Alps Hockey League
SportIce hockey
FoundedMay 21, 2016[1]
Inaugural season2016–17
No. of teams16
CountriesAustria (7 teams)
Italy (7 teams)
Slovenia (2 teams)
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)		Jesenice (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most titlesAsiago
Olimpija
(both 2 titles)
Related
competitions		Austrian Hockey League
Inter-National League
Serie A
Official websiteOfficial website

The Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in Central Europe. The league is made up of teams from Austria, Italy and Slovenia.[2] The league was established as a result of a merger between Serie A and the Inter-National League.

Formation

The Alps Hockey League was founded in spring 2016, and is a joint venture between the Austrian Ice Hockey Association, the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio, and the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. The three national governing bodies have stated that they are keen to ensure that the league is both of a high standard, and financially viable in the long term.[3] In addition, the league has also stated that it is open to teams from other nations, including the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia.[4]

Regarding players, each team can sign a maximum four foreign-born players. The AlpsHL operates on a points-based system, with each team having 36 points available, of which a maximum of 16 can be spent on foreign players.[5] As a result of this, the league aims to focus on the development of young players from the participating countries.[6]

Teams

In the 2023–24 season, the AlpsHL will consist of 16 teams, with 7 teams from Austria, 7 from Italy, and 2 from Slovenia.[7]

Alps Hockey League is located in AHL
Bregenzerwald
KAC Future Team
KAC Future Team
Kitzbühel
Lustenau
Red Bull Salzburg
Red Bull Salzburg
Steinbach Steel Wings Linz
Steinbach Steel Wings Linz
Zeller Eisbären
Cortina
Fassa
Gherdëina
Unterland Cavaliers
Unterland Cavaliers
Merano
Ritten
Wipptal
Celje
Jesenice
Location of the 2023–24 teams

Austria

Italy

Slovenia

Notes
  1. ^ Reserve team of KAC
  2. ^ Reserve team of Red Bull Salzburg
  3. ^ Reserve team of Steinbach Black Wings Linz

Alps Hockey League seasons

Season Champions Runners-up Series
2016–17 Italy Ritten Italy Asiago 4–1
2017–18 Italy Asiago Italy Ritten 4–3
2018–19 Slovenia Olimpija Italy Pustertal Wölfe 4–3
2019–20 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Slovenia Olimpija Italy Asiago 3–0
2021–22 Italy Asiago Slovenia Jesenice 3–2
2022–23 Slovenia Jesenice Italy Cortina 4–2

References

  1. ^ "Alps Hockey League, è ufficiale" (in Italian). May 21, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Red Bulls schicken B-Team in die Alps Hockey League" (in German). June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "AHL offiziell vorgestellt - Einschreibefrist endet am 15. Juni" (in German). May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "Tommaso Teofoli illustra i dettagli dell'Alps Hockey League" (in Italian). June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  5. ^ "Start der neuen Alps Hockey League" (in German). May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "Neue Liga präsentiert" (in German). May 30, 2016. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Alps Hockey League enters its eighth season". Alps Hockey League. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.

External links

Top-level ice hockey leagues
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