EBEL/ICE Hockey League General Discussion (3 clubs added for 2021-22)

[Theokritos]

According with rumours confirmed by Dieter Knoll (general manager of HC Bolzano) there is a group of Canadian investors interested in joining the EBEL with a new team in Milano. The chances of building this new club are essentialy related with Milan being elected as host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Olympics hockey games are supposed to be hosted in a completely new arena, which would also become the new home of Milan.

Thank you.

Also per Dieter Knoll: After years of complaining about the officiating in EBEL, Znojmo is considering leaving the league now for the very same reason. The club management and the EBEL office are not on speaking terms, at the moment there is no communication between the two sides.

 

[Theokritos]

The league has now decided that Zagreb will not participate in the qualification round (=second stage of the season after the regular season and between the playoffs).

Another decision: in the next season the number of foreign players per team will effectively be reduced to nine 11. That is a pretty radical step for a league where some clubs are used to ice up to 13 foreigners.

 

[filip85]

The league has now decided that Zagreb will not participate in the qualification round (=second stage of the season after the regular season and between the playoffs).

Another decision: in the next season the number of foreign players per team will effectively be reduced to nine. That is a pretty radical step for a league where some clubs are used to ice up to 13 foreigners.

If I understood german well, that is the plan but within next four seasons ?!

Yes, thank God Medveščak won't play qualification round. Our players are already on their last legs, by playing in EBEL and IHL in same time.

So, another era of profesional hockey ended in Zagreb. Last time combination of political events (war, financial collaps of building company Gortan as main sponsor) were cause, this time greediness and lack of mid to long term vision as the main reasons. Medveščak did almost nothing for Croatian hockey, actually they left ruins, and situation in our hockey is worse than prior 2009.

 

[Theokritos]

If I understood german well, that is the plan but within next four seasons ?!

Yes, my bad. The number will be reduced to 11 right away and then it will be further reduced over the next years.

 

[TheWhiskeyThief]

According with rumours confirmed by Dieter Knoll (general manager of HC Bolzano) there is a group of Canadian investors interested in joining the EBEL with a new team in Milano. The chances of building this new club are essentialy related with Milan being elected as host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Olympics hockey games are supposed to be hosted in a completely new arena, which would also become the new home of Milan.

I wouldn’t call their current rink a dump, but I’ve seen better 3rd division rinks in Czechia. Having a slick website doesn’t make for a viable club at even the EBEL level. If they get an Olympic level arena they’d probably be better off in a Swiss league(though that will never happen.) That’s an overly broad footprint for travel at their budgets.

 

[kabidjan18]

Next year the limit is 11, then 10 for 2 years, then 9 the fourth year.

 

[Gianpaolo]

According with Bernd Freimueller on Twitter, foreign goalies may be count six in the EBEL point system. Currently any foreign players count four points.

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Reducing number of foreigners is a step in the right direction. Young local talents have hard time breaking into top 6 minutes required to develop into proper forward on that level, this should help a bit.

There are only 15 Austrians in top 100 in points!

Peter Schneider is 4th but he's a product of Czech and mostly American system, then you have older guys like Raffl, Lebler, Setzinger who are all older. Mario Huber is the best young local player, 22 years old, sitting in 47 place.

So Medvescak is playing his last EBEL game tomorrow...what is there to say, good luck in the future, hope you come to Alps League soon.

 

[Theokritos]

Maximum number of "import" players as planned by EBEL:

Note that this includes imports who are U20. Those only cost 2 points while all imports who are older cost 4 points. Clubs are allowed to sign up to three U20 imports, that's why they could still have 12 imports next season. For imports over that age, 11 players is the effective cap in 2019-2020.

 

[filip85]

So Medvescak is playing his last EBEL game tomorrow...what is there to say, good luck in the future, hope you come to Alps League soon.

I just can't see it happening.

 

[Gianpaolo]

I'm a little bit wondering about EBEL management non caring about the plenty of Italian Canadian players Bolzano can pick up from. This is a huge advantace over all the other clubs in the league, because no other country represented in the EBEL had so much immigration to America.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I'm a little bit wondering about EBEL management non caring about the plenty of Italian Canadian players Bolzano can pick up from. This is a huge advantace over all the other clubs in the league, because no other country represented in the EBEL had so much immigration to America.

They probably assume Bolzano's budget is a limitation big enough. Also it's good for international leagues to have good teams from multiple countries rather than be dominated by a single nation and others being there just for show (aka the KHL model).

 

[filip85]

I just can't see it happening.

And it is confirmed on croatian televison, Medvescak will play Slo league (IntHL) in next two seasons.

 

[HungryFrank]

And it is confirmed on croatian televison, Medvescak will play Slo league (IntHL) in next two seasons.

so from KHL to beer league in two seasons, basically.

 

[HungryFrank]

EBEL point system explained [German]

 

[Kiraly]

Reducing number of foreigners is a step in the right direction. Young local talents have hard time breaking into top 6 minutes required to develop into proper forward on that level, this should help a bit.

There are only 15 Austrians in top 100 in points!

Peter Schneider is 4th but he's a product of Czech and mostly American system, then you have older guys like Raffl, Lebler, Setzinger who are all older. Mario Huber is the best young local player, 22 years old, sitting in 47 place.

...also have two young Hungarians and a Slovenian in the top 35.

 

[Theokritos]

EBEL point system explained [German]

The monstrosities of this system seem to serve one main purpose: to obscure the fact that it violates EU law.

 

[filip85]

so from KHL to beer league in two seasons, basically.

Yes, and I am afraid it will take much more than last time to see "pro" Medvescak again.

 

[Gianpaolo]

The monstrosities of this system seem to serve one main purpose: to obscure the fact that it violates EU law.

It's not so much obviously that EU (or even national) work law is violated. Christoph Harand, an Austrian player, decided to take legal procedures for discrimination against the EBEL management because he was released from a professional tryout contract. Unfortunately the court came to the conclusion he was not discriminated through the point system. It's pretty hard to prove that the point system was the only one reason for not to sign a player.

 

[Theokritos]

It's not so much obviously that EU (or even national) work law is violated. Christoph Harand, an Austrian player, decided to take legal procedures for discrimination against the EBEL management because he was released from a professional tryout contract. Unfortunately the court came to the conclusion he was not discriminated through the point system.

Well, obviously Austrians aren't subject to discrimination through the point system in Austria. Foreign EU citizens are.

 

[Theokritos]

Despite of their strong CHL performance, Salzburg is in shambles in EBEL. After an up-and-down season with strong and weak stretches, they have finished 4th in the main stage of the regular season, their worst rank since 2012-2013. Now they received a sound beating at the hands of KAC, 2-6, and they look nothing like contenders.

 

[Theokritos]

After Zagreb, Znojmo has also decided to not participate in EBEL anymore. Thus, the league should contract from 12 to 10 teams next season. However, Feldkirch have submitted a bid to join, so there could be 11 teams.

 

[Theokritos]

QF matches:

Vienna - Znojmo
Graz - Linz
Klagenfurt - Bolzano
Fehervar - Salzburg

Bolzano and Salzburg have both sacked their coaches, but I can't see them turning it around. Vienna are definitely the team to beat after their dominant run in the second stage. I expect them to meet either Graz or Klagenfurt in the final, though neither should be able to challenge them in a playoff series.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Vienna is having a relatively tough time against Znojmo so far but it's very early. Other than that, I think Klagenfurt has a real chance this year.

 

[Theokritos]

Vienna and Klagenfurt advance in 5 games. Graz and Salzburg are ahead 3-2.