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{{Infobox sports league
| logo          = BeNe League logo.png
| pixels        = 
| caption       = 
| current_season = 
| sport         = [[Ice hockey]]
| founded       = 2015
| teams         = 8
| tv            = 
| country       = {{BEL}} (4 teams)<br/>{{NED}} (3 teams)<br/>{{GER}} (2 teams)
| continent     = Europe
| champion      = [[Bulldogs de Liege]]
| most_champs   = 
| president     = Pascal Nuchelmans<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beneleague-icehockey.com/about |title= BeNe League :: About  |accessdate=June 17, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref>
| website       = [http://www.beneleague-icehockey.com/ www.beneleague-icehockey.com]
| related_comps = [[Belgian Hockey League]] <br/> [[Eredivisie (ice hockey)|Eredivisie]]
}}

The '''BeNe League''' (Nederlands: Beneliga) is the highest-level [[ice hockey]] league in [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]]. The league was founded in 2015, following a merger between the [[Belgian Hockey League]] and the Dutch [[Eredivisie (ice hockey)|Eredivisie]] and thus became the top tier of the sport in both nations. In terms of league structure, the BeNe League is made up of 11 teams, 6 from the Netherlands and a further 5 Belgium, which are split into 2 groups. The league features a mix of Belgian, Dutch, European and overseas players.

==Overview==
The BeNe League is made up of 16 teams, 10 based in the Netherlands and 6 based in Belgium, these 16 teams are split into two groups, each containing 5 Dutch teams and 3 Belgian teams. Each team plays a total of 22 games over the course of the regular season, they play each team in their division twice, as well as once against every team in the other division. Points are awarded in the following fashion, 3 points for a win, 2 for a win in overtime and 1 for an overtime loss.

At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams from each division qualify for the playoffs. The playoff quarterfinals are played over two legs, whilst the Semi-Final and Final are both played as a best of three series. The winner of the playoffs is then crowned the league victor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbihf.be/node/4425 |title= RBIHF BeNeLeague staat oppunt |date= 17 May 2015|accessdate=June 17, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> On top this the league also crowns National Champions from each country. The team that advances the furthest through the playoffs from each country is subsequently crowned as National Champion.

One of the Netherlands most successful ice hockey teams, the [[Tilburg Trappers]], announced that they would not be a part of the BeNe League, and would instead join the [[Oberliga]], the 3rd tier of ice hockey in Germany. They do however, operate a developmental team in the BeNe League in the form of Tilburg Trappers II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9867&cHash=96388f4587d62280e1d8fd5a65d19979 |title=Dutch champion in Germany |date= 12 June 2015|accessdate=June 19, 2016 |language=English}}</ref>
==History==
Following the 2009 season of the Belgian Hockey League, HYC Herentals and White Caps Turnhout decided to the join the Eredivisie, whilst the remaining 3 teams dropped down a division and played instead in the Belgian National League. This resulted in the [[North Sea Cup]] being played in place of both the Belgian Hockey League and the Eredivisie. Following the culmination of the [[2011–12 North Sea Cup season|2011-12 season]], in which White Caps Turnhout dropped out midway through the season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ijshockey.com/item/3962/update-turnhout-vertrekt-uit-north-sea-cup|title=Update: Turnhout vertrekt uit North Sea Cup|date=13 January 2012 |accessdate=June 23, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> followed by the Leuven Chiefs also stating they would be leaving the competition, it was announced that the Eredivisie would once again take place, and that HYC Herentals would participate. A reformed Belgian Hockey League, featuring both Leuven Chiefs, White Caps Turnhout, and former Belgian National League teams would also take place.

The Geleen Eaters released a statement via their website stating they were unsure if they would be able to compete in the 2014/15 Eredivisie due to lack of funding, which is an issue that also occurred the previous year. On August 26, 2014 Geleen stated that in order to participate in the upcoming season they would have to raise somewhere in the region of €60,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ijshockey.com/item/4946/situatie-weer-kritiek-in-geleen|title=Situatie weer kritiek in Geleen|date=26 August 2014 |accessdate=June 23, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref>

This was soon followed by an announcement that the Dodrecht Lions would be dropping down to the Eerst Divisie, and it was subsequently reported in September 2014 that the Eredivisie was in a state of Crisis due to the fact that the league was reduced to five participants. Furthermore, one of those five teams, Eindhoven Kemphanen, declared that they had no interest playing in a five team league, which potentially reduced the Eredivisie down to four teams for the 2014/15 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ijshockey.com/item/4959/crisis-rond-eredivisie-verdiept-zich |title= Crisis rond Eredivisie verdiept zich|date=5 September 2014 |accessdate=June 23, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref>

Eindhoven Kemphanen subsequently agreed to play in a 5 team league, which also featured Geleen Eaters, HYC Herentals, Heerenveen Flyers and Tilburg Trappers,<ref>{{cite web|url=
http://www.ijshockey.com/item/4971/kemphanen-haalt-vd-broek-binnen |title=Eredivisie begint met vijf teams|date=12 September 2014 |accessdate=June 23, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> and as a result the Eredivisie went ahead.

