SHL: Teams and History

SHL: Teams and History

SHL, also known as Swiss Hockey League, is a professional ice hockey league in Switzerland. It was founded in 1936 and is considered the highest level of ice hockey in Switzerland. The league is divided into two divisions: the National League A (NLA) and the National League B (NLB).

Teams

As of the 2023-2024 season, there are 14 teams in the Swiss Hockey League, seven in the National League A and seven in the National League B. These teams are spread across Switzerland, with some teams representing cities and others representing regions.

National League A Teams

1. EV Zug: Known as Eisbären, the team represents the city of Zug in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
2. HC Davos: Representing the town of Davos, the team is located in the eastern part of Switzerland.
3. HC Fribourg-Gottéron: Based in Fribourg, the team represents the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
4. Lausanne HC: Also known as LHC, the team represents the city of Lausanne in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
5. SC Bern: Representing the capital city of Bern, the team is based in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
6. ZSC Lions: The team represents the city of Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland.
7. RP Genève-Servette HC: Based in Geneva, the team represents the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

National League B Teams

1. EHC Olten: Based in Olten, the team represents the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
2. EHC Winterthur: Based in Winterthur, the team represents the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
3. EVT Chênois: Based in Chênois, the team represents the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
4. GCK Lions: Based in GCK, the team represents the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
5. HC La Chaux-de-Fonds: Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the team represents the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
6. HC Thurgovia Kreuzlingen: Based in Kreuzlingen, the team represents the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
7. SC Langenthal: Based in Langenthal, the team represents the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

History

The Swiss Hockey League was founded in 1936 and has since become the highest level of ice hockey in Switzerland. The league is divided into two divisions: the National League A (NLA) and the National League B (NLB). The NLA is the top tier of the league, while the NLB is the second tier.

The Swiss Hockey League has produced numerous players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. Some notable players include:

• Reto Berra: Goaltender who played for the Calgary Flames.
• Kris Versteeg: Forward who played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers.
• Jonas Hiller: Goaltender who played for the Anaheim Ducks.
• Andre Burakovsky: Forward who played for the Washington Capitals.
• Nino Niederreiter: Forward who played for the Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes.

The Swiss Hockey League also has a tradition of producing successful international teams. The Swiss national team has been a consistent presence in international competitions, including the Winter Olympics and the IIHF World Championship.

In recent years, the Swiss Hockey League has implemented measures to increase the competitiveness of the league and to improve the development of young players. These measures include the implementation of a salary cap and the creation of the Swiss Hockey Academy, which provides training and development opportunities for young players.