Region(s) Central Europe LeagueVice-President Ľubomír Sekeráš First season 2014–15 | League President Jaroslav Straka Founded 2013 | |
Countries Slovakia (5 teams)
Czech Republic (3 teams)
Austria (1 team)
Poland (1 team) | ||
The European University Hockey League (EUHL) is the first European university league in ice-hockey that was founded in 2013 and it is managed by the EUHA (the European University Hockey Association). The idea to establish a university hockey league in Europe was invented by Jaroslav Straka, who thanks to Lubomir Sekeras, Frantisek Sadecky and Peter Spankovic turned a dream into reality. Everything started with the initial thought of pan-European expansion through the creation of four divisions to save money and time– Eastern (Slovakia, Czech republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary), Western (Germany I, France, Belgium, The Netherlands), North (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark) and South (Germany II, Austria II, Switzerland, Slovenia). Presently the EUHL consists of 10 teams from 4 countries, but it is already assured that next year this number will be higher. The new applicants come from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Hungary etc., accompanied by American Universities and associations from the USA.
Contents
Trophy
The winner of the league is awarded with Sekeráš Championship Trophy, which is named after former Slovak NHL player Ľubomír Sekeráš, who is the co-founder of the league.
Divisions
Four divisions are planned – Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western. Northern division should contain teams from the universities in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark; Eastern division should contain teams from Slovakia, Czech republic, Austria, Poland and Hungary; Southern division should contain teams from Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia and Austria and Western division should contain teams from France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
However, for the first season, 2013–14, only six teams were involved which formed only one division.
Teams
In the beginning of the first season only five teams have been confirmed – three from Slovakia and two from Czech republic – even though more universities are interested in joining the league. However, on 13 November 2013 a new participant, VŠEMvs Managers from Bratislava joined the league, thus increasing the number of participants to six.
In the second season the following teams participate: