Formerly 2nd Bundesliga Founded 2013 No. of teams 14 | Sport Ice hockey Inaugural season 2013–14 Country Germany | |
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DEL2, also known as DEL II, is the second-level of ice hockey in Germany, below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (German Ice Hockey League). Founded in 2013, it is administered by the ESBG.
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In September 2015 the DEL and DEL2 agreed to reintroduce promotion and relegation between the two leagues from the 2017–18 season onwards. The DEL2 champion would then have the opportunity to be promoted, provided it fulfilled the licensing requirements of the DEL, while the last-placed DEL club would be relegated.
In the 2015–16 season the league was the best-supported second-tier ice hockey league in Europe with an average of 2,688 spectators per game.
On 1 July 2016 the Fischtown Pinguins became the first DEL2 team to be admitted to the DEL, replacing the Hamburg Freezers in the league for 2016–17.
Participating teams
The league had 12 teams participating in the 2013–14 season, before expanding to 14 teams from the 2014–15 season.
Champions
The champions, runners-up and regular season winners of the league: