2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
The 2nd hockey league was the second highest ice hockey league in Germany until 2013. 2013, it was replaced by the DEL 2. It was (as well as their successors) organized by the Hockey operating company. At the conclusion of season 2012/13 participated 13 teams.
Bundesliga 2 1973-1994
For the first time the 1973/74 season was the second- highest division the name 2nd Bundesliga. From 1973 to 1983, the 2nd Bundesliga was discharged single track. In the season 1981/82 the first time a preliminary round in the groups North and South and a national final was played. From the season 1983/84 Bundesliga 2 was divided into North and South, the best teams in each group played with the last of the Bundesliga relegation round one. From the 1990/91 season there was a common final round of the Bundesliga 2 with a direct climber, but 1992/93 again a single-track league.
The large number of bankruptcies of the second division in 1994, was one reason for the abolition of the second Bundesliga and the introduction of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga with 18 teams, but without promotion and relegation. The highest league below the DEL, the first league with the seasons north and south was created, which played off the amateur champion.
Bundesliga 2 1998-2013
After the DEL was completely dissolved by the Association DEB 1997, this, from 1998, its own Germany -wide professional league decided under the name Premier League to organize. Already in the 1997/98 season, played the first league of a common final. For the Bundesliga season 1998/1999 was the DEB - president and former coach of the Düsseldorf EC, Rainer Gossmann, in addition to the best teams in the first league, the Düsseldorf EC, which had withdrawn from the DEL, win. Masters were the mosquitoes food, which rose up in the following season in the DEL.
For the 1999/2000 season, the league was renamed after an agreement with the DEL in Bundesliga 2, the DEL has, since the name DEL - The 1st Bundesliga. The League began as the previous year with 16 teams, after a single round of playing the best teams in master round and play-offs the second division champions from the remaining teams played in relegation rounds with the best teams in the league.
After several bankruptcies club during the 2000/ 01 season, the Bundesliga 2 was reduced to twelve teams. Later, as the desired number of league 14 teams set. The clubs play a double round. The first eight games in subsequent play-offs from the master, who can apply for the DEL. In the seasons 2008/ 09 and 2009/10 so-called pre -play -offs were preceded, in which the teams playing off in places 7-10 in the Best of Three process, two play-off participants. The last four teams played in play- downs from the direct relegation.
For the season 2002/ 03 the organization of the 2nd Bundesliga from the German Ice Hockey Federation was outsourced to ESBG. Most teams in the 2nd Bundesliga since, as organized in the DEL, by corporations. The license remains with the respective original club. The ESBG through the licensing of the clubs. In spite of the audit, there were repeated bankruptcies and license denials:
- 2002, 2004, 2010 - SC Riessersee
- 2006 - Wolves Freiburg
- 2008 - Food mosquitoes
- 2009 - Tolz Lions
- 2013 - Hannover Indians
Marketing / TV
For the season 2006/ 07 a general sponsor was found and the league officially renamed ASSTEL Hockey League. The contract was ended but already after one season. Since the 2007/ 08 season the games of the second Hockey League in the nationwide free TV were seen. Sport 1 showed up to the end of the 2009/10 season every Saturday morning a half-hour magazine program about the top games of the Friday game day. This magazine has been set for 2010/11 season, as the club no longer wanted to participate in the financing.