Eredivisie (ice hockey)
Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 1945 |
Ceased | 2015 |
Continent | Netherlands |
The Eredivisie ("Premier League") was, during its existence, the only professional
Teams
The league had many different teams during its existence. The financial viability of teams and availability of an arena often determined which cities participated in any given year. The teams in its final year of competition were:
Team | City | Arena |
---|---|---|
Eindhoven Kemphanen | Eindhoven | IJssportcentrum Eindhoven (cap. 1,700) |
HYS The Hague | The Hague | de Uithof (cap. 2,610) |
Geleen Eaters
|
Sittard-Geleen | Glanerbrook (cap. 1,200) |
Friesland Flyers
|
Heerenveen | Thialf (cap. 3,500) |
Destil Trappers
|
Tilburg | Stappegoor (cap. 2,500) |
HYC Herentals | Herentals | Bloso IJsbaan (cap. 1,200) |
Dordrecht Lions | Dordrecht | Sportboulevard Dordrecht(cap. 700) |
Format
The league's format changed from year to year depending on the number of teams and the format of the Dutch Cup Tournament. As an example, in the 2013-14 year, the league had a 36-game regular season, followed by a best-of five semi-finals amongst the top five qualifiers and a best-of-five final for the Dutch championship.
History
Formation
The Dutch ice hockey Eredivisie was formed after World War II, with teams in Amsterdam, The Hague and Tilburg. It suspended operations from 1950 to 1964, but has organized a season of competition annually ever since. Over the years the number of teams competing fluctuated between 3 and 10 (currently 7), and the number of games played in the regular season between 4 and 36.
Recent History
For the 2008-2009 Eredivisie season, the
For two seasons, 2010–11 and 2011–12, the league's regular season consisted of a tournament with several Belgian teams called the
For 2013-14, the Amsterdam G's, which replaced the Amstel Tijgers for 2011-2012 and 2013-2013, ceased operations after financial problems and back-to-back last place finishes, while the Dordrecht Lions began play in the Eredivisie. However, financial strains on several clubs and a wide disparity between the quality of the teams took a toll on competition and attendance. In 2015, the consistently strongest team of the league, Tilburg Trappers, joined the German Oberliga. This prompted the remaining teams of the Eredivisie to join with the top amateur teams in the Netherlands and Belgium to form the BeNe League, to provide greater financial stability and more balanced competition.
Other Leagues
In the Netherlands, below the Eredivisie was the Eerste Divisie (First Division), the country's top amateur ice hockey league. There was no relegation or promotion between the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. Some cities (such as Tilburg and The Hague) had hockey clubs operating a professional team in the Eredivisie and a separate amateur team in the Eerste Divisie. All other Dutch hockey leagues are recreational leagues. Dutch Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie teams competed against each other for the Dutch Cup, a tournament that was played before and during the Eredivisie regular season.
In Belgium, the Belgian National League operated as the league with the top Belgian teams, apart from HYC Herentals which played in the Eredivisie. Herentals competed in the Belgian Cup tournament but in the Dutch national championship tournament.
Upon the demise of the Eredivisie, the remaining Eredivisie teams merged with the Eerste Divisie and Belgian National League teams to form the BeNe League.
Champions
Dutch Eredivisie national champions since 1946:
Season | Winner |
---|---|
1945–46 | H.H.IJ.C. Den Haag |
1946–47 | T.IJ.S.C. Tilburg
|
1947–48 | H.H.IJ.C. Den Haag |
1948–49 | Not Played |
1949–50 | IJsvogels Amsterdam |
1950–64 | Not Played |
1964–65 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag |
1965–66 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag |
1966–67 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag |
1967–68 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag |
1968–69 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag |
1969–70 | S.IJ. Den Bosch |
1970–71 | Tilburg Trappers |
1971–72 | Tilburg Trappers |
1972–73 | Tilburg Trappers |
1973–74 | Tilburg Trappers |
1974–75 | Tilburg Trappers |
1975–76 | Tilburg Trappers |
1976–77 | Feenstra Verwarming Heerenveen
|
1977–78 | Feenstra Verwarming Heerenveen
|
1978–79 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen
|
1979–80 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen
|
1980–81 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen
|
1981–82 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen
|
1982–83 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen
|
1983–84 | Vissers Nijmegen |
1984–85 | Deko Builders Amsterdam
|
1985–86 | Lada GIJS Groningen |
1986–87 | IJ.H.C. Rotterdam Panda's |
1987–88 | Spitman Nijmegen |
1988–89 | Gunco Panda's Rotterdam
|
1989–90 | Gunco Panda's Rotterdam
|
1990–91 | Peter Langhout Reizen Utrecht |
1991–92 | Pro Badge Utrecht |
1992–93 | Flame Guards Nijmegen |
1993–94 | Couwenberg Trappers Tilburg |
1994–95 | Couwenberg Trappers Tilburg |
1995–96 | CVT Keuken Trappers Tilburg |
1996–97 | Fulda Tigers Nijmegen |
1997–98 | Van Heumen Tigers Nijmegen |
1998–99 | Agio Huys Tigers Nijmegen |
1999–2000 | Agio Huys Tigers Nijmegen |
2000–01 | Diamant Trappers Tilburg |
2001–02 | Boretti Tigers Amsterdam
|
2002–03 | Boretti Tigers Amsterdam
|
2003–04 | Amsterdam Bulldogs
|
2004–05 | Amsterdam Bulldogs
|
2005–06 | Hatulek Emperors Nijmegen |
2006–07 | Destil Trappers Tilburg |
2007–08 | Destil Trappers Tilburg |
2008–09 | HYS The Hague |
2009–10
|
Romijnders Devils Nijmegen |
2010–11 | HYS The Hague |
2011–12 | Ruijters Eaters Geleen
|
2012–13 | HYS The Hague |
2013–14 | Destil Trappers
|
2014–15 | Destil Trappers |
2015–16 | Friesland Flyers
|
2016–17 | Friesland Flyers
|
2017–18 | HYS The Hague |
Notable ex NHL players
Notable ex NHL coaches
References
- ^ Joseph Vito DeLuca (2014-10-31). "The State of Hockey in the Netherlands". Thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
- ^ "Dutch Hockey: Building the Game From the Inside Out". Thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.