Following the difficulties both leagues had suffered in the recent years, the hockey federations of both nations worked in partnership, and on 12 June, 2015 it was announced that the Belgian Hockey League and the Eredivisie would merge in to the BeNe League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9867&cHash=96388f4587d62280e1d8fd5a65d19979 |title=Dutch champion in Germany |date= 12 June 2015|accessdate=June 19, 2016 |language=English}}</ref>

On 13 March 2016 it was announced that [[Groningen Grizzlies|GIJS Groningen]] would be joining the BeNe League from the Eerst Divisie bringing the number of teams up to 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/160599/GIJS-Groningen-speelt-volgend-jaar-sowieso-BeNe-league |title= GIJS Groningen speelt volgend jaar sowieso BeNe league|date=13 March 2016 |accessdate=June 19, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> It was subsequently announced on 16, June 2016 that the [[Dordrecht Lions]] would not be playing in the BeNe League for the upcoming season, instead dropping down a division to the Eerst Divisie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dordrechtlions.nl/news/368/133/ProClass-Lions-komend-seizoen-eerste-divisie |title= ProClass Lions komend seizoen eerste divisie|date=16 June 2016 |accessdate=June 19, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> 

==Teams==
The following teams will participate in the 2019/2020 BeNe League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beneleague-icehockey.com/clubs |title= BeNe League :: Clubs|access-date=October 14, 2019 |language=nl}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! style="background:#DDDDFF" colspan=7 | Current Teams
|-
! style="background:lightgrey" | Team
! style="background:lightgrey" | City
! style="background:lightgrey" | Arena
! style="background:lightgrey" | Capacity
! style="background:lightgrey" | Founded
|-
| '''[[Phantoms Deurne|Antwerp Phantoms]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Deurne, Belgium|Deurne]]
| [[IJsbaan Ruggerveld]]
| align=center | 500
| align=center | 1972
|-
| '''[[IHC Leuven]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Leuven]]
| [[IJsbaan Leuven]]
| align=center | 800
| align=center | 1993
|-
| '''[[Friesland Flyers|UNIS Flyers]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Heerenveen]]
| [[Thialf]]
| align=center | 3,500
| align=center | 1967
|-
| '''[[HYS The Hague|Hijs Hokij]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[The Hague]]
| [[De Uithof, The Hague|De Uithof]]
| align=center | 2,610
| align=center | 1933
|-
| '''[[HYC Herentals|Herentals HYC]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Herentals]]
| [[BLOSO IJsbaan]]
| align=center | 1,200
| align=center | 1971
|-
| '''[[Bulldogs Liège]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liège]]
| [[Patinoire de Liège]]
| align=center | 1,250
| align=center | 1997
|-
| '''[[Geleen Eaters|Laco Eaters]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Geleen]]
| [[Glanerbrook IJshal]]
| align=center | 1,200
| align=center | 1968
|-
| '''[[Mechelen Golden Sharks]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Mechelen]]
| [[Ice Skating Center Mechelen]]
| align=center | 1,000
| align=center | 2016
|-
| '''[[Nijmegen Devils]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Nijmegen]]
| [[Triavium]]
| align=center | 1,450
| align=center | 2007
|-
| '''[[Tilburg Trappers|Tilburg Trappers Jeugd]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Tilburg]]
| [[Stappegoor IJssportcentrum]]
| align=center | 2,500
| align=center | 2009
|-
| '''[[Zoetermeer Panthers|Hotwings Panters]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Zoetermeer]]
| [[Silverdome, Zoetermeer|Silverdome]]
| align=center | 3,500
| align=center | 2010
|}

