DEBL and EWHL ready to go

On Saturday, 16 September, the 1st Women’s Bundesliga gets the new season under way. The European Women´s Hockey League will begin its championship campaign in a week’s time, while with the start of the 2nd Women’s Bundesliga on 28 October, all women’s leagues will then be in championship mode. Five Austrian teams will compete in both the EWHL and DEBL 1 this season, including the Sabres, who are making their comeback under a new name.

15 September 20232 min read

They are back! The SKN St. Pölten Sabres have returned both to the domestic women’s ice hockey landscape and to the EWHL. The 18-time Austrian champions certainly have big plans for their comeback, having supplied no fewer than eight players for the World Championship Division IA in the summer and added further reinforcements from North America over the summer. Stephan Brozovsky, who previously coached the Junior Caps, has been appointed head coach.

Alongside the Sabres, the KEHV Lakers, KSV Neuberg Highlanders, DEC Salzburg Eagles and EC Graz Huskies will compete, marking the first time in the history of the European Women´s Hockey League that five Austrian clubs are taking part.

There are just as many in the Women’s Ice Hockey Bundesliga, the DEBL. “It is very positive for Austrian women’s ice hockey that so many teams are competing in these two leagues, giving numerous domestic players the opportunity to gain match practice at the highest international level every week,” says Martin Kogler, ÖEHV General Manager Women’s Ice Hockey, keeping the bigger picture in mind.

The teams to beat

The champions are based in Styria! For the first time in the history of the battle for the Austrian Championship, the title went to the KSV Neuberg Highlanders last season, as they overcame the KEHV Lakers in the final by an aggregate score of 6:1.

In the DEBL, the Villach Lady Hawks secured the title with a 5:0 win over the DEC Devils Graz. Incidentally, the two teams contested the first all-Austrian final in more than ten years! “The Highlanders and Lakers in the EWHL and the Austrian Championship final, and especially Villach and Graz with their performances at the DEBL final tournament, have been superb ambassadors for Austrian women’s ice hockey,” beamed Martin Kogler, ÖEHV General Manager Women’s Ice Hockey.

The EWHL gets under way on 23. September, although the Austrian clubs will not play their first league match until 30. September. DEBL 1 starts as early as 16 September, with DEBL 2 finally beginning its league campaign at the end of October.