View source for Metal Ligaen

{{Infobox Sports league
| title          = Metal Ligaen
| current_season =
| last_season    =
| logo           = Metal Ligaen.png
| pixels         = <!-- use a format of ##px, such as 120px -->
| caption        =
| Formerly       =
| sport          = Ice hockey
| founded        = 1954
| fame           =
| motto          =
| inaugural      =
| teams          = 11
| country        = [[Denmark]]
| venue          =
| champion       = [[Aalborg Pirates]] (2)
| most_champs    = [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning]] (16)
| qualification  =
| folded         =
| website        = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/
| singles        =
| ceo            =
| Director       =
| TV             =
| related_comps  =
| Founder        =
}}
'''Metal Ligaen''' is the premier league in [[Denmark|Danish]] ice hockey. The teams are semi-professional with only the best Danish and foreign players being fully professional.

== History ==
It is also known as '''Superisligaen''' or '''Eliteserien''', which is the name used in the past and in times where no naming rights agreement is in place. On January 1, 2014 Danish Metal (Dansk Metal) became a sponsor of the Danish ice hockey league, which changed the name to '''Metal Ligaen''', replacing the previous name '''AL-Bank Ligaen''' which was named for the sponsorship deal with the Danish bank Arbejdernes Landsbank. 

The Danish ice hockey league has become one of the better leagues in Europe, often compared to leagues such as the Swedish [[HockeyAllsvenskan]] and the [[DEL2]]. The league is more of a springboard for foreign players and a place to start their European careers, before traveling to other bigger leagues such as the [[Swedish Hockey League]] or [[Deutsche Eishockey Liga|DEL]]. The teams rely mostly on foreign talent, but there is still a lot of skilled professional Danish players. It is mostly the older Danish players, who are full-time professional. Most younger players are semi-professional because of the tight economy in Danish hockey and most of the money is spend on more talented foreign players.

In the past, the league has consisted of as many as 10 teams. Despite the introduction of a salary cap as well as a limit to the number of import players allowed, several teams have struggled financially in recent years. As a result, the [[Herlev Hornets]] and the [[Rungsted Cobras]] have withdrawn from the league, reducing the number of active teams from 10 to 8. Teams from the second tier league were offered the empty spots, but no team were able to accept the offer, citing financial issues as their main concern.

On June 18, 2016 it was made clear that the foreign player limit of 8, was against EU law and it was therefore removed. The 2016-17 season will be the first time, since 2009, that a Danish icehockey team can have an unlimited amount of foreign players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faceoff.dk/i-dag-ryger-udlaendingeloftet/|title=Farvel til udlændingeloftet i dansk ishockey – Faceoff.dk|website=www.faceoff.dk|access-date=2016-07-10}}</ref> The salary cap was created to regulating the league. The salary cap of the 2016-17 season, is 6 million DKK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faceoff.dk/liga-klubber-faar-tildelt-egenkapital-frem-til-2019-loenloft-stadig-seks-millioner/|title=Liga-klubber får tildelt egenkapital frem til 2019 – lønloft stadig seks millioner – Faceoff.dk|website=www.faceoff.dk|access-date=2016-07-10}}</ref>

On June 3, 2017, Metal Ligaen was expanded once again, to an historic number of 11 teams. Hvidovre Fighters, who had previously left the league in 2013 because of bankruptcy, got their submitted papers approved, making them the 11th team of the 2017/18 season

== Teams ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|+
! Team
! City/Area
! Founded
! Arena
!Capacity
!Opened
|-
| '''[[Aalborg Pirates]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6353 | title = Aalborg Pirates | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Aalborg]]
| 1967
| [[Gigantium]]
|5000
|2007
|-
| '''[[Esbjerg Energy]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6358 | title = Esbjerg Energy | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Esbjerg]]
| 1964
| [[Granly Hockey Arena]]
|4200
|1976
|-
| '''[[Frederikshavn White Hawks]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6356 | title = Frederikshavn White Hawks | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Frederikshavn]]
| 1964
| [[Scanel Hockey Arena]]
|4000
|2015
|-
| '''[[Herning Blue Fox]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6351 | title = Blue Fox Herning | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Herning]]
| 1947
| [[KVIK Hockey Arena]]
|4100
|1988
|-
| '''[[Herlev Eagles]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6354 | title = Herlev Eagles | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Herlev]]
| 1968
| [[DFDS Seaways Arena]]
|1740
|1977
|-
| '''[[Odense Bulldogs]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6350 | title = Bulldogs Odense | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Odense]]
| 1978
| [[Bryggeriet Vestfyens Arena]]
|3280
|1999
|-
| '''[[Rungsted Ishockey]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6352 | title = Rungsted Ishockey | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Rungsted]]
| 1941
| [[Hørsholm Skøjtehal]]
|2460
|1971
|-
| '''[[Rødovre Mighty Bulls]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6355 | title = Rødovre Mighty Bulls | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Rødovre]]
| 1964
| [[Rødovre Skøjte Arena]]
|3600
|1995
|-
| '''[[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]''' <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.al-bankligaen.dk/Hold.ASPX?HoldID=6357 | title = SønderjyskE | publisher = al-bankligaen.dk | accessdate = 2013-11-12}}</ref>
| [[Vojens]]
| 1963
| SE Arena
|5000
|2011
|-
|'''[[Copenhagen Hockey|Hvidovre Fighters]]'''
|[[Hvidovre]]
|1966
|Allan Villadsen Arena 
|2000
|1979
|}

== Danish Champions ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|'''Season'''
|'''Winner'''
|'''Finalist'''
|'''Bronze'''
|-
!1955
| Rungsted IK
| KSF København
| Silkeborg
|-
!1956
| KSF København
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| ''not played''
|-
!1957–1959
| ''not played''
| ''not played''
| ''not played''
|-
!1960
| KSF København
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| Silkeborg
|-
!1961
| KSF København
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1962
| KSF København
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| ''not played''
|-
!1963
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| KSF København
|-
!1964
| KSF København
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1965
| KSF København
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| Gladsaxe SF
|-
!1966
| KSF København
| Gladsaxe SF
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1967
| Gladsaxe SF
| KSF København
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1968
| Gladsaxe SF
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
|-
!1969
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| Gladsaxe SF
| [[SønderjyskE (ice hockey)|Vojens IK]]
|-
!1970
| KSF København
| Gladsaxe SF
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1971
| Gladsaxe SF
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1972
| KSF København
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| Gladsaxe SF
|-
!1973
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| KSF København
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
!1974
| Gladsaxe SF
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1975
| Gladsaxe SF
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1976
| KSF København
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1977
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1978
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| KSF København
| [[SønderjyskE (ice hockey)|Vojens IK]]
|-
!1979
| [[SønderjyskE (ice hockey)|Vojens IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[AaB Ishockey|Aalborg IK]]
|-
!1980
| [[SønderjyskE (ice hockey)|Vojens IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[AaB Ishockey|Aalborg IK]]
|-
!1981
| [[AaB Ishockey|Aalborg IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
|-
!1982
| [[SønderjyskE (ice hockey)|Vojens IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
|-
!1983
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
| [[Herlev Hornets|Herlev IK]]
|-
!1984
| [[Herlev Hornets|Herlev IK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
|-
!1985
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1986
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1987
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1988
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| ''no playoff''
| ''no playoff''
|-
!1989
| [[Frederikshavn White Hawks|Frederikshavn IK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
|-
!1990
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Frederikshavn White Hawks|Frederikshavn IK]]
|-
!1991
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
|-
!1992
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
|-
!1993
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls|Rødovre SIK]]
|-
!1994
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Aalborg IK]]
|-
!1995
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
|-
!1996
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
|-
!1997
| [[Herning Blue Fox|Herning IK]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
|-
!1998
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Rungsted IK]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
!1999
| [[Rødovre SIK | Rødovre Mighty Bulls]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
! [[1999–2000 Codan Ligaen season|2000]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
|-
! [[2000–01 Codan Ligaen season|2001]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Esbjerg IK]]
| [[Rødovre SIK | Rødovre Mighty Bulls]]
|-
! [[2001–02 Sanistål Ligaen season|2002]]
| [[Rungsted IK | Rungsted Cobras]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
|-
! [[2002–03 SuperBest Ligaen season|2003]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
| [[Rungsted IK | Rungsted Cobras]]
|-
! [[2003–04 SuperBest Ligaen season|2004]]
| [[Esbjerg IK | Esbjerg Oilers]]
| [[Aalborg IK | Aab Ishockey]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
|-
! [[2004–05 Oddset Ligaen season|2005]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Aalborg IK | Aab Ishockey]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
! [[2005–06 Oddset Ligaen season|2006]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] 
| [[Aalborg IK | Aab Ishockey]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
|-
! [[2006–07 Oddset Ligaen season|2007]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Aalborg IK | Aab Ishockey]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] 
|-
! [[2007–08 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2008]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] 
|-
! [[2008–09 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2009]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] 
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Rødovre SIK | Rødovre Mighty Bulls]]
|-
! [[2009–10 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2010]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] 
| [[Aalborg IK | Aab Ishockey]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
! [[2010–11 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2011]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]
|-
! [[2011–12 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2012]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]
|-
! [[2012–13 AL-Bank Ligaen season|2013]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
|-
! [[2013–14 Metal Ligaen season|2014]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]
| [[Herning IK | Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Odense IK | Odense Bulldogs]]
|-
! [[2014–15 Metal Ligaen season|2015]]
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]]
| [[Esbjerg IK | Esbjerg Energy ]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK | Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
! [[2015–16 Metal Ligaen season|2016]]
| [[Esbjerg Energy]]
| [[Herning IK|Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK|Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
! [[2016–17 Metal Ligaen season|2017]]
| [[Esbjerg Energy]]
| [[Gentofte Stars]]
| [[Frederikshavn IK|Frederikshavn White Hawks]]
|-
! [[2017–18 Metal Ligaen season|2018]]
| [[Aalborg Pirates]]
| [[Herning Blue Fox]]
| [[Nordsjælland Cobras|Rungsted Seier Capital]]
|-
|}

===By club===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:10em"|Club
! Winners
! Winning Years
|-
| [[Herning Blue Fox]] (earlier known as Herning IK)
| <center>16</center>
| 1973, 1977, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
|-
| KSF København
| <center>10</center>
| 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1976
|-
| [[SønderjyskE Ishockey]] (earlier known as Vojens IK)
| <center>9</center>
| 1979, 1980, 1982, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015
|-
| [[Esbjerg Energy]] (earlier known as Esbjerg Oilers and Esbjerg IK)
| <center>7</center>
| 1969, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2016, 2017
|-
| [[Rødovre Mighty Bulls]] (earlier known as Rødovre SIK)
| <center>6</center>
| 1978, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1999
|-
| [[Gladsaxe SF]]
| <center>5</center>
| 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975
|-
| [[Rungsted IK|Rungsted Cobras]] (earlier known as Rungsted IK)
| <center>3</center>
| 1955, 1963, 2002
|-
| [[Aalborg Pirates]] (earlier known as Aalborg IK)
| <center>2</center>
| 1981, 2018
|-
| [[Frederikshavn White Hawks]] (earlier known as Frederikshavn IK)
| <center>2</center>
| 1989, 2000
|-
| [[Herlev Eagles|Herlev Hornets]] (earlier known as Herlev IK)
| <center>1</center>
| 1984
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hockeyligaen.dk League website]

{{Euro Leagues}}
{{AL-Bank Ligaen}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]