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Hit or not - the danger of relegation has been banned for DEL1 teams
Photo: nordphoto / Engler / imago images / Nordphoto
The German Ice Hockey League (DEL) has decided to forego a relegated team in the 2020/2021 season.
There could still be a climber.
In the season that starts in mid-December, there should actually be a sporty promotion and relegation for the first time.
That was decided around two years ago, the measure should create more tension.
The corona pandemic has now led to a rethink.
Under the "influence of the imponderables and the economic difficulties due to the coronavirus, the agreement will be temporarily adjusted under the new conditions for the 2020/2021 season".
The DEL announced this on its homepage.
Thus, the descent of the last placed in the DEL main round is waived.
The DEL2 champion's chance of promotion remains, but there are conditions: The second division champion can only advance if the club has played at least 26 main round games, thus qualifying for the DEL2 playoffs and including at least six playoff victories as the playoff winner reached a final series.
Unique with 15 teams
If this occurs, there may be a one-time game with 15 clubs in the 2021/22 season.
Then, however, a special rule applies to reduce the league to 14 teams again: The champions of the DEL2 season 2021/22 will not be eligible for promotion, but the bottom of the DEL table will still be relegated after the main round has ended.
The team in the penultimate place will also be relegated, provided there is no "economic relegation" from the top division.
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