View source for Austrian Hockey League

{{Infobox sports league
| logo        = ErsteBankEishockeyLigaLogo.gif
| pixels      = 126px
| caption     = Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
| current_season = 2018–19 Austrian Hockey League season
| sport       = [[Ice hockey]]
| founded     = 1923
| teams       = 12
| country     = {{AUT}}&nbsp;(8&nbsp;teams)<br>{{Flagicon|SLO}} [[Slovenia]]&nbsp;(1&nbsp;team)<br>{{HUN}}&nbsp;(1&nbsp;team)<br>{{CZE}}&nbsp;(1&nbsp;team)<br>{{ITA}}&nbsp;(1&nbsp;team)
| champion    = [[EC KAC]] 
| most_champs = [[EC KAC]] (31)
| ceo         = Karl Safron<ref>[http://sport.orf.at/?href=http%3A%2F%2Fsport.orf.at%2Fticker%2F340183.html Karl Safron neuer EBEL-Präsident]</ref>
| website     = [http://www.erstebankliga.at/en/ erstebankliga.at]
}}
The '''Austrian Hockey League''' (German:Österreichische Eishockey-Liga), called the '''Erste Bank Eishockey Liga''' (English:Erste Bank Hockey League) for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in [[Austria]].

==History==
The roots of the EBEL league go back to 1923 and various Championships, whose winner is officially recognized as the Austrian Champion. There was no Austrian competition in 1936, and between 1939 and 1945. During World War II, a number of Austrian teams competed in the German Ice Hockey Championship, which is why the EK Engelmann Wien and Vienna EV list German Championships in their history.

The league exists in today's form since the 1965-66 season. 

Until 2005-06 the league consisted solely of Austrian teams. Since then the league has added teams from [[Slovenia]] (starting 2006-07 and 2007–08), [[Hungary]] (starting 2007-08), [[Croatia]] (starting 2009-10 season), and the [[Czech Republic]] (starting in 2011-12).<ref>http://www.eurohockey.com/article/628-znojmo-to-join-austrian-ebel.html</ref> The non-Austian teams are competing for the "EBEL Champion" title. Only Austrian teams in this league are additionally eligible for the "Austrian Champion" title. The league has had different sponsors, and the current naming rights have been held by "Sparkasse Bank" and its Erste Bank brand since the 2003-04 season.

==EBEL Playoffs==
All Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs have been won by Austrian teams. The best non-Austrian team result is the [[HDD Olimpija Ljubljana]] managing to get into the finals in 2007-08 season, losing the EBEL championship to [[EC Red Bull Salzburg]].

In 2013-14, Italy's Bolzano Foxes became the first non-Austrian team to win the EBEL title when they beat the Salzburg Red Bulls 3 games to 2 in their best-of-five final. Such success is not unheard of for an Italian outfit, but previous similar results took place in the [[Alpenliga]] and the [[Six Nations Tournament]], standalone competitions whose postseason tournaments were distinct from the Austrian playoffs.

==Winter Classics==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Winter Classic
! Date
! Site
! Home Team
! Away Team
! Score
! Attendance
|-
|Klagenfurt 2015
|2015-01-03<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.orf.at/stories/2222517/2222516/ |title=VSV-Sieg in rasantem "Winter Classic" |website=Sport.ORF.at |date=2015-01-03 |accessdate=2017-03-05}}</ref>
|Wörthersee Stadion (football)
|[[EC KAC|KAC]]
|'''[[EC VSV|VSV]]'''
|1–4
|29,700
|-
|Šalata 2013
|2013-02-01<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croatiansports.com/?p=13071 |title=KHL MedvÅ¡Ä?ak Winter Classic |website=Croatiansports.com |date=2013-02-01 |accessdate=2017-03-05}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130205120521/http://www.erstebankliga.at/de/statistik/ergebnisse/detail/?game=16454]</ref>
|Šalata (hockey)
|[[KHL Medveščak Zagreb|Medveščak]]
|'''[[Vienna Capitals|Capitals]]'''
|1–2
|5,120
|-
|Šalata 2010
|2010-01-31<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121222120334/http://www.erstebankliga.at/de/statistik/ergebnisse/detail?game=12034]</ref>
|Šalata (hockey)
|'''[[KHL Medveščak Zagreb|Medveščak]]'''
|[[Vienna Capitals|Capitals]]
|4–3 (OT)
|4,600
|-
|Šalata 2010
|2010-01-29<ref>[https://archive.is/20131212205101/http://www.erstebankliga.at/de/statistik/ergebnisse/detail/?game=12028]</ref>
|Šalata (hockey)
|[[KHL Medveščak Zagreb|Medveščak]]
|'''[[EC VSV|VSV]]'''
|2–3
|4,600
|-
|Pula 2012
|2012-09-16<ref name="erstebankliga1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120920000316/http://www.erstebankliga.at/de/statistik/ergebnisse/detail/?game=15426]</ref>
|Pula Arena (amphitheatre)
|'''[[KHL Medveščak Zagreb|Medveščak]]'''
|[[Vienna Capitals|Capitals]]
|4–1
|7,130
|-
|Pula 2012
|2012-09-14<ref name="erstebankliga1"/>
|Pula Arena (amphitheatre)
|[[KHL Medveščak Zagreb|Medveščak]]
|'''[[HDD Olimpija Ljubljana|Olimpija]]'''
|1–2
|7,022
|-
|Klagenfurt 2010
|2010-01-09<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ktnv1.orf.at/stories/414895 |title=VSV gewann Open-Air-Spektakel gegen KAC - oesterreich.ORF.at |website=Ktnv1.orf.at |date= |accessdate=2017-03-05}}</ref>
|Wörthersee Stadion (football)
|[[EC KAC|KAC]]
|'''[[EC VSV|VSV]]'''
|1–3
|30,500
|}

