The top clubs have strengthened enormously, this time there is also one relegated club, and the budget of the 14 clubs is back to pre-coronavirus levels.level – the facts about the start of the season in the German Ice Hockey League.
When does the DEL start?
On Thursday (September 14th, 2023) at 7:30 p.m., the German champions EHC Red Bull Munich will open the 30th season of the German Ice Hockey League against Düsseldorfer EG. In 55 duels between the two so far teams Munich won 35 times, so DEG has a lot of catching up to do. At sportschau.de there is the game from the Olympic ice stadium in the live ticker.
What is the mode and when will the champion be determined?
The 2023/2024 season will take place again at 14 teams instead, the champion should be determined by April 30, 2024 at the latest. The game is played in the usual double round – and for the first time after Corona with 52 game days.
As before the pandemic, the table will again be sorted by points and no longer by the points coefficient. The Playoffs will be carried out according to the old mode as in the previous season “best of seven” played out.
Who will be champion anyway?
National coach Harold Kreis doesn’t just want to anymore “from the classic three Berlin, Mannheim and Munich” speak because “The power density increased again” be. In the ice hockey survey News call trainers and Manager but again the usual suspects, although much more often the top-class reinforced Eagles and defending champions Red Bull than the record champions Eisbären. The Kölner Haie are considered the most promising outsiders. “They have strengthened incredibly”says Straubings Coach Tom Pokel.
Is there another relegated team?
Bietigheim was relegated last season, but nobody was promoted: After the Corona exception, the field of participants was reduced again from 15 to 14 clubs. Now the originally agreed rule applies again: If Bietigheim, Kassel, Dresden or Krefeld, who are relegated in the DEL2, become champions and are therefore promoted, the bottom team in the table would have to go down.
Who could have a tough time in the DEL?
The candidates for relegation are the Augsburger Panthers, who only stayed in the DEL because Kassel did not become second division champions, and the Schwenninger Wild Wings and the Iserlohn Roosters.
Are there new bully times?
Yes, four games will take place on Saturday evenings in the coming season, with the traditional duel between the Kölner Haie and the Adler Mannheim taking place for the first time on September 30th. The main game times remain a game on Thursday evening, then Friday evening and Sunday afternoon and evening.
Will the World Cup silver push be gilded?
“We want to jump on the wave of success”DEL managing director Gernot Tripcke is hoping for a lot of tailwind from the World Cup silver in Tampere. Tripcke rejoices: “After the fantastic May, we feel greater acceptance, greater attention, there is a spirit of optimism.” The season ticket sales are “very good”also “Sponsoring is going well despite the difficult economic situation.”
How is the league doing economically?
The league is now back “on pre-corona”level“, Tripcke reported. The 15 clubs turned over 149 million euros last season, “a slight increase” compared to the 18/19 season, the last one before the pandemic. “Now we want to continue our growth that was interrupted by Corona”announced the DEL boss.
Who will fans be paying particular attention to?
The focus is on players such as national team captain Moritz Müller, goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger and the semi-final heroes Marcel Noebels and Frederik Tiffels. But fighters like Wojciech Stachowiak from Ingolstadt or Parker Tuomie from Straubing, who have previously been under the radar, are also moving into the spotlight.