Swiss League
Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Swiss League season | |
 | |
| Formerly | National League B 1947–2017 Swiss League 2017–2024 Sky Swiss League 2024–present |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1947 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | .svg.png){kind=small} Switzerland |
| Most recent champion(s) | HC La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Broadcaster(s) | Sky Switzerland |
| Promotion to | National League |
| Relegation to | MyHockey League |
| Related competitions | National League |
| Official website | www.swissleague.ch |
The Swiss League, also known as the Sky Swiss League for sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of the main professional ice hockey league in Switzerland, behind the National League. The winners of the league each season plays a best-of-seven series against the bottom team of the NL, and if they win, they are promoted, while the National League team is relegated to the Swiss League.
In 2024, the Swiss League changed its name to Sky Swiss League as a partnership with broadcaster Sky Switzerland.[1] Prior to the 2017–18 season, the league was formerly called National League B.[2] The league attendance in 2018–19 was about 2,700 spectators.
Current teams
| Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined league | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Canton | |||||
| EHC Basel | Basel |  Basel-Stadt
|
St. Jakob Arena | 6,700 | 1932 | 2022 |
| EHC Chur | Chur |  Grisons
|
Thomas Domenig Stadion | 6,500 | 1933 | 2024 |
| HC La Chaux-de-Fonds | La Chaux-de-Fonds |  Neuchâtel
|
Patinoire des Mélèzes | 7,200 | 1919 | 2001 |
| GCK Lions | Küsnacht |  Zürich
|
Eishalle Küsnacht | 2,200 | 1932 | 2000 |
| GDT Bellinzona Snakes | Bellinzona |  Ticino
|
Centro Sportivo | 2,100 | 1980 | 2016 |
| EHC Olten | Olten |  Solothurn
|
Kleinholz Stadion | 6,500 | 1934 | 1994 |
| HC Sierre | Sierre |  Valais
|
Patinoire de Graben | 4,500 | 1933 | 2019 |
| HC Thurgau | Weinfelden |  Thurgau
|
Güttingersreuti | 3,200 | 1989 | 2006 |
| EHC Visp | Visp | Valais
|
Lonza Arena | 5,150 | 1941 | 1999 |
| EHC Winterthur | Winterthur | Zürich
|
Zielbau Arena | 3,000 | 1929 | 2015 |
HCB Ticino Rockets
HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
GCK Lions
SC Langenthal
EHC Olten
HC Sierre
HC Thurgau
EHC Visp
EHC Winterthur
Swiss League teams for the 2022–23 season
Former Teams
- Forward-Morges HC - withdrawal at the end of the 2005–06 season
- EHC Biel - promoted to National League A after the 2007–08 season
- Lausanne HC - promoted to National League A after the 2012–13 season
- SCL Tigers - promoted to National League A after the 2014–15 season
- HC Red Ice - bankruptcy after the 2016–17 season
- HCB Ticino Rockets - relocated to Bellinzona at the end of the 2022–23 season
- SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers - promoted to National League after the 2017–18 season
- HC Ajoie - promoted to the National League following the 2020–21 season
- EHC Kloten - promoted to the National League at the end of the 2021–22 season
- SC Langenthal - withdrawal from professional hockey at the end of the 2022–23 season
- HCV Martigny - withdrawal from professional hockey at the end of the 2023–24 season
See also
- National League
- Swiss 1. Liga
References
- ^ "La Swiss League change de nom" (in French). Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ "Resolutions of the National League Assembly regarding the 2017–18 season" (in German). Swiss Ice Hockey Federation. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.