Berlin4
7Hamburg Freezers1
2Eisbären Berlin3
3Kölner Haie1
3Kölner Haie4
6Adler Mannheim1
3Kölner Haie3
4Frankfurt Lions2
4Frankfurt Lions4
5Iserlohn Roosters3

Top Scorers

The five highest placed scores in the regular season and play-offs are:

Regular season

PlayerClubGamesGoalsAssistsPoints
Robert HockIserlohn Roosters56246387
Steve WalkerEisbären Berlin53275885
Peter SarnoHamburg Freezers56264874
Michael WolfIserlohn Roosters56442771
Ivan ČiernikKölner Haie56382866

Play-offs

PlayerClubGamesGoalsAssistsPoints
Nathan RobinsonEisbären Berlin1341115
Ivan CiernikKölner Haie1411213
Chris TaylorFrankfurt Lions125813
Peter SarnoHamburg Freezers84913
Sven FelskiEisbären Berlin1331013
Jason YoungFrankfurt Lions1231013

2nd Bundesliga

For main article, see 2nd Bundesliga

The 2nd Bundesliga is the second highest tier of ice hockey in Germany. The league played with 14 clubs in the 2007–08 season, the same number it had since 2001. Each club played each other four times during the regular season. The top eight teams in the league qualified for the play-offs to determined the 2nd Bundesliga champion who also has the opportunity to gain promotion to the DEL this season. For the clubs placed nine and ten, the season has finished after the regular round. The bottom four clubs play out the two relegated teams from the 2nd Bundesliga. However, due to the later insolvency of two of the league's teams, only one club, the EV Landsberg, was relegated.

The league was won by the Kassel Huskies who thereby earned the right to apply for a DEL licence and return to the league they played in until 2006.

The Moskitos Essen and Eisbären Regensburg both declared insolvency on 15 April 2008, being unable to meet their debts. Both clubs are immediately relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga. The two relegated clubs, Lausitz and Landsberg, are the first replacement for the two. The EV Landsberg is in financial trouble themselves and will probably not take part in the next 2nd Bundesliga season, therefore the Wölfe Freiburg become the next replacement as best-placed semifinal loser from the Oberliga. Should Regensburg be able to survive the insolvency, the team could enter in the Oberliga for the 2008–09 season, this is however seen as unlikely by the club.[2] If not it will take up the place of its reserve team in the Bavarian Landesliga (Tier V).[3] Which league the Moskitos Essen will be playing in 2008–09 is not yet clear but it will not be the 2nd Bundesliga.[4] Like Regensburg, the team could take the place of the reserve side which won promotion to the Regionalliga (Tier IV) this season.[5]

Due to the structure of the 2nd Bundesliga, where all teams playing are separate companies operated by the mother club, the insolvency of one of those does not mean the club itself becomes insolvent. Reserve teams are usually operated by the mother club and therefore unaffected by any insolvencies.

Regular season

The final table operates under the following points system: Three points for a win, two for a win after overtime, one for a loss after overtime and no points for an outright loss.

PositionNamePWonOTWOTLLostGFGAGDPoints
1Kassel Huskies523662818611472122
2Landshut Cannibals522843171711284395
3Heilbronner Falken (N)522743181711323992
4SERC Wild Wings522556161851533291
5SC Riessersee (N)52234817176175185
6Moskitos Essen522442221961841282
7SC Bietigheim-Bissingen52222721130129177
8ETC Crimmitschau52195721125140−1574
9EHC München52194524150169−1970
10Eisbären Regensburg52185425134162−2868
11EV Ravensburg Tower Stars (N)52177226168178−1067
12REV Bremerhaven52202228148164−1666
13Lausitzer Füchse52161431149184−3554
14EV Landsberg 200052134233137214−7749
  • Abbreviations: P = Games played, OTW = Overtime win, OTL = Overtime loss, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, GD = Goal difference, (N) = New club

Play-offs

The three rounds of the 2007–08 play-offs were played under the following system:

  • First round: Best-of-seven
  • Semifinals: Best-of-five
  • Finals: Best-of-five

In all play-off rounds the higher placed team from the regular season has home advantage in the uneven numbered games (Game 1, 3, 5, 7) and the other team in the even numbered games (Game 2, 4, 6). Should a game be undecided after regular time, there will be one overtime (OT) in sudden death format. Should there still be no winner, the game is decided through penalties (P).

