Dear Friends of ice hockey!

HCB Südtirol Alperia made history last season with earning the title for the second time after an incredible comeback 2017/18. Bolzano were at the bottom of the table during the regular season, but the foxes managed to get into the playoffs with big effort as the eight and last club. And watch out: In the post season, nobody could stop them as they earned the title as the first team ranked on place 8 after the reguar season. It also shows the high status of the ICE Hockey League, that more than one million fans came to the arenas for the ninth consecutive time.

On September 14th 2018, twelve teams from five different nations (AUT, CRO, HUN, ITA and CZE) will again start the new season, with the goal to end on top. The regular season will be played with 44 games for each side until the Intermediate Round starts. The six best-placed teams will fight in the Pickround for the right to pick their opponent in the quarterfinals, while the places seven to twelve will battle for the last two spots in the playoffs (Qualification Round). Then, the playoffs start, where the quarterfinals as well as the semifinals and final will be decided best of seven. We can look forward to great live broadcasts for the whole season once again as it is the third year of the partnership with ServusTV and Sky. Last campaign has shown that extremely successful digital ratings can be posted with hockey, too.

Besides winning the championship of Erste Bank Eishockey League the twelve teams are also fighting for the qualification for Champions Hockey League.

The beginning of the new hockey season has already be set by the younger players as the teams in ICE Hockey League Juniors League and Erste Bank Young Stars are already fighting for points.

As a platform for young talents and missing link to ICE Hockey League, Alps Hockey League (AHL) started an additional era in international hockey two years ago. New member of this League is Hockey Milano Rossoblu. The Italians are the first club from a megacity participating in the Championship 2018-19. The mode has changed a little, having 12 teams qualified for the playoffs for the first time 2019. The Top 4 will directly go to the Quarterfinals, while the teams placed 5 to 12 will play a pre playoff off (best of three).

Again we can all look forward to four exciting championships this year for sure. I wish all teams involved an injury-free and successful season 2018-2019.

Dr. Peter Mennel
President ICE Hockey League