Swiss Women's Hockey League
| Leistungsklasse A Ligue nationale A Lega Nazionale A | |
| Sport | Women's ice hockey |
| Founded | 1986 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country(ies) |  Switzerland
|
| Most recent champion(s) | ZSC Lions |
| Most championship(s) | ZSC Lions (12 titles) |
| Official website | Official website |
The Switzerland women's ice hockey league (German: Leistunsklasse A (LKA), French: Ligue nationale A (LNA), Italian: Lega Nazionale A) is an amateur women's ice hockey league in Switzerland. It is the top tier in the Swiss women's hockey league system and is organized by the Regio League, an organ of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation in charge of organizing amateur hockey in Switzerland.
History
With the creation of several women's ice hockey clubs in the early 1980s, the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation incorporates this aspect of hockey in its organisation in 1984. During the 1985–86 season, an unofficial championship was played. The following season, the first official championship, called Leistunsklasse A, was played, won by EHC Kloten's women's team, the Kloten Specials.
With the growing interest, a second tier is established from the 1988–89 season. Two years later, foreign players are allowed to play. Several big names in women's hockey then come play in Switzerland such as Andria Hunter, Riikka Nieminen and France St. Louis to name a few. The arrival of imports coincides with the domination of SC Lyss who won four titles in five years. The women's section had become an independent club, the DHC Lyss, when they won their fourth titles in 1997. In 1995, a third division was introduced.
From the 2001–02 edition onward, a final four tournament is held to determine a champion. The then reigning champion SC Reinach retains its crown before winning a third in a row the following season with only a 9 players squad. Since the 2005–06 season, playoffs have been introduced. The HC Lugano Ladies Team proved to be the best with this format, winning four titles in five years.[1]
Previous winners
- 1986–87 – EHC Kloten Specials
- 1987–88 – EHC Kloten Specials
- 1988–89 – Grasshopper-Club Zurich
- 1989–90 – Grasshopper-Club Zurich
- 1990–91 – Grasshopper-Club Zurich
- 1991–92 – EHC Bülach
- 1992–93 – SC Lyss
- 1993–94 – DHC Langenthal
- 1994–95 – SC Lyss
- 1995–96 – SC Lyss
- 1996–97 – DHC Lyss
- 1997–98 – EV Zug
- 1998–99 – EV Zug
- 1999-00 – DSC Saint-Gall
- 2000–01 – SC Reinach
- 2001–02 – SC Reinach
- 2002–03 – SC Reinach
- 2003–04 – EV Zug
- 2004–05 – EV Zug
- 2005–06 – HC Lugano
- 2006–07 – HC Lugano
- 2007–08 – DHC Langenthal
- 2008–09 – HC Lugano
- 2009–10 – HC Lugano
- 2010–11 – ZSC Lions [2]
- 2011–12 – ZSC Lions
- 2012–13 – ZSC Lions
- 2013–14 – HC Lugano
- 2014–15 – HC Lugano
- 2015–16 – ZSC Lions
- 2016–17 – ZSC Lions
- 2017–18 – ZSC Lions
- 2018–19 – HC Lugano
- 2019–20 – not finished
- 2020–21 – Ladies Team Lugano
- 2021–22 – ZSC Lions Frauen
- 2022–23 – ZSC Lions Frauen
- 2023–24 – ZSC Lions Frauen
Titles by team
| Team | Titles | Last title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZSC Lions Frauen (prev. Grasshopper Club Zürich) | 12 | 2024 |
| 2 | HC Ladies Lugano | 8 | 2021 |
| 3 | EV Zug | 4 | 2005 |
| – | DHC Lyss (earlier known as SC Lyss) | 4 | 1997 |
| 5 | SC Reinach | 3 | 2003 |
| 6 | DHC Langenthal | 2 | 2008 |
| – | EHC Kloten Specials | 2 | 1988 |
| 8 | DSC St. Gallen | 1 | 2000 |
| – | EHC Bülach | 1 | 1992 |
Others women's competitions in Switzerland
Second division
The Leistungsklasse B (LKB), also known as the Ligue nationale B (LNB) in French and as the Lega Nazionale B in Italian, is the second tier of the Swiss women's hockey league system. The league currently consists of eight teams.
