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Eredivisie (hockey)
Encyclopedia
The Eredivisie is the only professional ice hockey
league in the Netherlands and the highest level of competition sanctioned by the Nederlandse IJshockey Bond
(NIJB; English: "Dutch Ice Hockey Federation"). In 2010, two Belgian teams, HYC Herentals
and White Caps Turnhout
joined the 28-game regular season of the Eredivisie, at which point it was renamed as the North Sea Cup
.
, with teams in Amsterdam
, The Hague
and Tilburg
. It suspended operations from 1950 to 1964, but has organized a season of competition annually ever since. Over the years the number of teams competing has fluctuated between 3 and 10 (currently 8), and the number of games played in the regular season between 4 and 36 (currently 28).
In earlier years, the winner of the regular season was crowned the Eredivisie National Championships, but for most of its history the regular season determined playoff seeding, and a playoffs were then held to determine the National Champion. In 2010-2011, the Eredivisie season was reformatted into the "North Sea Cup", inviting two Belgian
teams, Turnhout and Herentals
, to participate. The top team at the end of the regular season won the North Sea Cup. The Dutch and Belgian teams played in separate Dutch and Belgian playoffs for their respective national championships at the end of the regular season.
Below the Eredivisie is the Eerste Divisie (First Division), an amateur league. There is no automatic relegation or promotion between Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, but teams have sometimes moved from one division to the other for financial reasons. Some cities (such as Tilburg, The Hague and Nijmegen) have a professional team in the Eredivisie and a separate but similarly named amateur team in the Eerste Divisie.
For the 2008-2009 season, the Utrecht Dragons
and Eindhoven Kemphanen
joined the league. In 2009-2010, Utrecht returned to the Eerste Divisie. Prior to the 2010-2011 season, Amstel Tijgers
, one of the oldest teams in the league, dropped out, as did Groningen Grizzlies
after three seasons, due to poor results on the ice and low revenues. In 2010 the Zoetermeer Panthers
were set to join the Eredivisie; it competed in, and won, the National Cup but dropped out of the Eredivisie due to financial problems.
The league became international in 2011 when two Belgian teams, HYC Herentals
and White Caps Turnhout
joined the 28-game regular season of the Eredivisie in 2011, which rebranded under the name "North Sea Cup
".
The Belgian and Dutch teams continue to play in separate, pre-season national cup tournaments, and they continue to have separate national championships. With the demise of the Belgian elite series in 2011, Herentals and Turnhout are the only two teams competing for the Belgian championship. For the second season of the North Sea Cup (2011-2012), One new Dutch team(Amsterdam Capitals) and one new Belgian team (Leuven Chiefs) will take part in the league.
Note: the name Eredivisie is also used for the top leagues of many other sports in the Netherlands
, most notably the football
Eredivisie
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league in the Netherlands and the highest level of competition sanctioned by the Nederlandse IJshockey Bond
Nederlandse IJshockey Bond
The Nederlandse IJshockey Bond is the official governing body of ice hockey in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1933 as a three team league with The Hague, Amsterdam and Tilburg. It joined the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1935...
(NIJB; English: "Dutch Ice Hockey Federation"). In 2010, two Belgian teams, HYC Herentals
HYC Herentals
HYC Herentals is an ice hockey team in Herentals, Belgium. They play in the North Sea Cup, the highest-level league in the Netherlands and Belgium. They also participate in the national cup and national championship tournaments of the Belgian Hockey League, the elite level of ice hockey in...
and White Caps Turnhout
White Caps Turnhout
The White Caps Turnhout are an ice hockey team in Turnhout, Belgium. The White Caps play in the Belgian Hockey League and North Sea Cup. They play their home games in Kempisch Ijsstadion.-History:...
joined the 28-game regular season of the Eredivisie, at which point it was renamed as the North Sea Cup
North Sea Cup
The North Sea Cup is the only professional ice hockey league in the Netherlands and Belgium and the highest level of competition organized by the Nederlandse IJshockey Bond and sanctioned by the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation...
.
History
The Eredivisie was formed after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with teams in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
and Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
. It suspended operations from 1950 to 1964, but has organized a season of competition annually ever since. Over the years the number of teams competing has fluctuated between 3 and 10 (currently 8), and the number of games played in the regular season between 4 and 36 (currently 28).
