National League
| National League | |
| 2018–19 NL season | |
| |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1999 |
| CEO | Marc Furrer |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country(ies) | Switzerland |
| Most recent champion(s) | SC Bern |
| Most championship(s) | HC Davos (31) |
| TV partner(s) | SRG Teleclub |
| Official website | www.nationalleague.ch |
| Related competitions | National League B |
The National League (NL) is a professional ice hockey league in Switzerland. It is the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system and of the two-tier National League. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the league was officially called National League A. The NL has the most attended hockey club in Europe, SC Bern, and is also the second most attended league within the same continent, only surpassed by the Swedish Elitserien.[1]
Season structure
During the regular season, each of the 12 teams play 50 games. The top eight teams after the regular season qualify for the playoffs to determine the Swiss champion in best-of-seven series. The bottom four teams in the standings play a relegation tournament, called playouts, in which each team retains their regular season points and play an additional six matches. Following those matches, the two bottom ranked teams will play each other in a best-of-seven series, with the loser then playing the winner of the Swiss League playoffs in a best-of-seven series for a spot in the successive NL season.[2]
Current teams
| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC Ambrì-Piotta | Ambrì | Valascia | 6,500 |
| SC Bern | Bern | PostFinance Arena | 17,031 |
| EHC Biel | Biel/Bienne | Tissot Arena | 6,521 |
| HC Davos | Davos | Vaillant Arena | 6,800 |
| Fribourg-Gottéron | Fribourg | BCF Arena | 6,500 |
| Genève-Servette HC | Geneva | Patinoire des Vernets | 7,135 |
| Lausanne HC | Lausanne | Temporary arena (2017–2019) | 6,700 |
| HC Lugano | Lugano | Cornèr Arena | 7,800 |
| Rapperswil-Jona Lakers | Rapperswil-Jona | St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena | 6,200 |
| SCL Tigers | Langnau im Emmental | Ilfis Stadium | 6,000 |
| ZSC Lions | Zürich | Hallenstadion | 11,200 |
| EV Zug | Zug | Bossard Arena | 7,200 |
Past champions
For a season-by-season articles, see List of NLA seasons.
- 2018 - ZSC Lions
- 2017 - SC Bern
- 2016 - SC Bern
- 2015 - HC Davos
- 2014 – ZSC Lions
- 2013 – SC Bern
- 2012 - ZSC Lions
- 2011 - HC Davos
- 2010 - SC Bern
- 2009 - HC Davos
- 2008 - ZSC Lions
- 2007 - HC Davos
- 2006 - HC Lugano
- 2005 - HC Davos
- 2004 - SC Bern
- 2003 - HC Lugano
- 2002 - HC Davos
- 2001 - ZSC Lions
- 2000 - ZSC Lions
- 1999 - HC Lugano
- 1998 - EV Zug
- 1997 - SC Bern
- 1996 - Kloten Flyers
- 1995 - Kloten Flyers
- 1994 - Kloten Flyers
- 1993 - Kloten Flyers
- 1992 - SC Bern
- 1991 - SC Bern
- 1990 - HC Lugano
- 1989 - SC Bern
- 1988 - HC Lugano
- 1987 - HC Lugano
- 1986 - HC Lugano
- 1985 - HC Davos
- 1984 - HC Davos
- 1983 - EHC Biel
- 1982 - EHC Arosa
- 1981 - EHC Biel
- 1980 - EHC Arosa
- 1979 - SC Bern
- 1978 - EHC Biel
- 1977 - SC Bern
- 1976 - SCL Tigers
- 1975 - SC Bern
- 1974 - SC Bern
- 1973 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1972 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1971 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1970 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1969 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1968 - HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1967 - Kloten Flyers
- 1966 - Grasshopper-Club Zürich
- 1965 - SC Bern
- 1964 - HC Villars
- 1963 - HC Villars
- 1962 - EHC Visp
- 1961 - ZSC Lions
- 1960 - HC Davos
- 1959 - SC Bern
- 1958 - HC Davos
- 1957 - EHC Arosa
- 1956 - EHC Arosa
- 1955 - EHC Arosa
- 1954 - EHC Arosa
- 1953 - EHC Arosa
- 1952 - EHC Arosa
- 1951 - EHC Arosa
- 1950 - HC Davos
- 1949 - ZSC Lions
- 1948 - HC Davos
- 1947 - HC Davos
- 1946 - HC Davos
- 1945 - HC Davos
- 1944 - HC Davos
- 1943 - HC Davos
- 1942 - HC Davos
- 1941 - HC Davos
- 1940 - not played (see: 1939-40 Swiss National Tournament)
- 1939 - HC Davos
- 1938 - HC Davos
References
- ↑ "SC Bern 10th time on top". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2012-03-15. http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/6508.html. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ Lovis, Frédéric. "Les play-out de LNA seront modifiés", 14 June 2013. Retrieved on 6 February 2014.
External links
- National League, official website
- National League, official website
- Puck.ch Results of Swiss Ice Hockey - in English, French, German and Italian
- Meltzer, Bill. "Hockey a Hot Ticket in Switzerland" at NHL.com. Retrieved 04-06-06.
- Meltzer, Bill. "Former NHLers Shining in Switzerland" at NHL.com. Retrieved 10-25-06.
- Pat Schafhauser Foundation
- An Analysis Of The Swiss NLA
- All-time standings 1909-2008
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