First round

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Kassel HuskiesETC Crimmitschau4–23–74–20–34–14–1
Landshut CannibalsSC Bietigheim-Bissingen3–25–05–21–32–1 OT
Heilbronner FalkenMoskitos Essen2–64–3 P6-7 OT5–4 P6–34–3
SERC Wild WingsSC Riessersee2–32–44–12–34–12–14–1

Semi finals

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5
Kassel HuskiesSERC Wild Wings4–11–33–05–3
Landshut CannibalsHeilbronner Falken5–34–24–3

Finals

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5
Kassel HuskiesLandshut Cannibals0–16–05–04–5 OT3–2 OT
  • The Kassel Huskies are the 2nd Bundesliga champions and gained the right to apply for a DEL licence.

Play-downs

The play downs consists of only one round, played in a best-of-seven format. The two loser of this round are nominally relegated to the Oberliga.

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
EV RavensburgEV Landsberg 20005–4 OT7–47–24–3
REV BremerhavenEHC Lausitzer Füchse5–02–36–33–2 OT1–22–3 P6–4
  • The EV Landsberg and EHC Lausitzer Füchse are relegated. Due to the insolvency of Essen and Regensburg, the Lausitzer Füchse remain in the league. The EV Landsberg could also stay in the 2nd Bundesliga but was in financial trouble themselves and will play in the Oberliga next season.

Play-off tree

First roundSemi finalFinal
         
1Kassel Huskies4
8ETC Crimmitschau2
1Kassel Huskies3
4SERC Wild Wings1
4SERC Wild Wings4
5SC Riessersee3
1Kassel Huskies3
2Landshut Cannibals2
2Landshut Cannibals4
7SC Bietigheim-Bissingen1
2Landshut Cannibals3
3Heilbronner Falken0
3Heilbronner Falken4
6Moskitos Essen2

Oberliga

For main article, see Oberliga

The Oberliga is the third tier of ice hockey in Germany and as such the lowest nationwide level; below it are currently the LEV's (Landesverbände). In the 2007–08 season the league played with 19 clubs. For the first time since 2001, the Oberliga was split into a northern and a southern group. Unlike until 2001 however, when the top teams of the two divisions only met in the finals, games between the two groups are already staged in the regular season, when teams from the same division met each other four times while teams from opposite divisions only met twice.

The first four clubs in each group qualified for the Oberliga play-offs to determine the two promoted clubs to the 2nd Bundesliga. An Oberliga final is not played as the two semifinal winners are both promoted. The regular season results between the two semifinal winners determined the Oberliga champion instead. The two fifth-placed teams and the sixth from the south finished their season with the end of the regular season. The bottom four clubs of each division played out one relegated team each, independently of each other. In turn, the three regional champions will gain promotion to the Oberliga with the possibility of more clubs moving up should the DEL, as planned, expand or a club in the top three divisions fold or withdraw.

The league was won by the Dresdner Eislöwen who are, together with the runner-up Tölzer Löwen, promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. Due to Kassel gaining entry to the DEL, the Wölfe Freiburg were also promoted. Of the bottom two clubs, only Erfurt was relegated. Weiden withdrew from the league for financial reasons.

Regular season

The regular season saw the league split into two groups, the Oberliga Nord and Oberliga Süd, a separation which had existed until the 2000–01 season.

North

PositionNamePWonOTWOTLLostGFGAGDPoints
1Dresdner Eislöwen (R)5233541024014496113
2Blue Lions Leipzig (N)5228661224817078102
3EC Hannover Indians5228661221916059102
4Blue Devils Weiden522277162151922387
5Piranhas Rostock (N)52187522184210−2673
6Saale Bulls Halle (N)52146329167227−6057
7Rote Teufel Bad Nauheim (N)52152728185220−3556
8Eisbären Juniors Berlin5285930136187−5143
9Black Dragons Erfurt (N)5273438136293−15731

South

PositionNamePWonOTWOTLLostGFGAGDPoints
1Tölzer Löwen5441238254128126130
2Wölfe Freiburg5434321524116081110
3EV Füssen5435111728321766108
4ESV Kaufbeuren (R)542952182101555599
5EHC Klostersee542755172091941596
6EC Peiting542734202161793791
7Starbulls Rosenheim54223623179200−2178
8Deggendorf Fire (N)54185229207244−3766
9TEV Miesbach5485338156278−12237
10Passau Black Hawks (N)5483340126253−12733
  • Abbreviations: P = Games played, OTW = Overtime win, OTL = Overtime loss, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, GD = Goal difference, (R) Club relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga, (N) = New club

Play-offs

The Oberliga play-offs are operating on a best-of-seven modus. The winning teams of the semifinals are promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. Should the DEL expand to 16 teams, the best placed club of the two semifinal losers will also gain entry to the 2nd Bundesliga.