In earlier years, the winner of the regular season was crowned the Eredivisie National Championships, but for most of its history the regular season determined playoff seeding, and a playoffs were then held to determine the National Champion. In 2010-2011, the Eredivisie season was reformatted into the "North Sea Cup", inviting two Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
teams, Turnhout and Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
, to participate. The top team at the end of the regular season won the North Sea Cup. The Dutch and Belgian teams played in separate Dutch and Belgian playoffs for their respective national championships at the end of the regular season.
Below the Eredivisie is the Eerste Divisie (First Division), an amateur league. There is no automatic relegation or promotion between Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, but teams have sometimes moved from one division to the other for financial reasons. Some cities (such as Tilburg, The Hague and Nijmegen) have a professional team in the Eredivisie and a separate but similarly named amateur team in the Eerste Divisie.
For the 2008-2009 season, the Utrecht Dragons
Utrecht Dragons
IJCU Dragons Utrecht is an amateur ice hockey team in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The team played one season as "Hoek Dragons Utrecht" in the Dutch Eredivisie, the professional hockey division in the Netherlands, in 2008-2009, while maintaining an amateur team in the Eerste divisie...
and Eindhoven Kemphanen
Eindhoven Kemphanen
Eindhoven Kemphanen is the professional ice hockey team of Eindhoven, The Netherlands. They play in the North Sea Cup , the highest-level hockey division in the Netherlands and Belgium. Home games are played at the Ijssportcentrum Eindhoven.-History:Eindhoven ice hockey began in earnest in the...
joined the league. In 2009-2010, Utrecht returned to the Eerste Divisie. Prior to the 2010-2011 season, Amstel Tijgers
Amstel Tijgers
IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan...
, one of the oldest teams in the league, dropped out, as did Groningen Grizzlies
Groningen Grizzlies
Pecoma Grizzlies Groningen were a professional ice hockey team in Groningen, The Netherlands. They played in the Dutch Eredivisie, the highest-level hockey division in the Netherlands...
after three seasons, due to poor results on the ice and low revenues. In 2010 the Zoetermeer Panthers
Zoetermeer Panthers
Zoetermeer Panthers is a former semi-professional ice hockey team in the Eredivisie, the Dutch professional, top-level hockey league. They played in the Silverdome, an ice sports facility in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. They began play for the 2010-2011 season in the Dutch Bekercompetitie, the league...
were set to join the Eredivisie; it competed in, and won, the National Cup but dropped out of the Eredivisie due to financial problems.
The league became international in 2011 when two Belgian teams, HYC Herentals
HYC Herentals
HYC Herentals is an ice hockey team in Herentals, Belgium. They play in the North Sea Cup, the highest-level league in the Netherlands and Belgium. They also participate in the national cup and national championship tournaments of the Belgian Hockey League, the elite level of ice hockey in...
and White Caps Turnhout
White Caps Turnhout
The White Caps Turnhout are an ice hockey team in Turnhout, Belgium. The White Caps play in the Belgian Hockey League and North Sea Cup. They play their home games in Kempisch Ijsstadion.-History:...
joined the 28-game regular season of the Eredivisie in 2011, which rebranded under the name "North Sea Cup
North Sea Cup
The North Sea Cup is the only professional ice hockey league in the Netherlands and Belgium and the highest level of competition organized by the Nederlandse IJshockey Bond and sanctioned by the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation...
".
The Belgian and Dutch teams continue to play in separate, pre-season national cup tournaments, and they continue to have separate national championships. With the demise of the Belgian elite series in 2011, Herentals and Turnhout are the only two teams competing for the Belgian championship. For the second season of the North Sea Cup (2011-2012), One new Dutch team(Amsterdam Capitals) and one new Belgian team (Leuven Chiefs) will take part in the league.
Note: the name Eredivisie is also used for the top leagues of many other sports in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, most notably the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
.