==Teams==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! style="background:lightgrey" | Team
! style="background:lightgrey" | City/Area
! style="background:lightgrey" | Arena
! style="background:lightgrey" | Capacity
! style="background:lightgrey" | Founded
! style="background:lightgrey" | Joined EBEL
|-
! style="background:#DDDDFF" colspan=6 | Current Teams
|-
| '''[[Dornbirner EC]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Dornbirn]]
| [[Messestadion]]
| align=center | 4,270
| align=center | 1992
| align=center | 2012–13
|-
| '''[[Graz 99ers]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Graz]]
| [[Eisstadion Liebenau]]
| align=center | 4,050
| align=center | 1999
| align=center | 2000–01
|-
| '''[[HC TWK Innsbruck]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Innsbruck]]
| [[OlympiaWorld Innsbruck]]
| align=center | 7,212
| align=center | 1994
| align=center | 2012–13
|-
| '''[[EC KAC]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Klagenfurt]]
| [[Stadthalle (Klagenfurt)|Stadthalle Klagenfurt]]
| align=center | 5,500
| align=center | 1909
| align=center | 1923–24
|-
| '''[[EHC Black Wings Linz|Black Wings Linz]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Linz]]
| [[Donauhalle]]
| align=center | 3,800
| align=center | 1992
| align=center | 2000–01
|-
| '''[[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Salzburg]]
| [[Eisarena Salzburg]]
| align=center | 3,600
| align=center | 1977
| align=center | 2004–05
|-
| '''[[Vienna Capitals]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Vienna]]
| [[Albert Schultz Eishalle]]
| align=center | 7,022
| align=center | 2000
| align=center | 2001–02
|-
| '''[[EC VSV]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Villach]]
| [[Stadthalle (Villach)|Villacher Stadthalle]]
| align=center | 4,800
| align=center | 1923
| align=center | 1977–78
|-
| '''[[HDD Olimpija Ljubljana|Olimpija]]'''
| {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Ljubljana]]
| [[Tivoli Hall]]
| align=center | 7,000
| align=center | 1928
| align=center | 2007–08
|-
| '''[[Alba Volán Székesfehérvár|SAPA Fehérvár AV 19]]'''
| {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Székesfehérvár]]
| [[Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor Ice Hall]]
| align=center | 3,600
| align=center | 1960
| align=center | 2007–08
|-
| '''[[Orli Znojmo]]'''
| {{flagicon|CZE}} [[Znojmo]]
| [[Hostan Arena]]
| align=center | 5,500
| align=center | 1933
| align=center | 2011–12
|-
| '''[[Bolzano-Bozen Foxes|HC Bolzano]]'''
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bozen]]
| [[PalaOnda]]
| align=center | 7,220
| align=center | 1933
| align=center | 2013-14
|-
! style="background:#DDDDFF" colspan=6 | Notable Former Teams
|-
| '''[[VEU Feldkirch]]'''
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Feldkirch, Vorarlberg|Feldkirch]]
| [[Vorarlberghalle]]
| align=center | 5,200
| align=center | 1945
| align=center | 1967–68
|-
| '''[[HK Acroni Jesenice|Jesenice]]'''
| {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Jesenice, Jesenice|Jesenice]]
| [[Podmežakla Hall]]
| align=center | 5,900
| align=center | 1948
| align=center | 2006–07
|-
| '''[[KHL Medveščak|KHL Medveščak Zagreb]]'''
| {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Zagreb]]
| [[Dom Sportova]]
| align=center | 7,500
| align=center | 1961
| align=center | 2009–10
|-
|}