First round

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Dresdner EislöwenESV Kaufbeuren6–12–14–3 P1–25–2
Tölzer LöwenBlue Devils Weiden4–03–16–18–1
Blue Lions LeipzigEV Füssen6–85–76–33–4 OT4–21–4
Wölfe FreiburgHannover Indians2–14–83–53–54–26–46–3

Semi finals

Winners promoted to 2nd Bundesliga.

TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Dresdner EislöwenEV Füssen6–13–55–44–05–4 OT
Tölzer LöwenWölfe Freiburg5–06–37–26–4
  • The Tölzer Löwen and Dresdner Eislöwen are both promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. The Dresdner Eislöwen are the 2007–08 Oberliga champions.

Play-downs

The Oberliga play-downs are also operating on a best-of-seven modus. The two groups determine separately one relegated team each, this being the losing teams of the second round.

First round

  • North
TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Saale Bulls HalleBlack Dragons Erfurt12–46–16–27–2
Rote Teufel Bad NauheimEisbären Juniors Berlin2–10–14–3 OT2–12–32–1 OT
  • South
TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Starbulls RosenheimEHF Passau Black Hawks3–20–12–11–33–21–45–0
Deggendorf FireTEV Miesbach6–23–45–33–2 OT3–2 OT

Second round

Losing teams relegated to the LEV's.

  • North
TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
Eisbären Juniors BerlinBlack Dragons Erfurt6–36–25–16–0
  • South
TeamTeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7
TEV MiesbachEHF Passau Black Hawks6–22–55–11–34–16–3
  • The Black Dragons Erfurt and EHF Passau Black Hawks are relegated to the LEV's. Due to the insolvency of Essen and Regensburg in the 2nd Bundesliga, Passau will remain in the league.

Play-off tree

First roundSemi finalsFinals
         
1st NDresdner Eislöwen4
4th SESV Kaufbeuren1
1st NDresdner Eislöwen4
3rd SEV Füssen1
2nd NBlue Lions Leipzig2
3rd SEV Füssen4
1st NDresdner Eislöwen*
1st STölzer Löwen*
2nd SWölfe Freiburg4
3rd NEC Hannover Indians3
2nd SWölfe Freiburg0
1st STölzer Löwen4
1st STölzer Löwen4
4th NBlue Devils Weiden0
  • * Finals not played, the Dresdner Eislöwen declared champions due to winning both regular season games versus Tölzer Löwen.

Leagues below the Oberliga

The levels below the Oberliga are not administrated by the DEB but rather by the local federations, the LEV's. With the ESBG's intention to increase the number of clubs in the Oberliga from 19 to 20 to balance both leagues, three promotion places will be available from the LEV's to this league in 2007–08. Should the DEL expand as well, another promotion spot would become available and it is planned to hand this one to the Regionalliga West. Only the three regional champions had the right for promotion but all clubs but the Herner EV declined:

  • Regionalliga West: champions: Herner EV 2007, runners-up: EHC Dortmund
  • Regionalliga Nordost: champions: EHV Schönheide, runners-up: ECC Preussen Juniors Berlin
  • Bayernliga: champions: EHC Waldkraiburg, runners-up: EC Pfaffenhofen

Regionalliga West

The Regionalliga West is actually not quite a league but rather a promotion round. It contains the best six teams of the Regionalliga Nordrhein-Westfalen, and the top two teams of the Regionalliga Hessen and the Baden-Württemberg Liga each. The winner of this league is promoted to the Oberliga but this seasons runner-up, the EHC Dortmund may gain promotion to. As such, the league covers the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Regionalliga Nordost

This league covers the north and north east of Germany. Again, it is more of a promotion round, compromising ten teams from two groups, the northern and the north eastern group. The Regionalliga Nordost covers the German states of Niedersachsen, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Berlin, Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen and Thüringen.

Bayernliga

Main article see 2007–08 Bavarian ice hockey season

The Bayernliga is the only single-state league of the three, covering just Bavaria. The reason for this is that the state holds approximately one third of all ice hockey clubs in Germany and 18 of the 48 clubs in the first three divisions are from this federation.

Sources

References