Champions
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1945–46 | H.H.IJ.C. Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1946–47 | T.IJ.S.C. Tilburg Destil Trappers The Destil Trappers are a professional ice hockey club based in Tilburg, The Netherlands, playing in the highest level league in the country, the North Sea Cup . Founded on 21 October 1938, they were officially recognised by the National Federation on 18 January 1939... |
| 1947–48 | H.H.IJ.C. Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1948–49 | Not Played |
| 1949–50 | IJsvogels Amsterdam |
| 1950–64 | Not Played |
| 1964–65 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1965–66 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1966–67 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1967–68 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1968–69 | H.IJ.S. Hoky Den Haag HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 1969–70 | S.IJ. Den Bosch |
| 1970–71 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1971–72 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1972–73 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1973–74 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1974–75 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1975–76 | Tilburg Trappers |
| 1976–77 | Feenstra Verwarming Heerenveen |
| 1977–78 | Feenstra Verwarming Heerenveen |
| 1978–79 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen |
| 1979–80 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen |
| 1980–81 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen |
| 1981–82 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen |
| 1982–83 | Feenstra Flyers Heerenveen |
| 1983–84 | Vissers Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1984–85 | Deko Builders Amsterdam Amstel Tijgers IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan... |
| 1985–86 | Lada GIJS Groningen Groningen Grizzlies Pecoma Grizzlies Groningen were a professional ice hockey team in Groningen, The Netherlands. They played in the Dutch Eredivisie, the highest-level hockey division in the Netherlands... |
| 1986–87 | IJ.H.C. Rotterdam Panda's Rotterdam Panda's Rotterdam Panda's was a professional ice hockey team in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. They played in the Dutch Eredivisie, the highest-level hockey division in the Netherlands. Home games were played at the Weena-ijshal, a arena near Rotterdam Central train station.-History:Ice hockey had been... |
| 1987–88 | Spitman Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1988–89 | Gunco Panda's Rotterdam |
| 1989–90 | Gunco Panda's Rotterdam |
| 1990–91 | Peter Langhout Reizen Utrecht |
| 1991–92 | Pro Badge Utrecht |
| 1992–93 | Flame Guards Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1993–94 | Couwenberg Trappers Tilburg |
| 1994–95 | Couwenberg Trappers Tilburg |
| 1995–96 | CVT Keuken Trappers Tilburg |
| 1996–97 | Fulda Tigers Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1997–98 | Van Heumen Tigers Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1998–99 | Agio Huys Tigers Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 1999–2000 | Agio Huys Tigers Nijmegen Nijmegen Tigers Nijmegen Tigers was a Dutch ice hockey club based in Nijmegen until 2003, when it was forced into bankruptcy. It has been succeeded by the Nijmegen Devils.-Source:*... |
| 2000–01 | Diamant Trappers Tilburg |
| 2001–02 | Boretti Tigers Amsterdam Amstel Tijgers IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan... |
| 2002–03 | Boretti Tigers Amsterdam Amstel Tijgers IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan... |
| 2003–04 | Amsterdam Bulldogs Amstel Tijgers IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan... |
| 2004–05 | Amsterdam Bulldogs Amstel Tijgers IJshockeyvereniging Amstel Tijgers is an amateur ice hockey team in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, playing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie . It once consisted of an amateur and a pro-section, which were separate legal entities. The amateur team currently plays at the Jaap Eden baan... |
| 2005–06 | Hatulek Emperors Nijmegen |
| 2006–07 | Destil Trappers Tilburg |
| 2007–08 | Destil Trappers Tilburg |
| 2008–09 | HYS The Hague HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Eredivisie (ice hockey) The 2009–10 Eredivisie was the 50th season of the Eredivisie, the highest level of ice hockey competition in the Netherlands. The season started on November 13, following the completion of the quarterfinals of the league cup. Eight teams participated and the teams played four times against... |
Romijnders Devils Nijmegen Nijmegen Devils Romijnders Dar Devils Nijmegen is the professional ice hockey team of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie, the highest-level hockey division in the Netherlands, where they were the national champions most recently in 2009-2010... |
| 2010–11 | HYS The Hague HYS The Hague HYS The Hague is the professional ice hockey team in The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1933, the team plays in the North Sea Cup as well as competing annually in the Dutch Cup tournament. The most successful hockey team in the Netherlands during the 1960s, it broke a 40-year championship drought... |