== Austrian Champions ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* 1923 Wiener EV
* 1924 Wiener EV
* 1925 Wiener EV
* 1926 Wiener EV
* 1927 Wiener EV
* 1928 Wiener EV
* 1929 Wiener EV
* 1930 Wiener EV
* 1931 Wiener EV
* 1932 Pötzleinsdorfer SK
* 1933 Wiener EV
* 1934 [[EC KAC|Klagenfurter]]
* 1935 [[EC KAC|Klagenfurter]]
* 1936 ''Not Played''
* 1937 Wiener EV
* 1938 EK Engelmann
* 1939-1945 ''Not played''
* 1946 EK Engelmann
* 1947 Wiener EV
* 1948 Wiener EV
{{col-break}}
* 1949 Wiener EG
* 1950 Wiener EG
* 1951 Wiener EG
* 1952 [[EC KAC|Klagenfurter]]
* 1953 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1954 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1955 [[EC KAC|Klagenfurter]]
* 1956 EK Engelmann
* 1957 EK Engelmann
* 1958 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1959 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1960 [[EC KAC]]
* 1961 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1962 Wiener EV
* 1963 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1964 [[EC KAC]]
* 1965 [[EC KAC]]
* 1966 [[EC KAC]]
* 1967 [[EC KAC]]
* 1968 [[EC KAC]]
{{col-break}}
* 1969 [[EC KAC]]
* 1970 [[EC KAC]]
* 1971 [[EC KAC]]
* 1972 [[EC KAC]]
* 1973 [[EC KAC]]
* 1974 [[EC KAC]]
* 1975 ATSE Graz
* 1976 [[EC KAC]]
* 1977 [[EC KAC]]
* 1978 ATSE Graz
* 1979 [[EC KAC]]
* 1980 [[EC KAC]]
* 1981 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 1982 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1983 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1984 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1985 [[EC KAC]]
* 1986 [[EC KAC]]
* 1987 [[EC KAC]]
* 1988 [[EC KAC]]
{{col-break}}
* 1989 [[Innsbrucker EV]]
* 1990 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1991 [[EC KAC]]
* 1992 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 1993 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 1994 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1995 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1996 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1997 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1998 [[VEU Feldkirch]]
* 1999 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 2000 [[EC KAC]]
* 2001 [[EC KAC]]
* 2002 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 2003 [[EHC Black Wings Linz|Black Wings Linz]]
* 2004 [[EC KAC]]
* 2005 [[Vienna Capitals]]
* 2006 [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
* 2007 [[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
* 2008 [[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
{{col-break}}
* 2009 [[EC KAC]]
* 2010 [[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
* 2011 [[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
* 2012 [[EHC Black Wings Linz|Black Wings Linz]]
* 2013 EC KAC
* 2014 Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL title winner {{Flagicon|ITA}} HC Bolzano)
* 2015 Red Bull Salzburg
* 2016 Red Bull Salzburg
* 2017 Vienna Capitals
* 2018 Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL title winner {{Flagicon|ITA}} HC Bolzano)
* 2019 EC KAC
{{Col-end}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:10em"|Club
! Winners
! Winning Years
|-
|  [[EC KAC]]
| <center>31
| 1934, 1935, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2004, '''2009''', '''2013''', '''2019'''
|-
| [[Wiener EV|Wiener EV / EG]]
| <center>17
| 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1962
|-
| [[VEU Feldkirch]]
| <center>9
| 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
|-
| [[Innsbrucker EV]]
| <center>7
| 1953, 1954,1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1989
|-
| [[EC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
| <center>7
| '''2007''', '''2008''', '''2010''', '''2011''','''2014*''', '''2015''', '''2016''', '''2018*'''
|-
| [[EC VSV|Villacher SV]]
| <center>6
| 1981, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2006
|-
| EK Engelmann
| <center>5
| 1936, 1938, 1946, 1956, 1957
|-
| [[ATSE Graz]]
| <center>2
| 1975, 1978
|-
| [[EHC Black Wings Linz|Black Wings Linz]]
| <center>2
| 2003, '''2012'''
|-
| [[Vienna Capitals]]
| <center>2
| 2005, '''2017'''
|-
| Pötzleinsdorfer SK
| <center>1
| 1932
|-
|}
'''bold''' - seasons in which league had teams outside Austria
<nowiki>*</nowiki> - seasons in which the Austrian Champion didn't win the EBEL title

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.erstebankliga.at/ Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL)]
*[http://www.eishockey.at/ Austrian Hockey Association (ÖEHV)]
*[http://www.eishockeyforum.com/ Multilanguage forum on Austrian Hockey]
*[http://icehockey.hu/index.php?pg=menu_99 Summary table in Hungarian at icehockey.hu]
*[http://www.wissenswertes.at/index.php?id=eishockey Information about Ice-hockey in Austria (German)]

{{Euro Leagues}}
{{Austrian Hockey League seasons}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]