Champions:
- 2023-24: EV Zug
- 2022-23: Fribourg-Gotteron
- 2021-22: HC Ambri-Piotta
- 2020-21: no champion
- 2019-20: SC Langenthal
- 2018-19: Brandis Juniors
- 2017-18: SC Langenthal
- 2016-17: GCK Lions
- 2015-16: Brandis Juniors
- 2014-15: Brandis Juniors
- 2013-14: HC Fribourg
- 2012-13: SC Weinfelden
- 2011-12: SC Weinfelden
- 2010-11: HC Université Neuchâtel
- 2009-10: SC Weinfelden
- 2008-09: HC Université Neuchâtel
- 2007-08: EHC Bienne
- 2006-07: EHC Viege
- 2005-06: EV Thun
- 2004-05: Illnau/Effretikon
- 2003-04: SC Langenthal
- 2002-03: Zoug/Seewen
- 2001-02: Zoug/Seewen
- 2000-01: SC Langenthal
- 1999-00: HC Lugano
- 1998-99: SC Langenthal
- 1997-98: EHC Illnau-Effretikon
- 1996-97: DEHC Biel
- 1995-96: SC Reinach
- 1994-95: DEHC Biel
- 1993-94: EHC Marzili-Langasse
- 1992-93: EHC St. Gallen
- 1991-92: DHC Langenthal
- 1990-91: EV Zug
- 1989-90: HC Bergun
- 1988-89: SC Langenthal
Third division
The Leistungsklasse C (LKC), also known as the Ligue nationale C (LNC) in French and as the Lega Nazionale C in Italian, is the third tier of the Swiss women's hockey league system. It is divided in three regional pools. Each pool winner qualify then for the finals. The team finishing first is declared LKC champion and is promoted in LKB.
Champions:
- 2023-24: EHC Worb
- 2022-23: DHC Lyss
- 2021-22: Lausanne HC
- 2020-21: no champion
- 2019-20: HC Ambri-Piotta
- 2018-19: HC Wisle
- 2017-18: EHC Sursee
- 2016-17: Wil
- 2015-16: SC Langenthal
- 2014-15: CP Meyrin
- 2013-14: HC Saint-Imier
- 2012-13: HC Prilly
- 2011-12: HC Fribourg
- 2010-11: HC Chiasso
- 2009-10: EHC Napf
- 2008-09: SC Weinfelden
- 2007-08: EHC Wallisellen (Group 1), EHC Laufen (Group 2), HC La Chaux-de-Fonds (Group 3)
- 2006-07: EHC Wallisellen (Group 1), EHC Grachwil (Group 2), HC Université Neuchâtel (Group 3)
- 2005-06: SC Celerina
- 2004-05: SC Rapperswil-Jona (Group 1), DHC Lyss II (Group 2), EHC Viege (Group 3)
- 2003-04: HC Fribourg-Gotteron
- 2002-03: ZSC Lions
- 2001-02: EHC Bâle-Petit-Huningue
- 2000-01: EHC Berne 96
- 1999-2000: SC Weinfelden
- 1998-99: EHC Seewen
Fourth division
The Leistungsklasse D (LKD), also known as the Ligue nationale D (LND) in French and as the Lega Nazionale D in Italian, is the fourth and lowest tier of the Swiss women's hockey league system.
- 2023-24: EHC Thun
- 2022-23: HC Saint-Imier
- 2021-22: Dragon Queens Wiki
- 2020-21: no champion
- 2019-20: SC Weinfelden II
- 2018-19: HC Ambri-Piotta
Swiss Women's Cup
It is also called Ochsner Hockey Swiss Women Cup for sponsorship reason.
- 2005–06 – HC Lugano
- 2006–07 – No cup
- 2007–08 – DHC Langenthal
- 2008–09 – ZSC Lions
- 2009–10 – DHC Langenthal
- 2010–11 – ZSC Lions [3]
- 2011–12 – ZSC Lions
- 2012–13 – ZSC Lions
- 2013–14 – ZSC Lions
- 2014–15 – not played
- 2015–16 – ZSC Lions
- 2016–17 – HC Lugano
- 2017–18 – ZSC Lions
- 2018–19 – ZSC Lions
- 2019-20 – ZSC Lions
- 2020-21 – not awarded
- 2021-22 – HC Lugano
- 2022-23 – ZSC Lions
- 2023-24 – SC Bern
References
- ↑ (German) History of women's ice hockey in Switzerland by Barbara Müller.
- ↑ Life the Dream, The ZSC Lions Are Crowned Swiss Champions, http://www.womenshockeylife.com/blogs_view_dsp.cfm?BlogId=265&CatId=6
- ↑ Live the Dream, The ZSC Lions Are Crowned Swiss Champions, http://www.womenshockeylife.com/blogs_view_dsp.cfm?BlogId=265&CatId=6 , April 10, 2011.
| Swiss Women's Hockey League seasons |
|---|
| 1986–87 - 1987–88 - 1988–89 - 1989–90 - 1990–91 - 1991–92 - 1992–93 - 1993–94 - 1994–95 - 1995–96 - 1996–97 - 1997–98 - 1998–99 - 1999–2000 - 2000–01 - 2001–02 - 2002–03 - 2003–04 - 2004–05 - 2005–06 - 2006–07 - 2007–08 - 2008–09 - 2009–10 - 2010–11 - 2011–12 - 2012–13 - 2013–14 - 2014–15 - 2015–16 - 2016–17 - 2017–18 - 2018–19 - 2019–20 - 2020–21 - 2021–22 - 2022–23 - 2023–24 |