ICE Hockey League: ÖEHV steps up promo­tion of domestic players

Image information: Domestic and young players will newly benefit from the squad regulation. Pictured: Martin Urbanek and Lucas Thaler celebrating a goal in the U20 World Championship match against Finland - Copyright: puckfans.at/Werner Krainbucher

Going forward, twelve players eligible for selection to the Austrian national team must be listed, at least two of whom must be in the U24 age group. The regulation will be evaluated jointly by ÖEHV and the ICE Hockey League every two years, with the stated aim of further increasing the number of domestic players.

“The national teams are the pinnacle of our sport. We not only want to return to the top division as quickly as possible, but also remain there in the long term and continue to aim higher. That is only possible with a certain depth of well-trained players who also receive regular ice time with their clubs,” says ÖEHV President Klaus Hartmann regarding the background to the new regulation.

In doing so, the Executive Board is also delivering on a promise it made when taking office: to ensure that more Austrians are given opportunities in domestic leagues and at domestic clubs. “We want to provide our players with better future prospects and significantly reduce the drop-out rate,” explains Klaus Hartmann.

According to the ÖEHV's plans, at least 96 Austrians will be in action per round in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. That alone is 24 more than are currently mandatory.

This measure is intended to create greater depth for the national team, increase competition for places in the national team and enable absences to be better compensated for in future. ÖEHV Men's Sports Director Roger Bader is very pleased with the new squad regulation, having called for this measure since taking office in October 2016: “A clear step in the right direction that will greatly benefit Austrian ice hockey.”

The new squad regulation states: At least twelve domestic players must be listed on the Game Sheet for a league match, at least two of whom must be in the U24 age group.

A “domestic player” is defined as a player who, in accordance with IIHF guidelines, is eligible to play for the national team of the country in which the respective club is based, or who has already played a match for their home country’s national team, senior national team or youth national team at an official IIHF tournament.

Per season, each club may license a maximum of 26 players who do not fall into the category of domestic U24 players. There is no limit on domestic players in the U24 age group. This gives clubs complete freedom in assembling their squads and allows them to sign up to 26 import players per club. The requirement remains that twelve domestic players must be listed on the Game Sheet in every league match.