===Former Teams===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! style="background:#DDDDFF" colspan=8 | Former Teams
|-
! style="background:lightgrey" | Team
! style="background:lightgrey" | City
! style="background:lightgrey" | Arena
! style="background:lightgrey" | Capacity
! style="background:lightgrey" | Founded
! style="background:lightgrey" | Joined BeNe
! style="background:lightgrey" | Left BeNe
|-
| '''[[Amsterdam Tigers]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Amsterdam]]
|[[Jaap Edenhal]]
| align=center | 1,300
| align=center | 1963
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2019–20
|-
| '''[[Dordrecht Lions]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Dordrecht]]
| [[Sportboulevard Dordrecht]]
| align=center | 1,500
| align=center | 1977
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2016–17
|-
| '''[[Eindhoven Kemphanen]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Eindhoven]]
| [[IJssportcentrum Eindhoven]]
| align=center | 1,700
| align=center | 1981
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2017–18
|-
| '''[[Groningen Grizzlies|GIJS Groningen]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Groningen]]
| [[Sportcentrum Kardinge]]
| align=center | 800
| align=center | 1969
| align=center | 2016–17
| align=center | 2017–18
|-
| '''[[Utrecht Dragons|IJCU Dragons Utrecht]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Utrecht]]
| [[De Vechtsebanen]]
| align=center | 4,000
| align=center | 2008
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | Before 2015–16<sup>1</sup>
|-
| '''[[Olympia Heist op den Berg]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Heist-op-den-Berg]]
| [[Die Swaene]]
| align=center | N/A
| align=center | 1959
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2016–17
|-
| '''[[Red Eagles 's-Hertogenbosch]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [['s-Hertogenbosch]]
| [[Sportiom 's-Hertogenbosch]]
| align=center | 7,220
| align=center | 1965
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2017–18
|-
| '''[[White Caps Turnhout|Turnhout Tigers]]'''
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Turnhout]]
| [[Kempisch IJsstadion]]
| align=center | 1,200
| align=center | 1981
| align=center | 2015–16
| align=center | 2016–17
|}

* <sup>1</sup> Utrecht withdrew their application in June 2015.

==Players==
The BeNe League relies heavily on Belgian and Dutch native players, and as a result the majority of players on the [[Belgian National Team|Belgian]] and [[Dutch National Team|Dutch]] national teams ply their trade in the BeNe League. Of the 18 players that featured for Belgium in the [[2016 IIHF World Championship Division II#Group A tournament|2016 IIHF World Championship]], 17 played in the BeNe League, whilst 13 of the 21-man Dutch team also played in the league.

Overseas players (termed ''imports'') are allowed in the league however, with each team being able to sign 2 imports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nijmegendevils.nl/bene-league-2015-2016/|title= BeNe League 2015-2016|date=20 May 2015 |accessdate=June 18, 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref> An import is defined as any player who is not eligible to play for either the Belgian or Dutch national teams. During the 2015–16 season, players representing 10 further countries played in the league, with nations such as Canada, Czech Republic, Finland and USA represented. Of the 12 North American players that played in the 2015-16 season, 8 had previously played in either the CIS or NCAA Division III
,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.eliteprospects.com/league_home.php?leagueid=703|title= BeNeLiga|accessdate=June 18, 2016}}</ref> with one (Trevor Hunt) having prior experience in the ECHL.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=38094|title= Trevor Hunt|accessdate=June 18, 2016}}</ref> In terms of prior European experience, players in the BeNe league have previously featured in the [[Czech Extraliga]], the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]] and the [[Slovak Extraliga]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.eliteprospects.com/league_home.php?leagueid=703|title= BeNeLiga|accessdate=June 18, 2016}}</ref>

==Champions==

{| class="wikitable"
! Season|| BeNe League Champion || Belgian Champion || Dutch Champion
|-
| [[2015-16 BeNe League season|2015-16]] || [[HYC Herentals|REPLAY HYC Herentals]] || REPLAY HYC Herentals || [[Friesland Flyers|UNIS Flyers Heerenveen]]
|-
| [[2016-17 BeNe League season|2016-17]] || [[Heerenveen Flyers|UNIS Flyers Heerenveen]] || REPLAY HYC Herentals || UNIS Flyers Heerenveen
|-
| [[2017-18 BeNe League season|2017-18]] || [[HYS The Hague|Hijs Hokij]] || REPLAY HYC Herentals || Hijs Hokij
|-
| [[2018-19 BeNe League season|2018-19]] || {{flagicon|BEL}} HYC Herentals || HYC Herentals || Nijmegen Devils
|-
| [[2019-20 BeNe League season|2019-20]] || ''No champion due to COVID-19 pandemic''
|-
| 2020-21 || ''Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic''
|-
| [[2021-22 BeNe League season|2021-22]] || {{flagicon|NED}} Heerenveen Flyers || Bulldogs de Liege || HYS The Hague
|-
| [[2022-23 BeNe League season|2022-23]] || {{flagicon|BEL}} Bulldogs de Liege || Bulldogs de Liege || HYS The Hague
|-
| [[2023-24 BeNe League season|2023-24]] || {{flagicon|BEL}} Bulldogs de Liege || Bulldogs de Liege || Heerenveen Flyers
|}

==See also==
* [[Belgian Hockey League]] 
* [[Eredivisie (ice hockey)|Eredivisie]]
* [[North Sea Cup]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.beneleague-icehockey.com/ BeNe League]
* [http://www.rbihf.be/ Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation]
* [http://www.nijb.nl/ Dutch Ice Hockey Board]

{{Euro Leagues}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]