Alpenliga

The Alps League was a transnational Hockey competition, which was attended by teams from Italy, Austria and Slovenia. It was a professional league, which was held in parallel to the respective state championships.

Foundation and History of the League

The Alps League was launched by the hockey associations in Austria, Italy and Slovenia to life in the summer of 1991. Due to the much broader field of participants and the international level of competition and player development should be promoted, while they sought the fans while providing attractive opponents. Although the state champions were played separately, the majority of the duration of a season was attributable to the Alps league so in nineties represented the de facto most important league in all three countries.

It took place in the 1991/92 season and for the last time in the 1998/99 season for the first time. The mode varied with the number of participating teams, usually a basic first passage and then a final tournament was held, which was attended by the four to eight best teams. The competition generally ended before Christmas, to give participating countries the opportunity to host the national championship in their own port. Only in recent years took the seasons also up over the new year also.

Reception by the public

Although the league certainly could offer attractive games, two issues were criticized by Hockey fans often. On one hand, the level of teams from Italy had fallen sharply after a strong start with three championship titles, resulting in a strong performance gap in the later sweeps. In the 1997/98 season no Italian team had participated in the competition. After Italy it was finally retired permanently from the competition in 1999 at the same time the death knell for the league.

The second criticism concerned the importance of the league. Away from the individual games was made that the national champion was determined in separate championships, bringing the Alps League was basically a Cup tournament. This resulted especially in later years, despite sporting good performance especially the Austrian team to a consistent audience loss.

Successor

After withdrawal of Italy was launched with the Inter- league followers, who recorded initially alongside Austria and Slovenia some teams from Hungary to the participants. The first edition of this league was also the last with Austrian participants, as the league system was reformed into Austria after this season (see Austrian Hockey League 2000/ 01). However, the Inter League grew to the east and stood for some years one of the major leagues in the area of Hungary and the former Yugoslavia dar.

Since the end of the Alpine League has been and will be discussed in Austria again and again on a new edition. As positive aspects, especially the sporty comparison with neighboring countries and a higher diversity of opponents are - which are compared with the higher travel costs and the partially relatively low interest of fans of the teams from Italy and Slovenia. However, the latter argument was partially invalidated since the participation of the HK Jesenice and HDD Olimpija Ljubljana in the Austrian Hockey League, as both teams are enjoying great popularity in the Austrian fans.

In the women's ice hockey was, however, created one of the Alps League corresponding league: the Elite Women's Hockey League.

Survey

A total of seven seasons were played. The successful team is the VEU Feldkirch in Austria that could win the title four times in a row. Ranked two of HC Bolzano in Italy is a league titles and three second places.

Season overview of the Alps League

HK Jesenice Slovenia | HDD Olimpija Ljubljana | HK Bled

HC Bozen Italy | WSV Sterzing Broncos | HC Merano | Asiago Hockey | SG Cortina | HC Alleghe | SHC Fassa | EV Bruneck | AC Milan | HC Milano Devils | HC Milano Saima | AS Varese Hockey | HC Gherdeina | HC Courmaosta | HC Fiemme Cavalese | USG Zoldo

Game times: 1991/92 | 1992/93 | 1993/94 | - | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | 1997/98 | 1998/99

• Hockey League ( Austria )
• Hockey League (Italy )
• Hockey League (Slovenia )
• Supranational Hockey League